Drivers warned over Blue Badge rule change from Monday

Thousands of Blue Badge holders will miss out on receiving up to £3,750 in a new scheme launching from Monday. The Government's new Electric Car Grant portal, set up after Labour announced discounts on the sale of brand new EVs, is expected to launch on August 11.

Motorists buying vehicles under £37,000 will be eligible for the discount in a bid to drive demand for sustainable models and electric cars. However, experts have warned that a staggering 11,000 disabled Blue Badge holders may not be eligible for the savings due to restrictive affordability criteria. Matt Fieldhouse, Group Managing Director and Car Expert at Mobility in Motion, has stressed that just 20 of the top 40 most accessible and affordable EVs on the Motability Scheme meet the price limit.

It means that half of the most practical models for disabled drivers and Blue Badge holders are excluded from the scheme.

Matt said: “The UK Government’s new Electric Car Grant (ECG), which launched this month, aims to make electric vehicles more affordable by offering up to £3,750 off new EVs under £37,000. However, the policy overlooks the needs of thousands of disabled drivers who access vehicles through the Motability Scheme.

In the first half of 2025 alone, around 225,000 new EVs were registered in the UK - and if we apply the current Blue Badge holder rate (4.9% of the UK population), that suggests around 11,025 disabled drivers are expected to purchase an EV car between now and December.

"New research by Mobility in Motion shows that just 20 of the 40 most accessible and affordable EVs available through the Motability Scheme meet the government’s price threshold for the new ECG grant, meaning half of the most practical and accessible EVs are already ruled out.”

Under the scheme, there are no additional provisions or priority access for disabled drivers or Blue Badge holders. It means road users must meet the same rules and price cap as any other driver applying for the discount.

Motorists will also have to pay out for any disability adaptations or Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAV) conversions they may need out of their own pocket. Matt stressed that additional support for disabled drivers was urgently required to solve the “real world needs” of motorists.

He added: "To make the transition to electric vehicles truly inclusive, the latest policy must consider additional support for disabled motorists. This includes raising the price cap for EVs under the Motability Scheme, recognising the additional costs of adapting your vehicle, and ensuring that grant eligibility reflects the real-world needs of disabled drivers - not just headline affordability."