Motorists

LIMB DISABILITY AND DRIVING

You must tell DVLA if you have a limb disability.

You can be fined up to £1,000 if you don’t tell DVLA about a medical condition that affects your driving.  You may be prosecuted if you’re involved in an accident as a result.

CAR OR MOTORCYCLE LICENSE

Fill in form G1 and send it to DVLA, the address is on the form. Or call 0300 790 6802.

BUS, COACH OR LORRY LICENSE

Fill in form G1V and send it to DVLA. The address is on the form. Or call 0300 790 6802.

DVLA might ask you to take a driving assessment.  The assessment is free under the NHS, although a referral from a doctor is required, giving brief medical details relevant to driving before an appointment can be arranged.  The waiting time for this can be lengthy so please arrange this as soon as possible.

DVLA ROAD TAX EXEMPTION 

You can apply for exemption from paying vehicle tax. The vehicle must be registered in the disabled person’s name or their nominated driver’s name. It must only be used for the disabled person’s personal needs. It can’t be used by the nominated driver for their own personal use. For more information on eligibility and to apply, please click here.

BLUE BADGE PARKING SCHEME 

The Blue Badge scheme provides a range of parking benefits for disabled people with severe walking difficulties who travel either as drivers or passengers.  You can apply for a new badge here.

MOTABILITY

The Motability Scheme enable disabled people to get mobile by exchanging their mobility allowance to lease a new car, scooter or power wheelchair.  To be eligible to join the Scheme, you need to receive one of the following mobility allowances and must have at least 12 months’ award length of your allowance remaining.

• Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance (HRMC DLA)
• Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment (ERMC PIP)
• War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement (WPMS)
• Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP)

With the Motability Scheme you can simply exchange all, or part of your mobility allowance, to lease a brand new car, Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV), Scooter or Powered Wheelchair.  Your lease will run for 3 years and includes, insurance, service and maintenance, a range of adaptions where needed, full breakdown assistance and up to two named drivers for cars and WAV’s.

You can request for information about the scheme to be emailed to you here or if you prefer it posted just click here.

CHARITABLE GRANTS

Motability can provide Charitable Grants towards:

• Vehicle adaptations – such as wheelchair hoists and Infra Red controls.
  Find out about grants towards Scheme vehicle adaptations
• Vehicle Advance Payments – often for larger, more expensive vehicles on the Scheme.
  Find out about grants towards Advance Payments
• Driving lessons – make the most of your independence and learn to drive.
  Find out about grants towards driving lessons

ACCESS TO WORK

If you’re disabled or have a physical or mental health condition that makes it hard for you to do your job, you can:

• talk to your employer about changes they must make in your workplace
• apply for Access to Work if you need extra help

TALK TO YOUR EMPLOYER ABOUT CHANGES THEY MUST MAKE IN YOUR WORKPLACE

Your employer must make certain changes (known as ‘reasonable adjustments’) to make sure you’re not substantially disadvantaged when doing your job. These could include changing your working hours or providing equipment to help you do your job.

You should talk to your employer about reasonable adjustments before you apply for Access to Work.

GET HELP FROM ACCESS TO WORK

If the help you need at work is not covered by your employer making reasonable adjustments, you may be able to get help from Access to Work.

You need to have a paid job, or be about to start or return to one.

You’ll be offered support based on your needs, which may include a grant to help cover the costs of practical support in the workplace.

An Access to Work grant can pay for:

• special equipment, adaptations or support worker services to help you do things like answer the phone or go to meetings
• help getting to and from work

You might not get a grant if you already get certain benefits.

The money does not have to be paid back and will not affect your other benefits.

There’s a different system in Northern Ireland.

WAVSGB 

 WavsGB are a dealership based just outside Bath, but have customers from all over the UK. They specialise in Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles and offer a Home Demonstration service (within 200 miles or on a case-by-case basis). They also offer alternatives to home demonstrations such as filmed and live demonstration videos.

They have vehicles available from all major makes and with different sizes, features and seating configurations.

As well as selling used wheelchair accessible vehicles, WavsGB also offer them for hire on a daily or long-term basis and again they have customers all over the UK who have used their long-term hire service.