Many disabled individuals receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) may qualify for up to 40 hours of free driving lessons through the Driving Lessons Grant Programme, operated by the Motability Foundation.
This initiative is designed to reduce financial barriers to learning to drive, which remain significant for many people living with disabilities. The programme provides crucial support for those who meet specific benefit and eligibility criteria, helping them gain the skills needed for independence and mobility.
According to Devon Live, many eligible claimants remain unaware of this opportunity despite its potential to fully fund their driving lessons.
What the Driving Lessons Grant Programme Offers
The Driving Lessons Grant Programme supports disabled individuals who either want to learn to drive or require further driving instruction. The grant covers up to 40 hours of professional driving lessons, helping people with a provisional licence work toward passing their test.
It is also open to full licence holders who need familiarisation lessons, for instance when transitioning to a new vehicle adapted for their disability.
Applicants remain responsible for paying the theory and practical driving test fees.
It’s estimated that the average learner driver requires between 40–50 hours of lessons to be ready for the test, according to a report by the Daily Record. With the average lesson now costing £35 per hour, the full cost of driving instruction typically amounts to around £1,575.
As James Armstrong, CEO of Veygo Insurance, puts it:
With the average driving lesson now costing £35 per hour, and learner drivers needing around 45 hours of professional instruction to pass their tests, the cost of learning to drive is currently sitting around £1,575. This is a huge cost and barrier to learning to drive for many across the country.
Eligibility Criteria and Means Testing
To qualify, applicants must either:
- Be in receipt of one of the following disability allowances:
- Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of PIP
- War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Higher Rate Mobility Component of Child Disability Payment
And:
- Receive one of the following means-tested benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Job Seekers Allowance (income-based)
- Income Support
- Council Tax Benefit (Council Tax Support, Council Tax Reduction)
- Employment and Support Allowance (income-related)
- Pension Guarantee Credit
Applicants must also either currently lease a vehicle through the Motability Scheme or have a pending application with a confirmed delivery date within the next four months.
The Motability Foundation states:
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.
Once an application is submitted, it is assigned to a Case Manager for review. The foundation notes that:
It may take up to 10 weeks for an application to be allocated to a Case Manage, especially during peak periods.
Support for Mobility and Independence
By absorbing the significant financial burden of driving lessons, the programme aims to make personal transportation more accessible.
This can be life-changing for many disabled individuals, offering new opportunities for work, education, and social engagement where public transport is inadequate or inaccessible.
The programme is not automatic; those interested must actively apply and go through the eligibility assessment.
For full details and the most up-to-date eligibility guidance, applicants should consult the official Motability Foundation website or contact the foundation directly. Some official pages may be temporarily unavailable or redirect to error pages, so direct outreach is advised.
