Motability has announced a significant update concerning its contentious black box initiative. The programme, called Drive Smart, involves fitting a compact device inside a Motability vehicle. The gadget then monitors driving behaviour, including factors such as speed and braking patterns, before issuing a weekly score.
Motability, which enables eligible disabled individuals to lease a new car using a portion of their benefit payments, maintains it is designed to 'keep prices down and keep people safe'. The organisation revealed that 300 motorists were removed following an assessment of their driving during a trial programme which launched in 2025. Opponents argue the initiative is excessively intrusive.
Drive Smart Paused
Following a review of customer responses, Motability has confirmed it is now 'pausing' Drive Smart. In a statement on social media and its website, the organisation acknowledged the concerns raised, and confirmed the scheme will be suspended from Thursday, 14 May onwards. It stated: 'From Thursday 14 May, we're pausing Drive Smart for all customers on the Motability Scheme. We introduced Drive Smart to support safer driving and help bring insurance costs down for everyone. But we need to make sure it feels fair, clear, and right for our customers.'
'We recognise Drive Smart has caused some concern. We will not re-introduce it until we're confident the experience better meets your needs.'
Goals of Drive Smart
On its website, Motability outlined the goals of Drive Smart: build safer driving habits, reduce the risk of accidents, and help keep insurance costs down for everyone. 'Insurance is one of the biggest costs on the Scheme. By encouraging safer driving, Drive Smart can help lower insurance costs and make the roads safer for everyone.'
By driving safely, people could earn rewards to spend at top brands like Asda and M&S, but more than four red ratings over 12 months could see drivers removed from the Motability scheme. It had been mandatory for drivers under 30, first-time customers, or if you have a history of multiple insurance claims - even if all drivers are over 30.
Customer Concerns
The statement added: 'We recognise that for some customers, the experience of using the app has not been as it should be and has caused concern. That was never our aim. That's why we're pausing Drive Smart from Thursday 14 May 2026 while we look again at how we can improve the app experience.'
'Drive Smart helps customers see their driving habits to encourage safer driving and reduce accidents, and that will not change. But we need to make sure this feels fair, clear and right for our customers. We want Drive Smart to support you on the road, and we know we need to get the experience right.'
'Insurance is one of the biggest costs in every lease. And a rising number of insurance claims means it has increased significantly in recent years. Telematics helps to reduce accidents, and we've already seen this with Drive Smart, which keeps the roads safer and costs down for everyone.'
What This Means for Motorists
The announcement continued: 'From Friday, May 22, 2026, we'll begin removing customers from Drive Smart unless you choose to keep using it. If you do not want to continue, you do not need to do anything. We'll remove you from the Drive Smart system. Any journey data we currently have is stored in line with our data and privacy policy.'
Customers can also: remove the Drive Smart wedge from their vehicle and keep it safe, redeem and spend any rewards before 22 May 2026, delete the Drive Smart app, and ignore any app notifications while the process is completed.
What Happens Now
Those who wish to continue using Drive Smart are able to do so, but must notify Motability by 21 May via email. Motability says it will work alongside customers to 'understand what needs to change so it works better for you and supports affordable, independent mobility.'
Customers who have previously used Drive Smart will be invited to join a new research group within the Headlight Community, unless they have opted out of research emails. This new group will help Motability better understand customer needs and identify areas for improvement. 'We'll only bring Drive Smart back when we're confident the experience better meets your needs. When it does return, we'll give you plenty of notice if it will still apply to your lease,' Motability says.
