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Who can apply for a free disabled tax disc

To apply for a free disabled tax disc, the vehicle must be either:

• registered in your name
• registered in the name of someone who only uses their vehicle to help you – for example, takes you shopping

You’ll need an exemption certificate to get your free disabled tax disc. You may be entitled to receive an exemption certificate if you’re receiving:

• Disability Living Allowance - higher rate of the mobility component
• War Pensioners Mobility Supplement

Exemption certificates

If you’re getting Disability Living Allowance, your exemption certificate could be either a:

• certificate of entitlement to Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• annual certificate of entitlement
• DLA 404 certificate

These exemption certificates are issued by the Pensions, Disability and Carers Service.

If you’re claiming War Pensioners Mobility Supplement, you’ll have the WPA0442 Certificate, which is issued by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency.

If you’re eligible under the Disabled Passenger Scheme, you’ll have a MHS330 certificate.

The exemption certificate must be valid and can only be used to tax one vehicle at a time.

See ‘Taxing your vehicle in the disabled class’ to learn more about exemption certificates and find out how to apply for your tax disc.

• Who to contact about disability and carers benefits

• Service Personnel and Veterans Agency

• Taxing your vehicle in the disabled tax class (motoring section)

Using a vehicle which has a free disabled tax disc

The vehicle must either be used by yourself or by someone who only uses their vehicle to help you, for example, getting prescriptions for you.

You won’t be able to get a free disabled tax disc if:

• the vehicle is not used directly for your purposes
• you’re no longer entitled to the higher rate mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance

See the section ‘Change or circumstances’ below to find out what to do if you’re no longer entitled.

Renewing your free disabled tax disc

You can renew your tax disc either on Directgov or at a Post Office® branch that issues tax discs. See ‘Taxing your vehicle in the disabled class’ for more information about this.

• Taxing your vehicle in the disabled tax class (motoring section)

Changes in your circumstances

Going into hospital

Providing the vehicle continues to be used only for your purposes, exemption from vehicle tax will still apply if you’re in hospital for more than:

• 28 days for an adult
• 84 days for a child

This still applies if you lose your entitlement to Disability Living Allowance as a result of your stay in hospital.

Selling your vehicle

If you sell the vehicle, you should return the disabled tax disc to the DVLA on a ‘Application for a refund of vehicle tax when you have the tax disc V14’ form. You will also need to send a covering letter and fill in the relevant section of your Registration Certificate (V5C).

Your entitlement to a qualifying benefit has ended

If your entitlement to a qualifying benefit ends you’ll need to return the disabled tax disc and certificate of entitlement to the DVLA. You’ll need to do this on an ‘Application for a refund of vehicle tax when you have the tax disc V14’ form.

You’ll need to purchase a new tax disc and update the Registration Certificate (V5C) to reflect the appropriate paying tax class. A change from disabled to another taxation class can only be carried out at a DVLA Local Office. Once the changes have been made you can tax online, by phone or at the Post Office® branch that issues tax discs next time.

The vehicle is not being used solely for your purpose
The vehicle will not be exempt from tax if it’s used in a way which is not directly for the purposes of the disabled person. You should contact the DVLA and tax the vehicle in the appropriate tax class.

The disabled tax disc previously issued must be returned on an ‘Application for a refund of vehicle tax when you have the tax disc (V14)’ along with the exemption certificate and a covering letter.

• Apply for a vehicle licence refund (form V14)

• Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) contacts

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 to you.

Motability will register the vehicle and hold the Registration Certificate for the length of your contract. You will need to tell Motability 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

Invalid carriages

You don't need an Exemption Certificate to get a free disabled tax disc for an invalid carriage.

The vehicle must:

• be registered in your name
• weigh less than 509 kilograms
• be adapted, used or kept on a public road for a disabled person

Your vehicle doesn't need to be registered or display a tax disc if it:

• weighs less than 113.4 kilograms
• is for footway use only
• has a maximum speed of four miles per hour

To find out more, download one of the following leaflets.

• Download 'How to register a brand new class three carriage (INF210)' (PDF, 463K)

• Download 'How to register a used class three invalid carriage' (INF211) (PDF, 712K)

• Help with PDF files

Useful contacts

• Motoring and transport contacts for disabled people

• Transport government contacts