Taxpayer-funded car scheme for disabled people facing crackdown after bosses admit it is being misused
A TAXPAYER-funded car scheme for disabled people is facing a crackdown after bosses admitted it is being massively misused.
Motability booted 5,300 users last year alone and now plans stricter rules amid growing fury over who uses the motors.
The initiative allows people with serious disabilities to lease a car using their benefits.
Customer numbers have surged 30 per cent in five years, with many joining for non-physical conditions such as anxiety, depression and ADHD.
But the firm’s tracking systems have uncovered late-night runs and non-disabled relatives regularly using the vehicles.
Motability said it will now review how many people can use each vehicle — currently set at three to allow for carers.
Chief executive Andrew Miller warned tougher checks are coming.
He added: “Are we perhaps being too generous on the insurance criteria?
“We’re having to look at that quite heavily at the moment.”
Around 815,000 people now use the Motability scheme, with more than 700,000 vehicles on the road.