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A boy in a wheelchair is next to a car.

Driving Lessons

Through our Driving Lessons Grant Programme, Motability can provide grants towards the cost of learning to drive for disabled people who have a provisional licence and want a full licence. We can also provide grants to disabled people who already have a licence but need familiarisation lessons; for example, if they need to get used to new driving adaptations.

If you have a provisional driving licence, we can offer up to 40 hours of driving lessons to help you pass your driving test. This also includes a free study pack to support you through the driving theory test. Your first lesson will usually be two hours long, so you can get used to the vehicle and any adaptations or controls it may have. You will need to pay for both the theory and practical driving tests.

Danielle is strapping her little boy into his car seat, as he looks over to his smiling baby sister who is already in hers
“Being able to drive myself has built my confidence and made me realise we can be a happy independent little family, thanks to Motability.”
Danielle

Familiarisation lessons

If you have received a grant towards a vehicle with adaptations and need familiarisation lessons to help build your confidence, we will work with you to support your needs. The support we offer can include paying for a dual brake to be installed to a Scheme vehicle before the lessons take place, if this is needed. We find that most people only need up to five hours of familiarisation lessons, however we may pay for additional hours if you need them.

We work in partnership with the AA Driving School, who have instructors across the UK, and aim to provide a suitable, local instructor for you.

Our Driving Lessons Grant Programme currently prioritises funding for people want to learn to drive and who:

1. Are in receipt of one of these disability allowances:

  • Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of PIP
  • Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance
  • Higher Rate Mobility Component of Child Disability Payment
  • War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
  • Armed Forces Independence Payment

2. Receive a Government assessed means-tested benefit (listed below) and who:

3. Have a current lease agreement on the Motability Scheme or;

4. Have a pending application for a vehicle on the Motability Scheme, with a confirmed date to take delivery of the vehicle within the next four months or;

5. People who need familiarisation lessons to drive their grant funded vehicle.

Government assessed means-tested benefits you may already be in receipt of:

  • Universal Credit;
  • Income Support;
  • Employment and Support Allowance (income-related);
  • Job Seekers Allowance (income-based);
  • Housing Benefit;
  • Council Tax Benefit (Council Tax Support, Council Tax Reduction) or Rate Relief for customers living in Northern Ireland (not including the 25% discount under the Disabled Band Reduction Scheme or Single Occupancy Reduction);
  • Pension Guarantee Credit;
  • Working Tax Credit;
  • Child Tax Credit.

When you place an application for a charitable grant, it will be allocated to a Case Manager for consideration. During busy periods it may take six to eight weeks for your application to be assigned to a Case Manager. Please wait for your Case Manager to contact you to update you on the status of your application.

All grant applications are means-tested to ensure Motability supports those most in need of a charitable grant and help as many beneficiaries as possible with the charitable funds available. This means we will look at your financial situation to determine if we are able to provide a grant towards your lessons.

Grants are awarded in line with Motability’s policies and following thorough consideration of the information submitted in the application. All grant awards are final. Applications that Motability considers do not meet their criteria will not receive grant funding.

  • Applicants should be able to join or continue to use the Motability Scheme.
  • A valid provisional licence is needed before applying for grants assistance.
  • It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the DVLA is kept up-to-date with their details, including how a disability may affect their ability to drive.
  • The applicant will need to pay for the full cost of both their theory and practical driving tests.
  • The applicant should start to study for, and book, their theory test when they start their driving lessons.
  • It is expected that lessons are taken on a regular basis and that ideally, the course of lessons is completed within 12 months from receiving the grant. Progress is monitored and the support offered may be reviewed if necessary.

Stopped Allowance Support

We have committed to help Scheme customers who lose their higher rate mobility benefit through reassessment, either in transitioning to PIP or in renewing their PIP award.

Find out more about our Stopped Allowance Support. 

Additional Transitional Support (ATS) Grant Programme

Our ATS Grants Programme can support you if, following a disability benefit reassessment, you are no longer eligible for the Motability Scheme and cannot meet the cost of a replacement vehicle or the adaptations you need.

Find out more about our Additional Transitional Support Grant Programme.

Access to Work Scheme

We provide support to disabled people who are in work or have the offer of work. Support offered through this programme includes grants towards the cost of equipment required for individuals to gain or retain employment.

Find out more about our Access to Work Scheme. 

Transitional Support Grant Programme

We can support Scheme customers who have been unsuccessful in their PIP assessment.

Find out more about our Transitional Support Grant Programme.

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