Blue Badges, driving and Motability

Having your own vehicle through the Motability scheme may be the best option for you. You can drive it yourself or have someone drive it for you.

You can lease a car, scooter or powered wheelchair through the Motability Scheme if you’ve been awarded:

• the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for 12 months or more
• the enhanced rate mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for 12 months or more
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement

You pay to join the scheme using the mobility components of your DLA or PIP. The scheme does not pay for your fuel, but does cover:

• breakdown cover
• vehicle tax

The Motability Scheme

If you do not need a wheelchair-accessible or adapted vehicle 365 days a year, you could try a subscription service.

Accessible Vehicle Club

Motability includes car insurance with tyre and windscreen replacement cover. 

It is illegal for a car insurance company to charge you extra because of disability unless they can prove it’s justified in the Equality Act 2010.

Motor insurance (Disabled Motoring UK)

Cars and Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles accidents and insurance (Motability)

You do not need to be a member of Motability to:

• get exemption or discount on vehicle tax (GOV.UK)
• get the VAT back on an adapted car (GOV.UK)

If you are a Motability customer, the charity may pay for up to 40 hours of driving lessons.

Driving lessons (Motability)

There is help available from other motoring organisations:

Disability driving instructors

Disabled Motoring UK

Driving Mobility can assess what kind of adaptations you might need. There are regional driving assessment centres across the UK and many have outreach centres. As well as adaptations, they will also assess your ability to drive.

Ask them to advise you on who can fit your adaptation. You should always get at least 2 quotes on how much it will cost.

Driving Mobility

If your condition means that you find it hard to get around, you may be able to get a Blue Badge. This helps you park nearer to places you want to go.

Apply for the Blue Badge scheme (GOV.UK)

Where Blue Badge holders can park (GOV.UK)

There is no right to appeal a Blue Badge decision but you can ask your local authority to review it.

BlueBadgeParking is a free, crowd-sourced, not-for-profit map of accessible parking around the world.