Transport

Disabled drivers scheme gets overhaul after being found ‘not fit for purpose’

Government working group found the current scheme was overly restrictive and that a new needs-based grant-aided vehicular adaptation scheme should replace it

The disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme was set up in the 1960s to reduce the cost of buying specially adapted vehicles for drivers with disabilities but the criteria for eligibility has been labelled as being too restrictive

A new grant scheme for disabled drivers is going to be established after an official report found the existing one, which is used by 15,000 people, is “not fit for purpose”.

The disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme was set up in the 1960s to reduce the cost of buying specially adapted vehicles for drivers with disabilities.

It allows an estimated 15,000 disabled drivers or passengers to get a refund of Vat and VRT on ...