Can I Get Financial Help with Driving Lessons?

For most, learning to drive is one of those investments for which you just have to grit your teeth and save up. Some people, though, do qualify for financial help with driving lessons. Charities and councils offer grants to individuals in certain situations, usually reserving their help for people with disabilities or chronic illnesses, their carers, or anyone leaving care.

They are usually means-tested (dependent on you having a low household income), and range from paying for a provisional licence to covering a full set of 40 lessons. But even if you don’t qualify for any help towards your lessons, there are things you can do to keep things more affordable. Take a look below to see if you are eligible for any financial assistance with learning to drive, and other ways to keep costs down.

Help with funding driving lessons if you're disabled or have a chronic illness

Lots of people with disabilities or long-term illnesses struggle to get about. If that’s you, you may qualify for a grant to help pay for driving lessons that will allow you more freedom.

What counts as a long-term illness?

For the purposes of benefits and grants, long-term illnesses are usually defined as an illness lasting, or expected to last, at least 12 months.

Can I get driving lessons on PIP?

You don’t automatically get help towards driving lessons if you get Personal Independence Payment (PIP), but receiving PIP might make you eligible for a grant towards your lessons. Even if you don’t qualify for additional funding, PIP can help you with transportation and other costs, which may help you to save up to learn to drive.

You're eligible if your illness or disability impacts on your ability to complete your day-to-day living needs and/or you find it difficult to be totally mobile.

Take a good look at these pages by Turn2Us to see whether you might be able to claim PIP. They talk you through the various difficulties that you may experience, and to what extent they will make you eligible for PIP. Use these notes when completing your application to give you the best chance of securing the benefit.

How to apply: You, or someone on your behalf, will usually need to call the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to kickstart your claim.

Can I get driving lessons through Motability?

Some people who receive PIP or DLA (Daily Living Allowance) can apply for a grant for up to 40 hours of driving lessons through the charity Motability. You’ll have to pay for your theory and practical tests, but, based on an average lesson price of £26, this will save you roughly £1040.

You must already benefit from the Motability scheme, or be due to receive a vehicle from them within four months. You must also be on a means-tested benefit. This is so that more people on low household incomes can take advantage of the grant.

Do I qualify for the Motability scheme?

If you get the enhanced rate of the PIP mobility component, then you can choose to lease a vehicle (like a car, scooter, or powered wheelchair) through the Motability scheme. This is where some or all of your mobility allowance money goes directly to Motability, who will in turn provide you with a suitable vehicle of your choice. Motability takes care of most of the maintenance costs of your vehicle; you’re responsible for the fuel. Apply for Motability here.

Other requirements:

• Your own provisional licence
• Once you qualify for a driving lessons grant, it’s your prerogative to book and pass your theory test
• You’ll need to have regular lessons, and ideally take your practical test within a year of starting to drive

How to apply: Head to the Motability Driving Lessons Grant Programme and follow the instructions on there.

Do Family Fund help with driving lessons?

Family Fund offer a Driving Ambitions grant for young people with a disability or long-term illness. The fund can be used towards a provisional licence, theory and practical tests—saving you a total of £119. They'll also supply you with materials that will help you pass the theory, which you can use alongside our guides. However, in terms of help towards driving lessons, Family Fund only offers one taster lesson.

Am I eligible?

• You're 16 or 17 years old
• You must not have started driving lessons yet

How to apply: You can opt to apply online, download an application form, or have Family Fund send one out to you. All three options are available on their website.

Funding for driving lessons if you’re a carer

Many people would benefit from being able to drive in their role as a carer, but not everyone can afford lessons. There are various grants that may be able to help with funding as you learn to drive, but options vary greatly. They depend on factors like where you live, any previous jobs you’ve had and where you went to school.

Am I eligible?

Different grants will have different eligibility criteria, but most will want to know:

• Your financial situation (they tend to be means-tested)
• That being able to drive would really help the person you care for, eg. it would allow you to take them to medical appointments

How to apply: You can check what support is available for carers in your area and with your background on the Turn2Us website. Don't search by 'driving lessons', as results aren't filtered this way. Instead, input different criteria into the search boxes each time, to get a comprehensive list of potential grants. Even if a fund doesn't specify help towards lessons, you can always contact them directly to talk about options. Before you search, take a look at the guidance here.

What can the Carers Trust offer me?

Carers Trust Network Partners, like Carers' Centres and Crossroads schemes, can help get you the support you need as a carer. They may offer grants that can help you with things like learning to drive—and can signpost you to other relevant services too.

You're eligible if: You care for someone with a disability or chronic illness

How to apply: Find your local Carers Trust Network Partner here. If none of them operate locally to you, there are links further down the page detailing where you can look for help.

Financial help though a Carers' Assessment (via Social Services)

If you're caring for a someone with a disability or chronic illness, you are entitled to a carers' assessment through your local social services. They look at the impact caring has on your life, and might offer you financial or other support.

Am I eligible? 

• You're a carer
• You're able to show that driving is critical to your caring role (although other help may still be available if you can't demonstrate this)

How to apply: Look up the local authority that covers the area where the person you care for lives, then search for 'carers' assessment' on the council page that comes up. Check out this article to learn more about the process and prepare for your assessment.

Do Family Fund still offer carers financial help with driving lessons?

Family Fund used to offer help towards the cost of driving lessons for carers, but unfortunately they have been unable to provide this support for several years now.

Care leavers

If you've spent time in care, then you shouldn't just be cut off when you leave. In fact, you might well be able to claim funding for at least some part of learning to drive, either through your local authority or though a charity.

Will the council help with driving lessons for care leavers?

When you leave care, the council might offer you some help with learning to drive. The level of support depends on where you live: some councils will pay for lessons; others will help with the cost of a provisional licence.

Am I eligible?

Some local authorities specify certain requirements, such as that you've been in work, education or training for the last three months (or have a disability or illness preventing this). You should check the criteria for your area before applying. However, there is one requirement that they all have in common:

How to apply: Google “your council name (eg. Leeds council) care leavers driving lessons” and follow the instructions on the website.

The Capstone Care Leavers’ Trust

This fund helps with all manner of things that you might need as a care leaver—including driving lessons for some people.

Am I eligible?

• You're aged 17-25
• You've been in care at any point in your life in England or Wales
• You have a provisional licence
• You've passed your theory test
• You live in a rural area, where public transport is poor, or you need to drive for a job or training you've already started
• You're a UK national or have 'settled status'

How to apply: Applications aren't always open, but you can get updates on the Clapstone Care Leavers' Trust website.

What to do if you don’t qualify for help with driving lessons

It’s worth seeing what grants you can apply for, regardless of whether they will directly help towards the cost of lessons. If you can alleviate spending in other areas of your life, you may be able to save more towards learning to drive. Even if you aren’t eligible for financial help with your lessons, there are a few things you can do to help keep costs as low as possible:

• Have enough lessons Don’t be tempted to rush your test in an effort to make things cheaper. Chances are, you’ll end up failing your test and spending more overall.
• Block book a course It’s usually cheaper to book a driving course than to pay for individual lessons one by one. Just be sure to use a reputable driving instructor/school and, where possible, don't pay by bank transfer—it can prove difficult to get refunds further down the line.
• Commit to learning at a good pace Having consistent lessons really helps you along the faster route to driving.

Financing your PassMeFast course

We know how difficult it can be stumping up the money to pay for lessons all in one go. With that in mind, we’ve partnered with Payl8r, which offers you the chance to pay for your driving course over a longer period of time, in monthly instalments. In order to be eligible for this finance option, Payl8r will have to approve you by performing a credit check. If you pay with Payl8r, you will be charged interest (unless you can pay off the balance within 30 days). It's not the right option for everybody, but some people find that spreading out the costs like this helps them learn to drive when they need to, even if they can't afford to pay the entire cost in one.

Once you have passed your test, it is important to do your research when it comes to insurance. MoneySuperMarket gives you lots of clever ways to save a lot, by doing very little. Compare and save on over 40 products from over 55 of the biggest insurance providers in the country!

FAQs

Can I get help towards refresher lessons if I get a car with Motability?

If you already hold a full driving licence, but need help adjusting to a Motability car with adaptations for your disability, then you might be able to apply for ‘familiarisation lessons’. If you’re eligible, the scheme can pay for dual controls to be fitted before your lessons. You’d be looking at around 5 hours of lessons—but Motability say they are willing to offer you more if you need them.

Can I get free driving lessons if I’m unemployed?

Occasionally councils and charitable organisations launch schemes aimed at giving free driving lessons to people who are unemployed or on a low income. This varies from region to region, so it's worth looking using a search engine to find the most up-to-date information that's relevant for you. In addition to this, make sure you know what benefits you're entitled to, and have a look at any grants for which you can apply. Although they may not cover the costs of driving lessons specifically, they can help to ease your other financial burdens.

What driving deals and discounts should I look out for?

When you're looking around for driving lessons, always check out a school or driving agency's social media pages for any active competitions and offers. Some companies may offer discounts to students or blue light workers, so it's worth asking what's available. On the other hand, be wary of driving schools that offer 'guaranteed passes'. Nobody can really guarantee that you will pass first time, and the company is likely to be recouping that money from you elsewhere.  

Can I get free driving lessons in the UK?

There’s lots of support available to you if you claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP), a carer or a care leaver. If you have leased a car through Motability, or you’re due to receive one in the next 4 months, you may qualify for free driving lessons too. If you’re also receiving a means-tested benefit, Motability will give you a grant to cover up to 40 hours of driving lessons. If you’re a carer or care leaver, you might qualify for other grants to help with the cost of driving lessons.

Can I get free driving lessons on benefits?

The easiest way to get free driving lessons if you claim benefits is through the Motability scheme. First, you’ll need to lease a car through Motability. Anyone who receives the enhanced rate mobility payment through Personal Independence Payment is eligible to lease a car from Motability. After that, you might also qualify for a grant to cover 40 hours of driving lessons. You’ll have to be in receipt of a means-tested benefit. Occasionally, councils and charities launch schemes aimed at giving free driving lessons to those who are unemployed or low-income. It’s worth searching online or speaking to the Citizens Advice Bureau for up-to-date information. 

Can Universal Credit pay for driving lessons?

Receiving Universal Credit doesn’t mean you automatically qualify for free driving lessons. However, you might qualify for a grant from Motability. You’ll need to be on the enhanced rate of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) mobility component. First, you’ll need to lease a car through Motability, and then you can apply for a grant to cover up to 40 hours of driving lessons. If you lease a car through Motability and you also receive a means-tested benefit, you should qualify for the grant. If you don’t receive PIP or DLA, keep an eye out for any new schemes launched by charities or councils. They occasionally offer money towards driving lessons for people who are unemployed or on a low income.

Can I get funding for driving lessons in the UK?

You might qualify for funding for driving lessons if you claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and a means-tested benefit. You’ll need to apply to lease a car through Motability first, and then claim a grant to cover up to 40 hours of driving lessons. If you’re a carer, you can contact Carers Trust or Turn2Us to check if they can help with driving lessons. The Capstone Care Leavers’ Trust, as well as your local council, might pay for driving lessons if you’re a care leaver.