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Help to buy or lease a car

Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

There is a scheme called Motability which might help you to buy a car on hire purchase or lease a car. It also covers powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

If you cannot drive or prefer not to drive yourself, you may still obtain a vehicle and name up to two other people as drivers. You usually have to pay a deposit but might get help to pay this. If you lease the car, insurance, breakdown cover and repairs are included. Mileage up to a certain limit is included in the price but after that you have to pay per mile you drive. The hire purchase or lease payments are met by your Disability Living Allowance or war pensioner's mobility supplement which is usually paid direct to Motability.

Is it means-tested?

To qualify for the scheme, you have to get the higher rate mobility part of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or war pensioner's mobility supplement. If your child is over the age of three and getting the higher rate mobility part of DLA, you can hire a car through the Motability scheme on your child's behalf.

For more information about Motability (link opens in a new window), look on their website or phone them on:

0844 800 6779.

Further help

The Citizens Advice website (link opens in a new window) can give you more information about help for disabled people. 

Directgov, the government website, (link opens in a new window) has more information about help for disabled people.  

Find an adviser tool.

This information has been produced by Citizens Advice. 

Last updated: 6 April 2010