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Getting a wheelchair into a car (view report contents)

Finance

This section covers:

Motability Schemes
Other sources of finance
VAT on adaptations
Vehicle Excise Duty (Road Tax)
Insurance

There are few sources of finance for adaptations. Motability (see below) have grant schemes which you can apply to for help. As well as this, it may be worth approaching charities or grant giving organisations in your local area. See below for more information.

If you are buying a car with the intention of having controls fitted, it may be worth your while to consider buying a new car rather than a second hand one as you may not have to pay VAT (see section on VAT below for more details).

Motability

The Motability Scheme allows you to use the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance or the War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement to lease or buy a car, powered wheelchair or scooter. The basic schemes are described below. They do not cover adaptations. However Motability administer several grants which do. See section below on Grants.

Contract Hire Scheme

You use your Mobility Allowance to lease a new car from Motability for three years. Maintenance and servicing costs, comprehensive insurance for up to two drivers and RAC breakdown assistance are included.

You can choose a model from a wide range of manufacturers. If you choose one that is more expensive than is covered by the Mobility Allowance, you may have to make an advance payment. This ranges from £10 to a few thousand pounds, depending on the car.

If you travel more than 15,000 miles a year, you will be charged from 5p for each extra mile.

If you need an adaptation it must be supplied and fitted by a Motability accredited supplier. You have to pay for it, although you may be able to get a grant – see below. At the end of the agreement, you have to remove all adaptations and return the vehicle to its original condition.

Hire Purchase Scheme

With this scheme you use the Higher Rate Mobility Component to buy the car. This is done over two, three or five years for a used vehicle and over four or five years for a new one. There are no restrictions on mileage or on what the vehicle is used for. As the car is yours once the hire purchase term has been completed, you can keep it for as long as you like and do not have to remove any adaptations if you sell.

Grants

You can apply to Motability for financial help. They administer a number of government funds as well as having their own Charitable Fund. They can be provided for such things as adaptations, advance payments on more expensive vehicles and driving lessons. You have to provide details of your circumstances which will be checked. Motability can only help towards the least expensive suitable solution to your needs.

For more information on any of these contact Motability directly:

Motability
Warwick House
Roydon Road
Harlow
Essex
CM19 5PX
Tel: 01279 635999
Fax: 01279 632000
Textphone: 01279 632213
Customer Helpline: 0845 456 4566
www.motability.co.uk

Other sources of finance

Charities

Some charities give grants to individuals.

  • Your local library should be able to help you find sources, such as the Round Table, Rotary or Lions Club and other local charities.


  • Try your appropriate disability group such as Scope, the MS Society or Muscular Dystrophy group, who may know of sources of help.

The Family Fund helps families with severely disabled children aged 15 and under. In some circumstances, they may be able to contribute towards the cost of adapting a car or with driving lessons. The Trust cannot usually help with the cost of buying a car.

The Family Fund
4 Alpha Court
Monks Cross Drive
York
YO32 9WN
Tel: 0845 130 4542
Fax: 01904 652625
Textphone: 01904 658085
e-mail: info@familyfund.org.uk
www.familyfund.org.uk

  • If you are over 65, Charity Search will help you find a grant-giving charity, free (0117 982 4060 10am-3pm, Monday to Thursday). They also consider requests from disabled people over the age of 40.
  • FunderFinder have a database of organisations that give grants. Call them to find out where you can see their database locally (0113 243 3008).

Statutory sources

Social services - may be worth trying, especially if you do not get Disability Living Allowance or if you have already used its mobility component to lease or buy a vehicle.

Access to Work- if you are in work or are applying for a job you may be able to get help from the Access to Work scheme. They may cover the cost of adaptations to a vehicle if this is the only, or most cost effective way for you to get to work. Cases are assessed on an individual basis. Contact your local Job Centre for information or vist www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk

 

VaT on adaptations

You do not pay VAT for products designed and made specifically for disabled people. This means all adaptations, their installation, repairs and maintenance are zero rated.

More details from VAT Notice 701/7 VAT relief for people with disabilities, click here or call the HM Revenue and Customs national advice service 0845 010 9000.

VAT on vehicles

If you use a wheelchair or a stretcher you may not have to pay VAT on the price of the car or for its repair or maintenance. To qualify you must

  • be a wheelchair user. Temporary users do not count and nor do scooter users,
    • or

  • need to be carried in a stretcher.

The car must

  • have been designed or substantially and permanently adapted for the person who normally uses a wheelchair or stretcher
  • have a carrying capacity of no more than 12 people
  • be for domestic or personal use.

Vehicles owned and run by businesses do not qualify. However you can use a qualifying adapted vehicle for work if it is incidental to its main use as a private vehicle.

You have to buy and adapt the vehicle at the same time - you cannot get a refund of VAT for adaptations made later.

What kind of adaptations count?

  • Those which make it possible for you to get in and out of the vehicle, such as a swivel seat.

  • Those which make it possible for you to drive, such as hand controls for primary driving controls and infra red systems for secondary controls. Note that standard extras such as automatic transmission would not be enough to qualify.

  • Those which enable a wheelchair to be carried in the vehicle, such as a hoist. Trailers, roof or rear racks would not count as they are not vehicle adaptations.

Adaptations have to be permanent - which means in practice that they have to be welded or bolted on. Repairs and maintenance to the vehicle is also zero rated. The supplier of the vehicle has to be satisfied that you qualify, and you will have to sign a form declaring your disability.

More information: VAT Notice 701/59 Motor vehicles for disabled people. From HM Revenue and Customs national advice service (see above) or contact MAVIS (see section on mobility centres) for a copy.

Note: Alterations made to a car before it is registered in your name have to have type approval. In practice this means that it is only legal to fit these adaptations after registration, which means you have to register the car, have it adapted and then pay for it. Talk to the firm who is adapting your car to arrange this – they will know the ropes and be able to make appropriate arrangements.

 

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). Send it with your registration documents, test certificate and certificate of insurance to your local DVLA office.

If the dealer is registering your new vehicle for you, you will need to let them have your certificate.

 

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 Mobilise have lists of specialist insurance companies.

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Report Contents

Introduction
Which type?
Wheelchair hoists

Wheelchair hoist summaries

Rooftop Hoists

Rooftop hoist summaries


Other ways of carrying a wheelchair
Racks and containers
Buying guide

Specialist trailers

Ramps
Finance
Helpful organisations
Mobility Centres
Suppliers