Vehicle tax for disabled people
You may be entitled to a free tax disc if you're a disabled person who gets the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance, War Pensioners Mobility Supplement or have an invalid carriage.
Using the vehicle
To claim exemption from vehicle tax, the vehicle must be registered in your name or registered in the name of someone you nominate to drive for you (a nominee).
The vehicle must only be used for your purposes, for example shopping or getting prescriptions.
If it is being used by the nominee or someone else for their own personal needs, then the exemption will be lost and the normal rate of vehicle tax must be paid.
How to get an exemption certificate
Before you can get a free tax disc, you'll need to apply for an exemption certificate from the agency that issuesyour benefit. The exemption certificate will show your name and that of the nominee if you have nominated someone to drive for you.
Some vehicles don't need an exemption certificate to tax - see 'invalid carriages' and 'Motability contract hire vehicles' below.
If you claim the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance
Contact the DisabilityLiving Allowance Unitand ask for exemption certificate DLA 404.
Disability Living Allowance Unit,Warbreck House, Warbreck Hill, Blackpool FY2 0YE
Telephone: 0845 712 3456
Textphone: 0845 722 4433
If you claim the War Pensioners Mobility Supplement
Contact the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency and ask for exemption certificate WPA 442.
Service Personnel and Veterans Agency, Norcross, Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire FY5 3GZ
Telephone: 0800 169 2277
Textphone: 0800 169 3458
Taxing your vehicle in the disabled tax class
Get your free tax disc at a Post Office branch that issues tax discs. You can renew it each year online, over the phone, in person or by post.
- Taxing your vehicle in the disabled tax class (general motoring section)
Changes in your circumstances
If you are in hospital for more than 28 days - or 84 days if you claim exemption fora child -the exemption from vehicle tax will still apply,as long asthe vehicle continues to be used for your direct purposes. This applies even if youlose your entitlement to Disability Living Allowance as a result of your stay in hospital.
If you sell the vehicle or your entitlement ends, you should return the disabled tax disc to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea SA99 1AL or your nearestDVLA local office.
If you no longer qualify for vehicletax exemption, you will need totax your car in the appropriate tax classand pay the correct rate of vehicle tax.
- Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) contacts
- How to tax your vehicle without a reminder (general motoring section)
Invalid carriages
You don't need an exemption certificate to get a free tax disc for an invalid carriage. The vehicle must be registered in your name, weigh less than 509kg and be adapted, used or kept on a road for a disabled person.
Your vehicle doesn't need to be registered or display a tax disc if it weighs less than 113.4kg, is for footway use only and has a maximum speed of four mph.
You can download leaflet INF210 'How to register a brand new class three invalid carriage' or leaflet INF211 'How to register a used class three invalid carriage'.
- Download INF210 (PDF, 676K)
- Download INF211 (PDF, 478K)
- Help with PDF files
Motability contract hire vehicles
Motability contract hire vehicles don't need an exemption certificate. Motability will arrange to tax your vehicle each year and send a tax disc directly to you.
AsMotability registers the vehicle and holds the Registration Certificate for the duration of your contract, it's important that you tellMotability of any changes to your address or circumstances to ensure you get your tax disc on time.
- The Motability Scheme: options for buying or hiring a car
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- Source:
- DirectGov
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