SIA statement on changes to Motability Scheme

The Motability Scheme plays a vital role in enabling independence for many people with spinal cord injury. For our members, access to a suitable vehicle is often not a luxury, but a necessity – allowing them to work, attend medical appointments, maintain family life and stay connected to their communities.

Motability has announced changes to its car lease scheme, including updated mileage thresholds and costs for higher mileage users, in response to tax changes introduced at the 2025 Autumn Budget. These changes will affect only some members, and it’s important to stress that not everyone will be impacted. Existing leases are protected, meaning that people who are already partway through their lease will not see any immediate changes.

But for leases taken from July 2026, these changes could risk forcing some members of the SCI community to choose between independence and affordability.

Cars can be disproportionately important to people with spinal cord injury. Public transport is often inaccessible or unreliable – particularly in rural and semi-rural areas – and many wheelchair users rely on their vehicle for multiple short journeys each day, which quickly adds up in mileage.

We’ve already heard from members who are concerned the new mileage thresholds would place them over the limit, putting significant pressure on household finances and, in some cases, leading people to consider whether they can afford to stay in work or continue essential activities.

Al Berwick is an SIA member from North Nottinghamshire and regularly travels a 240-mile round trip for an appointment at his nearest National Spinal Injuries Centre.

“I’m a T4 complete injury as well as C4 incomplete injury. My car is my life, my legs, the only way I can avoid isolation and socialise. I’m also a lone carer for my 89-year-old mum. She lives six miles away, so that’s 12 miles a day, but often more, just for my mum. Then there’s my life. I’ve been on the scheme since Sept 2002, but I’m at the stage now where I can’t afford the advance payments now needed for a car that works for me.” 

For some people, particularly those who rely on their vehicle for frequent or longer journeys, there is also a risk that exceeding mileage limits could lead to significant and potentially unexpected costs at the end of a lease. This is likely to have a disproportionate impact on those on lower incomes or with limited alternative transport options.

Spinal Injuries Association understands the impact these changes may have on some people, and we are hearing directly from members about the challenges they may face. Our role is to represent the lived experience of people with spinal cord injury, and we will continue to do so clearly and constructively.

We will be engaging directly with Motability to ensure the real-world impact on people with spinal cord injury is fully understood and reflected in how these changes are implemented. Because our members continue to talk to us about travel needs, we have long campaigned in this area, including the launch of our Travel Hub.

We represent member concerns by raising issues through our policy and influencing channels and will press for flexibility and fairness in how the changes are applied. Our priority remains ensuring that people with spinal cord injury can maintain their independence and participate fully in society.

We encourage anyone who is worried to read Motability’s official information and FAQs, and to seek advice about how the changes may apply to them. We also want to hear directly from our members about their experiences, so we can reflect these issues clearly in our engagement. People can also add their name to a petition, which has received a Government response after gaining more than 10,000 signatures.

Nik Hartley, CEO, Spinal Injuries Association