Since October last year I have had a Motability vehicle, with what Motability calls/called an Open Policy. This meant that there was no restriction on who could drive my car, as long as they had a clean and valid license, rather than being tied to two nominated drivers who live within a 5-mile radius of my home.

The key problem I'm having is that RSAM, Motability's insurance arm (underwritten by Royal Sun Alliance), is insisting that every single person who drives a vehicle leased through Motability has a UK driving license.

This affects me because 90% of my PAs are drivers who gained their license outside the UK. I'm having the demon's own battle to get them to accept a South African licence despite it meeting every single point they are asking for.

We need to prove to Motability that the decision is WRONG on so many levels. For example I, in common with many other disabled people who require 24/7 personal support, employ agency workers who live in my home for a fortnight or more at a time. The majority of these workers are from overseas, and many do not remain long enough to make it worth their while to obtain a UK driving license.

Furthermore, in order to obtain a UK license, they have to surrender their home license, which incurs further expense when they return home.

Often, due to sickness or any unexpected events, I do not know the name of my PAs until shortly before they arrive, rendering it impossible for me to notify RSAM in a timely manner.

It is also going to render it impossible to live from now on unless Motability changes its underwriters.

14 March 2013