The Motability Scheme enables disabled people who receive a qualifying higher-rate mobility allowance to use that allowance to pay for a vehicle lease. The lease includes insurance, servicing, maintenance and breakdown assistance.
The Scheme is run by Motability Operations and overseen by the Motability Foundation. Eligibility for qualifying disability allowances is determined by government, not Motability Operations.
This page provides facts and statistics about the Motability Scheme, including its customers, vehicles, eligibility, customer satisfaction and contribution to the UK economy. Each statistic includes its reporting date and source.
Last updated: 12 October 2026
1. How many disabled people use the Motability Scheme?
915,000 disabled people
As at 1 April 2026, approximately 915,000 disabled people leased a vehicle through the Motability Scheme.
Source: Motability Operations Half Year Report 2026, published 22 May 2026.
2. What proportion of eligible people choose to use the Motability Scheme?
31.7% of eligible people
In 2024, 31.7% of people receiving a qualifying higher-rate mobility allowance chose to use the Motability Scheme. This represented 839,621 Scheme customers out of 2,645,409 eligible allowance recipients.
The proportion has remained broadly stable since 2019, when it was 32.8%, despite growth in the number of people receiving qualifying mobility allowances.
Source: Motability Operations and DWP eligibility data, 2019–2024.
Further information: Who can join the Motability Scheme?
3. What barriers do disabled people face in accessing vehicle finance and insurance?
87% would face barriers to accessing vehicle finance
Research conducted in October 2025 found that 87% of Motability Scheme customers believed they would face barriers to obtaining car finance without the Scheme, while 60% believed they would struggle to secure finance at all.
The same research found that 29% believed they would find it difficult to obtain car insurance outside the Scheme.
Source: Motability Operations, Accessing finance and insurance through the Motability Scheme, published 19 November 2025. Research conducted among 2,150 Scheme customers in October 2025.
4. What proportion of new cars registered in the UK are purchased by the Motability Scheme?
14.7% of UK new-car registrations
The Motability Scheme accounted for 14.7% of all new-car registrations in the UK in the six months to September 2026. Around 1 in 7 new vehicles.
Motability Operations purchases vehicles new and leases them to disabled customers, typically for three years, before selling them into the used-car market. All money goes back into running the Scheme.
Source: SMMT registration data and Motability Operations, six months to September 2026.
5. How many British-built cars does the Motability Scheme lease?
Approximately 22,000 British-built vehicles annually
The Motability Scheme leases approximately 22,000 British-built vehicles each year.
Motability Operations has committed to increasing the proportion of British-built vehicles leased through the Scheme to 25% by 2030, rising to 50% from 2035.
Source: Motability Operations Annual Report and Accounts 2025 and Buy British announcement, November 2025.
6. How many Motability Scheme customers rely on another driver?
43% of customers rely on another driver
Motability Operations customer research found that 43% of Scheme customers rely on another driver, typically a family member or carer.
Scheme vehicles can be driven by nominated drivers, provided they are used for the benefit of the disabled customer.
Source: Motability Operations, Media factsheet: customers on the Motability Scheme, published March 2025.
7. How many Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles and adapted vehicles are on the Motability Scheme?
36,300 Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles and 82,600 vehicles with adaptations
Motability Operations' 2025 data records 36,300 Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs) and 82,600 vehicles fitted with adaptations on the Motability Scheme.
WAVs are specially converted vehicles that enable disabled people to travel while remaining seated in their wheelchairs. Adaptations can help disabled people drive or travel more easily.
Source: Motability Operations Annual Report and Accounts 2025.
8. How much grant funding does the Motability Foundation provide to Scheme customers?
£67.8 million in grants to Scheme customers
In the financial year ending March 2026, the Motability Foundation awarded 12,501 grants worth £67.8 million to help disabled people access and use the Motability Scheme.
This included 4,433 grants for Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs), helping disabled people access specialist vehicles that meet their mobility needs.
Source: Motability Foundation, Annual Report and Accounts 2025/26, published September 2026.
9. How satisfied are Motability Scheme customers?
9.4 out of 10 for customer satisfaction
Motability Scheme customers gave the Scheme an overall satisfaction score of 9.4 out of 10 in research conducted by Ipsos between 27 February and 20 March 2025.
The research surveyed 5,572 Scheme car customers, with results weighted to reflect the profile of the Scheme's car fleet customers.
Source: Motability Operations Annual Report and Accounts 2025, published December 2025.
10. How much does the Motability Scheme contribute to the UK economy?
£4.3 billion contribution to UK GDP
Independent research by Oxford Economics found that the Motability Scheme contributed £4.3 billion to UK GDP and supported approximately 34,000 jobs across the UK.
The research also found that 21% of Scheme customers reported improved employment opportunities as a result of having access to their vehicle, enabling those in employment to work an average of 14 additional hours per week.
Source: Oxford Economics, Economic Impact of the Motability Scheme, as reported in the Motability Operations Half Year Report 2026.
About these statistics
The statistics on this page are drawn from Motability Operations financial reporting, operational data, customer research and independent economic analysis.
Reporting periods differ between statistics. Each figure includes its source and reporting date to support accurate reporting.
The page is reviewed and updated as new information becomes available.
