You’ll need to meet the legal obligations for drivers before you can drive.

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 as passengers.

Vehicle tax exemption

Eligibility

You can apply for exemption from paying vehicle tax if you get the:

• higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• enhanced rate mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• enhanced rate mobility component of Adult Disability Payment (ADP)
• higher rate mobility component of Child Disability Payment
• War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
• Armed Forces Independence Payment

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 cannot be used by the nominated driver for their own personal use.

How to claim

You claim the exemption when you apply for vehicle tax.

If you’re claiming for a vehicle for the first time, you have to claim at a Post Office. You must do this every time you change your vehicle.

Vehicle tax reduction

Eligibility

You can get a 50% reduction in vehicle tax if you get the:

• PIP standard rate mobility component
• ADP standard rate mobility component

The vehicle should be registered in the disabled person’s name or their nominated driver’s name.

How to claim

You must include the following with your application:

• a letter or statement from the Department for Work and Pensions that shows your PIP rate and the dates you’re getting it – if you’re getting PIP
• an ADP decision letter from Social Security Scotland that shows your mobility component rate and the dates you’re getting it – if you’re getting ADP
• the vehicle log book (V5C)
• a V10 form
• an original MOT or GVT certificate (if your vehicle needs one)
• a cheque or payable order (made out to ‘DVLA, Swansea’) for 50% of the full rate of car tax for the vehicle
• an insurance certificate or cover note (if you live in Northern Ireland)

If you’ve just bought the vehicle and it’s not registered in your name yet, you’ll need to complete a V62 form and include the green ‘new keeper’ slip from the log book with your application.

Send the documents to:

If the vehicle is not registered to you or the nominated driver

When you make your application you will need to include a signed letter from the vehicle’s registered keeper. This needs to say:

• how they know you
• how the vehicle will be used, for example picking up your prescription or shopping

The Motability Scheme can help you with leasing a car, powered wheelchair or scooter. You’ll need to be getting one of the following:

• higher rate of the mobility component of DLA
• higher rate of the mobility component of Child Disability Payment
• War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• enhanced rate of the mobility component of PIP
• enhanced rate mobility component of Adult Disability Payment

VAT relief for vehicles

You may not have to pay VAT on having a vehicle adapted to suit your condition, or on the lease of a Motability vehicle – this is known as VAT relief.

Community and public transport

Your local council may operate dial-a-ride or taxi schemes, for example, using vouchers or tokens. You may also be eligible for a bus pass, a Disabled Persons Railcard or both.