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Free Driving Lessons For People Claiming Benefits

Driving lessons can get expensive when it comes to learning to drive especially if the driving instructors have upped their prices in your local area. The government has a scheme called ‘Motability Driving Lessons’ which offers you up to 40 hours of free driving lessons for those that qualify for the scheme. On average you will need between 40 and 50 hours before you should take your driving test and with this government scheme you can potentially have all the costs covered for your driving lessons. With the scheme it also includes a free study pack to help support the person through the driving theory test.

You will have to apply to receive the grant from the scheme, which will prioritize funding for people wanting to learn to drive if they receive the specified state benefits.

These include people who are in receipt of one of these disability allowances:

  • Enhanced Rate of the Motability Component of PIP
  • Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance
  • Higher Rate Mobility Component of Child Disability Payment
  • War Pensioners Mobility Supplement
  • Armed Forces Independence Payment

Receiving a Government assist means-tested benefit, including:

  • Universal Credit
  • Income Support
  • Employment and Support Allowance (Income Related)
  • Job Seekers Allowance (Income Related)
  • Housing Benefit
  • Council Tax Benefit (Council Tax Support, Council Tax Reduction)
  • Pension Guarantee Credit
  • Working Tax Credit
  • Child Tax Credit

You must also have a current lease agreement on the Motability Scheme or have a pending application for a vehicle on the Motability Scheme, with a confirmed date to take delivery of the vehicle within the next four months.

The Motability website 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.”
Motability also adds that the applicant will need to pay for the full cost of both their theory and practical driving tests.