Motorised Transport Grant

Information

The Motorised Transport Grant is a means tested Health Service Executive (HSE) payment for people in Ireland with disabilities who need to buy a car. This payment is also for disabled people who need to have a car or other vehicle adapted in order to enable them to drive and, as a result, earn a living.

Rules

To be eligible to receive this Grant, you must satisfy the following conditions:

• You must be over 17 years (the upper age limit has been removed)
• Your disability must impede your use of public transport
• You must hold a driving licence
• You must be physically and mentally capable of driving
• You must require a car or other vehicle in order to retain employment. The Health Service Executive (HSE) must be satisfied that you are capable of holding down the job.

The grant may also be considered in exceptional circumstances for people with severe disabilities who are over 17 years and who live in very isolated locations, and who are impeded from using public transport.

It may be possible for you to get a grant if you are unemployed but could take up work, which is available to you, if you had a car.  Self-employed people may be able to get a grant.

Normally, the grant is payable where you drive yourself. It may be possible to get approval to have a grant paid where you own the car and arrange for its adaptation and another named person drives it because you are not physically or medically able to drive.

If you receive a Motorised Transport Grant, while in receipt of the Mobility Allowance, you will become ineligible to receive Mobility Allowance for a period of 3 years. The payment of a Motorised Transport Grant is subject to the condition that the Health Service Executive (HSE) will not be called upon at any future date to contribute towards the running costs of the vehicle. You will be eligible for the Mobility Allowance again, three years after the date of payment of the Motorised Transport Grant.

When a grant has previously been paid towards the purchase of a vehicle, a grant towards the replacement of the car will not normally be paid, unless due to extenuating circumstances, until three years from the date that the previous grant has been paid.

Tax exemptions and refunds for disabled drivers and disabled passengers

Severely and permanently disabled people who use specially adapted vehicles as drivers and passengers are eligible for a range of tax exemptions and refunds. These Schemes are run by the Revenue Commissioners and the rules are set down in legislation.  Qualifying for the HSE Motorised Transport Grants does not guarantee that you will qualify for the tax exemptions, nor does failure to qualify mean that you are not eligible.

Parking cards for disabled people

European Parking Cards are available to people with certain disabilities and people who are registered blind, whether they are drivers or passengers. The parking card can be used by a disabled person in any vehicle in which he or she is travelling. The parking card scheme for disabled drivers and passengers applies to public car parking areas only.

Rates

The maximum motorised transport grant is €5,020.50.

A grant of up to 75% of the cost of motorised transport (purchase price less trade-in price, where appropriate) may be paid, subject to the maximum grant.

How to apply

You apply for the grant on the Motorised Transport Grant Claim Form (PDF) to your Local Health Office.

Where To Apply