- This topic has 54 replies, 12 voices, and was last updated 4 hours, 2 minutes ago by
Tony.T.
- CreatorTopic
- August 23, 2025 at 1:38 pm#311703
What’s peoples opinion on the introduction of Smart Drive for vehicles which have any under 30’s, either the recipient or named drivers.
- CreatorTopic
- AuthorReplies
- August 23, 2025 at 1:52 pm #311704
Ok – so I had to search exactly what this is as I assumed it would be different for different manufacturers.
Wasn’t easy to come to any particular conclusion.
If it is a system to support my driving style I would be all right with that – I currently have a car that will break if it suspect a collision etc. – but taking over more – I would need some serious convincing – I hope I have understood your question correctly 👍August 23, 2025 at 2:58 pm #311707The drive smart scheme to me, seems a methodology to reward good driving styles, acceleration, braking, cornering etc and to penalise bad driving styles.
I suppose it’s similar to the black box insurance schemes work for drivers who want lower premiums or forced to use them due to age.
I suspect if the vehicle is driven without connectivity to your smart phone , then that will be a major NO to the scheme.
August 23, 2025 at 3:10 pm #311708It is clearly an attempt to reduce insurance costs. Maybe the contract with DLM isn’t giving the value Motability wanted?
If I was just turning 25 and thought I was getting away from all the limitations I’d be seriously unimpressed with now looking at 5 years with a black box checking my driving.
The only concern I have is whether this becomes a thing for us all. There’s plenty of us who have been driving for a few decades many without an accident and yet we’re at risk of a cost saving exercise that monitors how we drive.
I'm Autistic, if I say something you find offensive, please let me know, I can guarantee it was unintentional.
I'll try to give my honest opinion but am always open to learning.Mark
August 23, 2025 at 3:11 pm #311709Interesting – if it’s proven to work without error and it’s the same for everyone then it will be hard to say no without it appearing you want to get away with dodgy driving – I wonder what the initial incentives will be – probably as you suggested – lower insurance.
is it already being trialled – I suspect so and when might it start to be implemented.
I have never been aware of Motability encouraging the black box or camera – so presumably they wouldn’t for this 🤔August 23, 2025 at 3:17 pm #311710Interesting – if it’s proven to work without error and it’s the same for everyone then it will be hard to say no without it appearing you want to get away with dodgy driving – I wonder what the initial incentives will be – probably as you suggested – lower insurance. is it already being trialled – I suspect so and when might it start to be implemented. I have never been aware of Motability encouraging the black box or camera – so presumably they wouldn’t for this 🤔
They’re offering rewards each year in the form of vouchers for good driving.
I'm Autistic, if I say something you find offensive, please let me know, I can guarantee it was unintentional.
I'll try to give my honest opinion but am always open to learning.Mark
August 23, 2025 at 3:27 pm #311711Ok – that’s new to me – never had it mentioned.
Many years ago – I rode motorcycles – FJ1200 – I underwent the advanced driving for several weeks – taught by police riders – we were encouraged to break the speed limit briefly on occasions for safer overtakes etc.My point – there are occasions now where to do 35 in a 30 limit to allow 1.5m wide overtake of cyclists is the safer option – especially when there are impatient cars behind you – it takes common sense out of the equation!!
August 23, 2025 at 3:28 pm #311712All new leases which have a driver under 30 and retrospectively for the same.
Also all new leases from Oct 2025 will carry a £250 insurance excess. Current leases are unaffected. That’s all leases unless you already have an imposed higher excess, due to driving record.
August 23, 2025 at 3:33 pm #311713The only concern I have is whether this becomes a thing for us all. There’s plenty of us who have been driving for a few decades many without an accident and yet we’re at risk of a cost saving exercise that monitors how we drive.
If it does or the contract is changed mid lease to include one, they can stick the box and the car where the sun don’t shine, nd thats my stance after driving over 40yrs and never involved in an accident that was my fault. It really is as simple as that!
August 23, 2025 at 4:04 pm #311715Compulsary Drive Smart technology applies only if someone under 30 is a named driver or the recipient. It however will require all drivers of the car to sign up to the app, not just the under 30’s.
Insurance excess increase only applies to all new leases from Oct 2025.
August 23, 2025 at 4:06 pm #311716August 23, 2025 at 5:14 pm #311717Compulsary Drive Smart technology applies only if someone under 30 is a named driver or the recipient. It however will require all drivers of the car to sign up to the app, not just the under 30’s. Insurance excess increase only applies to all new leases from Oct 2025.
Whils’t I’m much older than 30, I’m generally not a fan of ananny state. At the same time insurance providers generaly let drivers of the leash post 25 and start to offer cheaper premiums, without a blackbox, so don’t understand Motability’s stance here.
The fact it can affect your lease, if you continue to get bad scores, (in 20mph Wales will be quite easy), along with the point that current under 30’s, with existing leases will get one, is yet another change of contract they won’t be notified about, along with the option to accept or decline by handing their car back penalty free.
I guess one good thing to come from it, is Motability arent targetting the older generation (yet), like the press are doing!
August 23, 2025 at 5:24 pm #311718Also all new leases from Oct 2025 will carry a £250 insurance excess. Current leases are unaffected. That’s all leases unless you already have an imposed higher excess, due to driving record.
Well my contract for new car coming in November, Still states the old excess rates. But, regarding Smart Drive, I think there is the possability that this is also a cost saving measure to look at the smart drive data after an accident. To see if the driver was being naughty driving at the time of the accident. The implications of this could be far reaching for the driver as the insurance Co could possibly deny the claim.
Joss
Current car: Peugeot 308 GT Premium 1.2 Pure tech Petrol.
Coming soon...BMW X2 sDrive 20i M Sport 5dr Step Auto In November 2025August 23, 2025 at 5:24 pm #311719Here’s another thought. As can be expected there were a number of dis missions on various FaceBook groups. One point that was raised was in the T&Cs. The data collected will be held for 7 years and will be shared with third parties including those abroad. That’s confirmation that your personal information including driving style will be available to anyone who wants (and presumably pays for) it.
I'm Autistic, if I say something you find offensive, please let me know, I can guarantee it was unintentional.
I'll try to give my honest opinion but am always open to learning.Mark
August 23, 2025 at 5:31 pm #311720Agreed Kezo – I’m in my 70’s and am aware that reflexes are bound to slow with age – however I have been rear ended once and shunted into whilst parked but have never caused an accident in the 50 plus a lot years I have been on motorbike or cars.
But I have become more aware of potential hazards as I have become older and more experienced – I still drive at a sensible speed – not dangerously slow – but I have definitely avoided a few accidents because I have been ready for bad driving coming towards me ie many occasions people jump lights – the days of a fast get away are gone because of this – people partly on wrong side of road on blind bends etc etc – so experience with age should be valued too.August 23, 2025 at 6:11 pm #311722How long we keep your personal data and the journey data
We will collect, process and retain your personal and journey data including instances where
you may be a passenger in another vehicle or using another form of transport, in accordance
with data protection legislation and our policies on data retention. After seven years we will
either delete or completely anonymise your data and so it is no longer identifiable to you.
This allows us to use the journey anonymised data for statistical and analytical purposes.As I said nanny state!
August 23, 2025 at 8:30 pm #311723Don’t like this one bit. Get’s much worse when you read the T&Cs. Also having it on the windscreen is just what people need to be easily identified as a Motability customer, as if that reg site wasn’t enough hassle.
August 23, 2025 at 8:57 pm #311724Ok – please correct me if me if I wrong – but if I understand this correctly – this is coming in for under 30’s to check their driving .
So how long before over 60’s and then oh! – we might as well do it for everybody – a bit too “Brave New World” for me – is this happening or just a proposal?August 23, 2025 at 9:08 pm #311725Think it may be the thin edge of the wedge.
Ultimate goal to prevent unacceptable use of scheme cars and ensure only authorised people are driving the vehicles.
August 24, 2025 at 9:59 am #311729Ok – please correct me if me if I wrong – but if I understand this correctly – this is coming in for under 30’s to check their driving . So how long before over 60’s and then oh! – we might as well do it for everybody – a bit too “Brave New World” for me – is this happening or just a proposal?
Copied from above.
“We will collect, process and retain your personal and journey data including instances where
you may be a passenger in another vehicle or using another form of transport”This alone extends to a much wider audience outside the Motability car scope.
So whils’t it only currently affects under 30’s or over 30’s, if say dad allows his under 30 son or daughter to become as named driver on his Motability car, it also affects uncle Jo, if any of them were passengers, as uncle Jo’s driving will monitored, as if dad or his son or daughter were the ones driving, unless you left your smart phone at home, leaving say mum unable to contact you – so it has the potential to be far reaching.
August 24, 2025 at 10:15 am #311730Drive Smart terms and conditions from Motability web site. https://assets.ctfassets.net/eius13aoebbj/2QHfaJDv34a1HPe6g5vpNj/1d25d99d5036a1db2c49e2e1939d9478/Drive_Smart_Terms___Conditions.pdf
Joss
Current car: Peugeot 308 GT Premium 1.2 Pure tech Petrol.
Coming soon...BMW X2 sDrive 20i M Sport 5dr Step Auto In November 2025August 24, 2025 at 10:43 am #311732A couple of things come to mind
How easy will it be to extend and abuse this – bug – er tracking device for our benefit and the safety of all 😳
Not sure it will effect those who abuse system anyway ie no insurance etc.
I am amazed I haven’t heard of this before – especially with all the free speech noise at the moment.
August 24, 2025 at 1:10 pm #311737Perhaps, if the driving score reduces due to one of the drivers with another Drive Smart 30 person also in the car, then they must, if requested, state who was actually driving or be subject to some form of exclusion.
Failure to do so would result in forfeiturecof the Motability vehicle as DLM would remove the insurance.
No differant to an intended notice of prosecution arriving at the registered keepers address and requesting the name of the person who was driving at the time of the alledged offence / infringement.
Moral of the new rule will be…..
Pick you nominated drivers with care, especially those who you suspect are erratic drivers…..
August 24, 2025 at 1:33 pm #311738Looking at comments on MO’s Facebook page, this one comment drew my attention, in that under the privacy policy, it states it can track you in other vehicles (As previously quoted)
Comment on FB:
“So will all named drivers be required to have this app, and does it need to be active when we are not in the vehicle, I will be on my daughters agreement but I drive for a living doing 40k a year in my company car sp legally these journeys and destinations should not be used and stored as I would not be in the scheme vehicle”
Not sure if this is the Smart Drive app, however if it is, it’s plagued with issues!
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.drivesmart&hl=en-US
My point remains, if it’s eventually rolled out across the board, the car will be returned!
August 24, 2025 at 4:10 pm #311742I’m sure that the box will only connect to the smart phonethro near field communications or bluetooth and only return gathered data to Motability. So if if a differant vehicle, it won’t report
August 24, 2025 at 4:36 pm #311743It would be interesting to know how much testing has taken place, time and sample size.
- AuthorReplies
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.