Motability’s Drive Smart scheme was meant to encourage good driving habits by installing monitoring devices in certain vehicles. Good drivers were to be given rewards while consistently bad drivers could risk being removed from the Motability scheme.
However, just a month after it was implemented for all new drivers, some issues with the Drive Smart app has prompted Motability to pause the scheme for the time being. The monitoring devices will start being deactivated from May 22, and two types of drivers have been urged to act before this deadline.
Good drivers
Drive Smart devices generated a rating for drivers each week, either green, amber or red. It is based on all of their journeys made in the week, with more weight given to longer journeys.
Speed, cornering, braking, acceleration and more could affect ratings. People who received green ratings had the opportunity to earn up to £160 a year in rewards that can be spent at top brands like Asda, M&S, Uber Eats and more.
With the scheme being paused, anyone who earned rewards for good driving behaviours while the scheme was active has been told to redeem and spend these before May 22.
Motorists can use the Drive Smart app to check their rewards and how to use them. had the potential to earn rewards.
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Drivers keeping Drive Smart
Motability will start deactivating Drive Smart devices from May 22, but anyone who enjoyed being able to track and monitor their driving behaviours may still be able to use their devices so long as they contact Motability by May 21.
The organisation noted: “Some customers have told us they value Drive Smart and want to keep using it, including customers who appreciate the reassurance it can provide for family members.
“If you’d like to keep using Drive Smart, you can do. You’ll need to let us know by 21 May 2026. You can do this by filling out the form in your email.”
While the scheme is paused, Motability will be working with users to understand their needs and how to change the scheme so it works better for them.
The official update added: “We’ll invite customers who have used Drive Smart to join a new research group in our Headlight Community, unless you’ve asked us not to send you research emails. This new research group will help us understand customer needs and where we need to improve.
“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.”
Before the scheme was paused on May 14, it was meant to help reduce accidents and keep insurance costs down for the organisation as it noted: “Insurance is one of the biggest costs in every lease.”