The legal side
Driving licence
Mobility Centres or disabled drivers' organisations will be able to help you find a driving instructor who specialises in teaching disabled drivers. They use cars with adapted controls or will teach you in your own vehicle.
Drivers of adapted cars take the same test as everyone else. If you drive an adapted vehicle and you have advised the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency details will appear in code form on your licence. The adaptations recorded are: modified transmission, modified clutch, modified braking and acceleration systems, modified control layouts, modified steering, modified rear view mirrors and modified driving seats. You can only drive cars with similar equipment.
There's no top age limit to driving. You have to renew your licence at 70 and every three years after that. A form will be sent to you by the DVLA.
You must tell them of any disability when applying for a licence for the first time. You must also tell them if you have a new medical condition or one which has got worse since passing your driving test or since your last licence was issued. Conditions you have to tell them about include fits or blackouts, seizures, diabetes, angina attacks which are provoked by driving, memory problems, stroke, brain injury, brain surgery, pacemaker, difficulty in using your arms or legs and any visual condition which affects both eyes.
You may be sent a questionnaire and will be asked to give permission for the Medical Advisor to contact your doctor or specialist. If your driving licence is for automatic vehicles only, you must make sure the clutch pedal is removed if you have adapted a manual gearbox. Further information from www.dvla.gov.uk or in What you need to know about driving licences from a post office.
Vehicle Excise Duty (Road Tax)
You don't have to pay Road Tax if you get either the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance or the War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement.
If you are not the driver you have to provide the name of whoever will drive for you. The vehicle must be registered in your or your nominee's name. It must be used only by you or for your benefit - such as to do your shopping. However, anyone can drive it as long as they are insured.
To claim, get an exemption certificate from the Disability Living Allowance Unit (08457 123456) or the Veterans Agency (0800 169 2277). You can then get your free tax disc at post offices which issue road tax, or by post. If the dealer is registering your new vehicle for you, you will need to let them have your certificate. Renewals can be made online.
Motability contract hire vehicles don't need a certificate - the tax disk will be arranged by Motability.
Getting insurance
Under the Disability Discrimination Act, insurers are not allowed to refuse disabled drivers insurance or charge extra without justifying evidence. Premiums must be based on a reasonable assessment of risk. Insurers will take account of any DVLA restrictions on your licence, but this is not in itself justification for a higher premium. However, you may have to pay more
- while you are adjusting to a new disability if there is evidence that this will increase the risk
- to cover any extra cost of repairing an adapted vehicle.
As with all insurance, shop around to get the best deal. If you feel you are being charged more for your policy than other drivers in similar circumstances, ask the insurance company for details of why they consider you to be a greater risk. Mobility Centres and organisations of disabled drivers have lists of specialist insurance companies.
Blue badge scheme
The Blue Badge Scheme offers parking concessions for disabled people with severe walking difficulties who need to park close to their destinations. The scheme also applies to registered blind people, people with severe upper limb disabilities in both arms who regularly drive a vehicle and children under two with specific medical conditions.
The scheme is administered by local authorities which deal with applications and issue badges. To find out if you qualify follow the Access for Disabled People link at www.dft.gov.uk, or contact the Blue Badge helpline at the Department for Transport on either 020 7944 2914 or 0161 367 0009. Or by email at blue.badge@dft.gsi.gov.uk.
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