Car adaptations for MS

Lots of people with MS drive for many years. If MS symptoms make it harder to drive, everyday features on cars like automatic gears or lighter power steering might work for you. 

But there are also a huge range of adaptations to make cars easier to drive or use as a passenger.

Jump to:

• Advice and support for car adaptations
• Getting in and out of the car
• Locking and ignition
• The controls
• Assessment for driving adaptations
• Learn to use adapted car controls
• Paying for car adaptations

Advice and support for car adaptations

Get information and advice before you make decisions about buying a car or making adaptations. You might find adaptations that help you keep using the car you’ve already got. Or you could find all you need in the cars available to buy and don’t need to make any adaptations.

But even then, there’s lots to think about to find the right car. We’ve got some ideas on this page, but specialist organisations can help too, including:

• RIDC's online car search database to look for cars that suit your needs.
• Driving Mobility Centres which offer assessments and advice on all aspects of driving with a disability. They can advise on adaptations for different cars and different symptoms. And you can try out adapted cars.

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Getting in and out of the car

Whether you’re the driver or passenger, try out a car to see how easy it is to get in and out. For example, do you need a large door opening so you can get in and out without bending your legs so much? Or would smaller doors help because you don’t need to reach so far?

Two and three door cars generally have wider doors.

Also think about:

• Do the sills work for you (for example, are they low, or narrow, or wide)?
• Are there handholds in convenient places?
• Is the height of the seat good for you (and how can it adjust)?

Adaptations could include:

• a detachable strap (a ‘car caddie’) on the door frame that you use just to get in and out
• changing the door hinges to give you more space to get in and out
• getting a more adjustable seat
• fitting a seat that swivels to the side for getting in and out
• extra bars or grips on the inside of the door or door frame for easier support

Wheelchairs and mobility scooters

If you use a mobility scooter or wheelchair outside of the car, a boot hoist might be useful to get it in and out. Or a lower boot might make it easier to lift or push the chair in.

Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs) let you stay in your wheelchair in the car. As a passenger you can drive your wheelchair straight into the back. As a driver, different adaptations let you stay in your wheelchair to drive.

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Locking and ignition

If you’re driving, there are features that could make locking and starting the car easier.

• Does it have remote and central locking or a keyless entry system that are easy for you to use?
• Would push button start be easier than a key ignition?
• Does it have windows that close automatically when the car is locked?
• Is there a button or a lever to open the boot from the inside – and is it easy to use?
• Does the boot have powered opening and closing so you don’t need to reach up?

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The controls

Lots of control features used in modern cars can help make them more accessible. For example:

• an automatic gearbox can make it easier to drive now, and easier to adapt if you need to later
• power assisted steering can help, and it’s very common in cars these days. But the weight of the steering varies, so try out what’s good for you. The dealership that sells the car or a specialist garage might be able to adjust the weight of assisted steering
• cruise control can make it easier to keep a constant speed
• a push-button handbrake is easier to use

Are the controls in good places for you, and easy to use? Things like the horn, lights, indicators and wipers.

You might have a wish list of features, but also a list of vital things you need, even if that means getting the car adapted. For example, would any of these features be helpful or vital for you?

• electric windows front and back
• heated mirrors and windows to clear mist or ice
• parking assistance or other safety features which are accessible for you
• options to sync your phone or use voice controls for certain features

Adaptations could include:

• switching the position of indicators, wipers and other controls to a better position for you
• power assisted brakes to make that pedal easier to use
• using levers instead of pedals to drive
• a steering ball or spinner is a fairly small adaptation to help steer with one hand
• simple mechanical adaptations to make a handbrake easier, or a push-button one might be possible

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Assessment for driving adaptations

A Driving Mobility Centre can do a thorough assessment with you. So you can consider all the adaptations that might be helpful. They can also help you try things out before you decide.

They offer ‘fitness-to-drive’ and passenger assessments, so they can give recommendations that meet your needs. These assessments are with a healthcare professional and an approved driving instructor working together. They think about:

• how your symptoms affect driving
• how you can access your vehicle
• any mobility equipment you use
• your existing vehicle
• your home environment (for example, where you park)

They also think about these things in future too, not just how you’d use the vehicle now.

Try any car you are considering. And test it thoroughly for what you need. For example, if getting in and out is sometimes tricky, try that several times. If you already use adaptations to a car, ask if you can try the car with those fitted.

If your MS varies day to day, try to think about how you’d manage on a day when your symptoms are making things harder, not only on a ‘good day’.

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Learn to use adapted car controls

If you’re going to have adapted driving controls, it’s a good idea to have lessons with a specialist instructor before you get the adapted car. With some adaptations, you have to do this. Driving Mobility Centres and the Disability Diving Instructors website can help you find a specialist instructor.

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Paying for car adaptations

There could be financial support to help pay for car adaptations or an adapted vehicle, including:

• The Motability scheme
• Access to Work
• Tax relief
• Grants through the Motability Foundation
• Driving Assessment Grants

Motability

If you receive the higher or enhanced mobility rate for DLA, PIP or ADP you can use it to lease an adapted car through the Motability Scheme. They also provide grants for driving lessons.

Find out more from the Motability website

Access to Work

The Access to Work scheme can provide grants to help you find or stay in work. That could include a grant to help pay for car adaptations.

Read more about the Access to Work scheme on the UK Government website

Tax relief for adaptations and cars

There are several tax reliefs for adaptations, adapted cars and driving, including:

• you don’t have to pay VAT on adaptations
• in some cases, you don’t pay VAT on the purchase and maintenance of an adapted car
• you don’t pay vehicle tax if you get certain benefits including the highest mobility rate of PIP, DLA or ADP. You have to apply for the tax, but when you do, you can claim ‘disability exemption’. You can get a 50% reduction if you get the standard mobility rate PIP or ADP.

Read more and apply for tax relief on the UK Government website

Grants through the Motability Foundation

You might be able to get a grant from the Motability Foundation. For example, they have grants to help cover the cost of adaptations if they’re more than the Motability scheme will pay for. They have other grants for people not on the Motability scheme too.

See the full range of grants from the Motability Foundation

Driving Assessment Grants

Driving Mobility Centres can also help you access certain Motability Foundation grants. Their Driving Assessment Grants could help towards the costs of a driving assessment, vehicle adaptations and lessons if you get new driving controls.

You usually need to get certain benefits or be on a low income to be eligible.

Find out more about Driving Assessment Grants from your local Driving Mobility Centre

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