NDIS Funding for Driving: What’s allowed and what’s not

Driving can be an important way to maintain independence. For someone living with a condition like young onset Parkinson’s, specialised vehicle modifications can help you drive safely or travel more easily. The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is designed to fund supports that are directly related to your disability. When it comes to driving, this can include some vehicle modifications. However, not all costs related to driving are covered.

However, don’t forget people with Parkinson’s can still drive, but Parkinson’s is a medical condition that needs to be declared, requiring notification to the transport authority in your respective state or territory. Check your state or territory website for necessary forms for a General Practitioner or neurologist to fill out and file ASAP.

Failing to disclose may lead to consequences such as insurance issues, legal liabilities, or driving offences. Check with your insurance what is required.

What NDIS funds for vehicle modifications

The NDIS only covers costs that meet the “reasonable and necessary” criteria. For vehicle modifications, this means that the supports must directly help overcome a disability-related barrier to driving or travel. Examples of modifications that may be funded include:

  • Hand Controls: If your condition makes it difficult to operate pedals normally, special hand controls can allow you to drive safely.
  • Modified Steering Systems: Adaptations that provide easier control or stability can be funded if recommended by a qualified professional.
  • Wheelchair Lifts or Ramps: For those who use a wheelchair, a lift or ramp can make a vehicle accessible.
  • Specialised Seating or Harnesses: Custom seats that offer better support or positioning for people with limited mobility may also be included.
  • Adapted Driver’s Aids: Additional controls or support devices, such as joystick-operated controls or voice-activated systems, might be funded if they help you drive more safely.

All these modifications must be shown to directly relate to your disability and have a clear benefit in making the vehicle safe and accessible for you. This request for funding must be supported by OT or driving assessment reports.

Specialised driver training

In addition to physical modifications, the NDIS can support specialised driver training for those who need extra assistance learning how to use the modifications effectively. Such supports might include:

  • Driver Trained Occupational Therapist Assessments: An occupational therapist can assess your driving capabilities, determine your specific needs, and recommend appropriate adaptations.
  • Specialised Driving Instruction: A qualified driving instructor with expertise in adaptive driving can provide on-road training. This training helps you learn how to use newly installed devices or modifications safely and confidently.
  • Training to Use Adaptive Equipment: Often, simply having a new piece of assistive technology is not enough. You might require tailored training sessions to get used to the controls and devices in your modified vehicle.

Associated costs and reports

Other driving-related supports might include:

  • Engineering certificates or authorisation reports: These documents, which confirm that your vehicle modifications meet safety standards, can be funded if they are necessary for registering the vehicle modifications.
  • Transfer of modifications: If you own a modified vehicle and later acquire a new one, the NDIS can sometimes help cover the cost of removing the modifications from your old vehicle and installing them in your new one.
  • Insurance costs specific to modifications: Sometimes the vehicle’s modified features lead to higher insurance premiums. The NDIS may fund an extra insurance cost if it directly relates to the modifications required for your safety.
  • Depreciation of Existing Modifications: If you purchase a second-hand vehicle with existing modifications, the NDIS may consider the depreciated value of those modifications when determining funding.
  • Temporary Transport Support: While your vehicle is being modified, the NDIS may fund alternative transport arrangements if needed.

What is NOT funded

While the above modifications may be eligible for funding under the NDIS, several related costs are not covered. These include:

  • The Cost of Purchasing a Vehicle: The NDIS does not pay for buying a car. It only covers adaptations to a vehicle you already own or plan to purchase.
  • General Running Costs: Routine costs such as fuel, insurance, registration, and regular vehicle maintenance are considered everyday living expenses.
  • Non-Disability Related Upgrades: Modifications that are considered luxuries or improvements in comfort, rather than being essential for overcoming a disability barrier, will not be funded.
  • Unnecessary or Excess Upgrades: Any modifications that have not been clearly demonstrated through professional assessments as necessary for safe driving or travel will be excluded.
  • Driving Lessons for Licence Hours: The NDIS does not fund driving lessons solely to accumulate logbook hours for a licence. This is a common misconception.
  • Vehicle Age and Condition: If the vehicle is older than 5 years and no longer under warranty, the NDIS may require a vehicle condition report to ensure it’s safe and suitable for modification.
  • High-Cost Modifications: The NDIS generally won’t fund high-cost modifications if similar modifications were funded in the past 8 years, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

How to get vehicle modifications funded

To have vehicle modifications approved through your NDIS plan, you must follow a detailed process:

  1. Assessment by a Qualified Professional: The first step is to obtain an assessment from an occupational therapist or a driving assessment specialist. This professional will determine what modifications are necessary for you to drive safely or to travel independently. They will also prepare a report explaining how your disability affects your ability to drive and why the modifications are needed.
  2. Obtaining Quotes: You will need to get detailed, itemised quotes from accredited service providers. These quotes should clearly separate the cost of the modification work from any additional costs that are not directly related to your disability.
  3. NDIS Planning Meeting: Present the professional assessment and quotes during your NDIS planning meeting. Explain how the modifications will remove barriers caused by your disability. Your support coordinator or Local Area Coordinator (LAC) can help ensure that your request is seen as “reasonable and necessary.”
  4. Submission of Documentation: Your plan manager or support coordinator will submit your documentation to the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) for review. They consider whether the costs are essential for your safe driving and independence.
  5. Approval and Implementation: Once approved, the funding for the modifications will be included in your NDIS plan under the Capital Supports budget. You may then engage the service providers to carry out the work.
  6. Ongoing Reviews: Your needs may change over time, so it is important to regularly review your NDIS plan with your support coordinator or LAC to ensure that the modifications still meet your requirements.

Vehicle modifications under the NDIS can be crucial for enhancing your independence and safety while driving. The key is to ensure that any modifications are directly related to overcoming barriers caused by your disability. While essential aids such as hand controls, specialised seating, or wheelchair lifts can be funded, the NDIS does not pay for the cost of buying the vehicle or everyday running expenses.

This article is intended as general information only. For further information, visit the official NDIS website, call NDIS on 1800 800 110 or speak with your support coordinator. Understanding the funding rules and the process helps you make informed decisions and secure the supports you need to drive safely and independently.

References

NDIS. (n.d.). Vehicle modifications and specialised driver training. Retrieved from https://ourguidelines.ndis.gov.au/supports-you-can-access-menu/equipment-and-technology/vehicle-modifications-and-specialised-driver-training

NDIS. (n.d.). What vehicle modifications and specialised driver training do we fund? Retrieved from https://ourguidelines.ndis.gov.au/supports-you-can-access-menu/equipment-and-technology/vehicle-modifications-and-specialised-driver-training/what-vehicle-modifications-and-specialised-driver-training-do-we-fund

NDIS. (n.d.). Plan Budget and Rules. Retrieved from https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/creating-your-plan/plan-budget-and-rules

Find the Driver licensing authority contacts for your state or territory, a Driver Patient factsheet and the Assessing Fitness to Drive at austroads.com.au

Disability services are also available to help you locate transportation options:

Review our handy table on what’s in and out on the NDIS lists.

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