As costs increase and budgets get smaller, we all want to know how we can keep our expenses to a minimum wherever we can. If you are learning to drive, you may be wondering if you can get financial help with your driving lessons.
The short answer is yes; there is support available from a number of charities and councils to help pay for lessons. However, you’ll need to show that you meet their eligibility criteria.
- What are the eligibility criteria for getting financial help?
- Can you get free driving lessons on Universal Credit?
- How to apply for free driving lessons on Universal Credit
- What is PIP and does it cover driving lessons?
- Am I eligible for Motability’s Driving Lessons Grant?
- Can the Job Centre help with driving lessons?
- Can carers get free driving lessons?
- I am leaving care – can I receive funding for driving lessons?
- Are there any other grants for driving lessons?
- None of the above applies to me. What can I do?
What are the eligibility criteria for getting financial help?
To find out if you can receive financial support towards the cost of driving lessons, it is important to check if you are entitled to receive extra financial help before applying. You may be eligible for financial support if you are receiving one of the following state benefits:
- Personal Independent Payment (PIP)
- Disability Living Allowance
- Universal Credit
- Housing Benefit
Can you get free driving lessons on Universal Credit?
If you’re on Universal Credit, you might be able to get free driving lessons through the Motability Foundation’s Driving Lessons Grant. The scheme can provide up to 40 hours of lessons.
To qualify, you need a provisional licence and must receive a mobility-related benefit, such as:
- The enhanced mobility component of PIP
- The higher-rate mobility component of DLA
If you do get funding, it will only pay for the lessons, not the theory or practical test fees.
How to apply for free driving lessons on Universal Credit
If you are receiving Universal Credit and qualify for the Motability Foundation’s Driving Lessons Grant, the process to apply for free driving lessons should be straightforward.
You will need to contact Motability on 0800 500 3186 for them to assess whether you are eligible to receive the funding. If you are, they will send you a secure link to Motability Foundation’s online grants portal, where you can complete a form to submit your application. The form will ask for proof of your benefits and licence, plus a short explanation of how driving will help your mobility or independence.
You’ll need to provide:
- Your National Insurance number
- Proof of your qualifying mobility benefit (PIP or DLA)
- Proof of your means-tested benefit, such as Universal Credit
- Provisional driving licence details
After you submit, Motability will review your application and, if approved, pay the driving instructor or school directly. You won’t get the money yourself, and you’ll still need to book and pay for your theory and practical tests separately. For example, if you are looking to book driving lessons in Oxford and your application with Mobility is successful, your driving instructor will be paid by Motability; however, you will need to pay yourself for your theory test at the Oxford Theory Test Centre and your practical test, likely at the Oxford Cowley Test Centre, unless you choose another less local location.
What is PIP and does it cover driving lessons?
Personal Independent Payment, also known as PIP for short, is money available for people who require extra support due to a disability. It is available for people aged 16 to 64 and is not means-tested, so it does not matter how much income you have or how much you have saved. It has a specific component aimed at helping people improve their mobility.
Can you get free driving lessons on PIP automatically?
Receiving PIP does not automatically mean you will receive financial help with your driving lessons. However, you could be eligible, based on your circumstances, to receive funding for driving lessons through the charity Motability. Even if you are not eligible, PIP provides funding towards travel costs and other expenses, which can help you to save for driving lessons.
Am I eligible for Motability’s Driving Lessons Grant?
Disability charity Motability offers up to 40 hours of free driving lessons for some people who already receive PIP or Disability Living Allowance, through their Driving Lessons Grant.
To qualify for financial help with your driving lessons through Motability, you will need:
- To be a Motability Scheme customer. If you receive the enhanced rate of the PIP mobility component, you can lease a vehicle through the Motability Scheme. To be eligible for the grant, you will need to either already be leasing a vehicle or be due to receive one within four months.
- Be on a Government-assessed means-tested benefit, such as Universal Credit, Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance (income-related), Job-seekers Allowance (income-based), Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Pension Guarantee Credit, or Working Tax Credit.
- Have your provisional licence.
You will need to pay for your theory test and your practical tests yourself, but the grant will help pay towards the cost of any driving lessons.
How can I apply for the Motability Driving Lessons Grant?
If you think that you may qualify for financial help through Motability, you can call them on 0800 5003186 to request an application form for their Driving Lessons Grant. Once submitted, it can take up to ten weeks for your application to be processed and approved.
Sally Anne Jones, a driveJohnson’s pupil taking her driving lessons in Northampton, recently benefited from the Grant. She said, “It took a while to hear that my application had been approved, but it was worth the wait. I couldn’t have afforded to learn otherwise.”
Can the Job Centre help with driving lessons?
Sometimes, the Job Centre can fund driving lessons, but only in specific situations. This is not a standard benefit, and you can’t apply for it in the way you would for other benefits.
When would the Job Centre pay for driving lessons?
You could be offered financial help towards the cost of driving lessons if the following apply to you:
- You have a confirmed job offer, but you need a driving licence for it.
- An employment adviser has decided that not being able to drive will be a major barrier to you getting a job.
- You are on a Job Centre programme that provides funding for training; for example, the Flexible Support Fund, where driving lessons fall under “discretionary training”.
Can carers get free driving lessons?
If you are caring for someone who needs help getting around, you may be able to get financial support towards driving lessons. This support varies widely based on where you live, the needs of the person you care for and your finances.
Where can I find out if I am eligible for financial help?
The following places are good places to search to see if you are entitled to funding as a carer for driving lessons:
- Carers Assessment. Your local social services may provide you with funding to learn to drive if you can show that this would greatly benefit the person you care for, but this will depend on where you live.
- The Carers Trust. Your local Carers Trust network partner may offer grants towards the financial cost of learning to drive and, if not, point you to other local services that can help. You can search for your local partner here.
- Turn2Us. The Turn2Us website provides information on financial support for carers across the UK. To find out the funding available for you for driving lessons, search the Turn2Us website here or contact them directly.
I am leaving care – can I receive funding for driving lessons?
If you are leaving care and need financial help learning to drive, you may be able to apply for funding from the following:
- The Capstone Care Leavers Trust. The trust offers funding towards various costs for care leavers, including driving lessons. You will need to be aged 17 to 25 to apply, and be able to prove that you need to drive for a job you already have or live in a rural area where transport is poor. You will also need to have your provisional licence and have passed your theory test before applying.
- Your local authority. Your council offer some support towards the costs of learning to drive. The support will vary depending on where you live and your personal circumstances, such as whether you are currently employed. To find out the eligibility criteria of your local area, check out your council’s website. You can find your council’s website here.
Are there any other grants for driving lessons?
If you have a disability but are not a Motability Scheme customer, there is another option through Driving Mobility. The Driving Assessment Grant (DAG) can help cover:
- A clinical driving assessment
- Vehicle adaptations (when needed)
- Familiarisation lessons at a Driving Mobility Centre to learn to use adapted controls safely
This grant is for disabled people who might find it difficult to drive safely without specialist help. It can be especially helpful if you’re on a low income or receiving certain benefits and need a professional assessment to understand whether you’re fit to drive. It’s also intended for those who need advice and funding for vehicle adaptations to enable them to drive safely and confidently.
None of the above applies to me. What can I do?
If none of the above applies to you and you are struggling financially, there are always other options.
If you are a parent looking to give financial support to your child, we have compiled a helpful list of tips for parents of learner drivers, including information on the costs involved. You can also buy driving lesson gift vouchers to give your child a jump start towards the cost of their all-important lessons.
There may also be local community grants in your area, so it is worth checking online if any schemes are running where you live.
The price of driving lessons can vary depending on where you live. Here at driveJohnson’s, we offer a range of competitive prices and deals for our learner drivers, whether you are taking driving lessons in Manchester, Aberdeen, or Aberystwyth. For the latest prices in your local area, as well as our latest deals, check out our prices and offers page.
For further tips on how to save money towards driving costs, check out our article on how to learn to drive on a budget for more details.
Financial help for driving lessons: what to take away
Finding financial help for driving lessons in the UK can feel stressful and confusing, especially if you are looking for help quickly. Support exists, but it is spread across different schemes, benefits, and charities. The main sources of support are linked to disability or mobility needs, like Motability Foundation grants or Driving Mobility assessments. Other sources tend to be local and dependent on your situation, such as help from a Jobcentre adviser.
If you are trying to find your own way, we would always advise starting by checking what benefits you get, if you meet the conditions for national schemes, and then look into local options. Even if you do not qualify for a major grant, you might still find smaller sources of support to help with the cost. It is always worth checking, as you might find help if you look for it.
However you decide to move forward, know that paying for driving lessons is paying for a skill that will last you a lifetime. That is an investment worth having!
Written by Anthony Johnson
Grade A - 51/51
ORDIT Registered Trainer
