Together with their new insurance firm Direct Line Motability Insurance, Motability provide customers who lease a car or Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) through the Motability Scheme with a superb level of insurance protection for the duration of the lease. Direct Line Motability Insurance replaced RSA Motability Insurance - who had been the insurance provider to the Motability Scheme since 1995 - on 1 September 2023. Here we take a look at what’s covered by the Motability Scheme insurance policy, explain the key benefits, and try to answer some of the common questions people ask.
Motability have made the switch from RSA Motability Insurance to Direct Line Motability Insurance as seamless as possible, with no changes to the overall level of cover and the main phone number, 0300 037 3737, staying the same.
The service has been improved, with new digital insurance features that you can access via your Motability online account. This includes being able to update your named drivers and the ability to quickly download your policy details and documentation. So, let’s outline a few of the key changes to the service:
If you currently lease a Motability vehicle and you or one of the named drivers has been involved in an accident or incident that you need to report, you should notify the insurance company as soon as possible and register a claim.
Contact Direct Line Motability Insurance
When you call, they will advise whether any repairs are required to the vehicle and arrange for alternative transport (if needed). They are also likely to ask for your customer reference number, the date and circumstances of the incident you are calling about, as well as other details related to the claim.
The insurance policy covers a wide range of eventualities from the moment the vehicle is driven away from the dealership. You should refer to your new Direct Line insurance cover booklet for the full details, but here is a short summary of what your Motability insurance policy will cover you for:
The insurance cover allows three named people to be nominated to drive the vehicle when you make your application, and that doesn’t have to include the Mobility Allowance recipient (the person that the Motability vehicle has been leased for). So, if you currently qualify for a Motability car or WAV but don't actually drive, you can nominate three drivers (who could be relatives, friends or carers) to drive the vehicle on your behalf. Restrictions do apply, including to drivers who are aged under 25.
No one else is covered to drive the Motability vehicle, even if they have their own fully comprehensive insurance.
Yes. The fastest way to add or change a driver during your lease is via your Motability online account, but you can also call Direct Line Motability Insurance on 0300 037 3737. If the proposed driver passes the Motability checks, they'll be added to the insurance straight away.
These helpful videos on the Motability website explain how you can make named driver changes via Motability Scheme online account.
Drivers under 25 are restricted to Motability cars with an insurance group of 16 or lower and with an engine that has a power output of 120 brake horsepower (BHP) or less (this rule does not apply to young people driving a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle). In addition, only one driver under the age of 21 is permitted.
It's slightly different for electric car drivers. Motability Scheme customers who are under 25 who drive an EV are allowed to drive vehicles with an insurance group of 21 or lower and a power output of 140 BHP or less.
No, although if you do leave the Motability Scheme, Direct Line Motability are able to send out a claim's history letter that some insurance firms will accept as proof of your claims history.
Yes. The insurance cover means you can travel to foreign countries in your Motability vehicle. You will need to contact the RAC Motability Assist Foreign Travel team a few weeks before you travel and complete a special form (VE103 Vehicle on Hire) to ensure you are fully covered, including breakdown cover.
To take your Motability Scheme car abroad with a trailer or caravan within the European Union (and to Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein) you may need to obtain a Green Card (a document that proves your vehicle is insured if you are driving in Europe) before you travel. This should be issued automatically by the RAC Motability Assist Foreign Travel team when you request a VE103.
Like all motor insurance policies, if you do have to make an insurance claim you will have to pay an excess. This is usually £100, though the amount varies and is dependent upon the age and the experience of the driver.
In addition, the policy does not cover any personal belongings in the car, loss of keys, any non-standard equipment or modifications, any serious damage to the interior of the vehicle or any business use (other than travelling to and from your usual place of work).
You should refer to your Direct Line Motability insurance cover booklet for the full details.
