Motability Named Drivers
Have up to three drivers on your vehicle and you can change these at any time.
How does Motability drivers work?
You can insure up to three drivers on your vehicle and you can change these at any time.
When you order your next vehicle, you'll need to let your dealer know who you want to drive it, even if you're keeping the same drivers.
Your drivers will need to confirm they'll stick to the Scheme guidelines and acknowledge a declaration to have their licence checked.
All your drivers must hold a UK or EU driving licence. If you just have one driver, they need to hold a full licence, not a provisional licence.
The quickest way to add or change a driver during your lease is with a Motability Scheme online account
If the driver passes our checks, we'll add them to your insurance and they can drive your vehicle straight away. We'll send you a letter to confirm and you’ll see a copy in your account the next day.
You can also call our insurance provider on 0300 037 3737 and they'll change your drivers for you. Only you, your appointee or nominee can ask for a driver to be changed and our insurance provider will need to speak to the new driver. So they need to be with you when you call.
Who can drive your Motability car?
- If none of your drivers live at the disabled person’s address, or the disabled person lives in a care home where several drivers have access to the vehicle, we might fit a location tracker to make sure the disabled person is benefitting. We'll always speak to you about this first
- Drivers under 25 can only get petrol, diesel or hybrid cars with an ABI Insurance Group of 16 or lower and a power output of 120 brake horsepower (BHP) or less. For electric cars, it’s an ABI Insurance Group of 21 or lower and 140 BHP or less. Before you choose a car, think about whether you’ll need someone under 25 to drive. Speak to your dealer or look at these details when you search for a car. There are no BHP restrictions on Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVWheelchair Accessible Vehicles)
- You can only have one driver under 21. This could be the disabled person or another driver living at the same address. As long as they meet a few conditions, provisional licence holders can also learn to drive in Scheme vehicles
- We'll only accept drivers who have a legally valid driving licence. We'll do extra checks on drivers who have a non-UK driving licence
Drivers with certain convictions, disqualifications or endorsements in the last five years cannot drive a Scheme vehicle. Speak to your Chorley Group or Direct Line Motability (DLM) for more information.
Only drivers approved by DLM’s criteria and named under the 'permitted drivers' section of your Certificate of Motor Insurance are covered to drive your vehicle.
Drivers who have their own fully comprehensive insurance cover cannot drive your Scheme vehicle unless you've added them to your lease as a driver.
Driving licence restriction codes on Motability
If any of your drivers have driving licence restriction codes that mean adaptations need to be fitted to your car, your dealer will need to make sure these adaptations are added when you apply.
You cannot collect your car until the correct adaptations have been fitted. This is to make sure you're driving in line with Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) codes.
If you do not need restriction codes anymore, please call the DVLA on 0300 790 6801.
Renewing/Updating your driving licence
The DVLA need you to renew your photocard driving licence every 10 years, or every three years if you are over 70 years old. If you do not renew your licence and continue to drive, you could receive a fine or penalty points on your licence.
If your licence expires, you will not be able to drive your Scheme vehicle until it's been renewed, so it's important you make sure it's up-to-date.
If it's going to expire within the next year, you can still join the Scheme or order a new vehicle, but make sure you renew your licence in plenty of time before it expires.
The DVLA should send you a reminder a couple of months before. You can renew online at gov.uk in a Post Office, or you can take a 'D1 pack' from the Post Office and send this to the DVLA. Renewing usually takes around three weeks.
If you're in Northern Ireland, visit nidirect.gov.uk for more information on how to renew your licence.
Once it's been renewed, contact our insurance provider on 0300 037 3737 to update your licence details with them.
Frequently asked questions
We can cover up to three drivers on your lease.
They all need to:
- Have a valid driving licence
- Meet our insurance provider's eligibility criteria and are subject to the Scheme’s policies
Our insurance provider will need details about each driver, including:
- Licence number
- Date of birth
- Any motoring convictions
The vehicle must be used by, or for the benefit of, the disabled person. This person does not have to be in the car for every journey or be a driver.
Only drivers listed on the Certificate of Motor Insurance can drive the vehicle.
You can add your drivers when you apply, or later.
You can see, add or change your drivers during your lease in the ‘Insurance cover’ section in your Motability Scheme online account.
Or you can call 0300 037 3737. The new driver needs to be there to speak to our insurance provider when you call.
Yes, any driver who's been disqualified from driving for more than 30 days within the last five years cannot drive on a Direct Line Motability (DLM) policy.
They'll become eligible when five years have passed from the conviction date shown on their driving licence.
If a driver has points on their licence
They need to tell us when you're applying.
If a driver’s licence is endorsed (given penalty points) during the lease agreement, you need to tell DLM straight away.
If you do not tell DLM about any disqualifications, endorsements or points
This might be seen as a breach of your terms and conditions. It could also impact your insurance cover.
When you tell DLM about any changes, they'll let you know if the affected driver can be covered or not.
Unfortunately, it would be a good idea to see if there's anyone else who can drive your car before you think about cancelling your lease.
If you do not have anyone else who can drive
We might agree you can end your lease early, but you might be asked to pay an administration fee of up to £250.
You’ll receive a pro-rata refund of any Advance Payment you’ve paid and could be eligible for a pro-rata Good Condition Payment.
If you cancel your lease more than three times
If you do this in any seven-year period, it might affect whether you’re eligible for the Scheme in the future.
If you want to talk to us about cancelling your lease, please call our customer services team on 0300 456 4566.
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