Drivers who lease through the Motability Scheme may need to pay for some issues they think are covered by the scheme’s insurance
Motorists who lease a vehicle through the Motability Scheme may find themselves having to foot the bill for replacing personal items or any other excess charges they mistakenly believed were covered by their insurance. The Motability Scheme is an essential lifeline for many disabled individuals and families, facilitating access to cars, wheelchair-accessible vehicles, scooters, or powered wheelchairs.
Eligible participants can exchange all or part of their enhanced mobility award from a qualifying disability benefit such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP). It’s important to note that no one on the Motability Scheme receives a ‘free car’, and the majority of the 815,000 current lessees often have to make an additional upfront payment.
When someone leases a car with a ‘full package’, they are covered for a range of services, including maintenance, breakdown cover, insurance, and, in some instances, MOTs. However, the insurance, which is arranged with Direct Line Motability, doesn’t encompass everything that some alternative insurance options might – and below we look at seven things that are not covered.
How does Motability insurance?
The Motability Scheme will always organise your insurance with its provider, Direct Line Motability. Similar to numerous other insurance schemes, it offers financial protection to motorists in the event of an accident and allows up to three drivers to be added to the policy.
Should you ever need to file a claim on the insurance, this will be handled directly through Direct Line Motability.
What is covered under the insurance?
According to the Motability Scheme website, the insurance taken out through the scheme can cover:
- Loss of, or damage to your car (this includes any standard in-car equipment)
- Personal accident cover of up to £5,000
- Replacement locks if your keys have been stolen
- Loss of keys
- A temporary replacement car if you cannot drive yours because it was stolen or damaged
- Legal liabilities and ‘loss of use’ benefit
- Adaptations and modifications you agreed with us
What is not covered by Motability insurance?
Like many other insurance policies, the scheme provided by Motability will not cover a variety of things, which means you will need to pay for any losses out of your own pocket. While many of these are things that are not usually covered by most insurance policies, there are also some things that aren’t covered, which you may presume are.
This includes:
- You or someone else driving without insurance or permission
- Your excess payment. You need to pay this before repairs begin
- Non-standard equipment or modifications you’ve added as optional extras
- Loss of any personal belongings
- Driving a car Motability did not give you
- Damage to the interior of the car
- Using the car for business reasons, unless it’s been agreed with their insurance provider
