Driving On Behalf Of A Disabled Driver
Discussion
Being disabled my old father qualifies to run his car tax free. As such the car can only be used by either himself or other people can drive it on behalf of the disabled person, but it must be for the sole benefit and purpose of the disabled person.
To date no family member has had any need to make use of this allowance till now.
My father is unwell and unable to drive. At the same time we have relatives over from abroad staying with my parents.
Usually my father runs them around. This visit he is unable. I have had to step up and pay back for all those taxi of Mum and Dad trips I made use of as a teenager. I have taken annual leave spent time running the visitors to various tourist attractions round Scotland. With my cars being a Peugeot 208 and MGTF and my partner owning a FIAT 500 I'm using dad's Zafira for the task.
With dad laid up am I within the spirit of using his vehicle running our relatives around Scotland in his car or am I stretching the allowance beyond reason?
To date no family member has had any need to make use of this allowance till now.
My father is unwell and unable to drive. At the same time we have relatives over from abroad staying with my parents.
Usually my father runs them around. This visit he is unable. I have had to step up and pay back for all those taxi of Mum and Dad trips I made use of as a teenager. I have taken annual leave spent time running the visitors to various tourist attractions round Scotland. With my cars being a Peugeot 208 and MGTF and my partner owning a FIAT 500 I'm using dad's Zafira for the task.
With dad laid up am I within the spirit of using his vehicle running our relatives around Scotland in his car or am I stretching the allowance beyond reason?
Edited by Tannedbaldhead on Thursday 8th August 14:37
Teddy Lop said:
Pothole said:
I have no knowledge of the legislation but it sounds like you're stretching the definition(s). How anyone would catch you, however...
never underestimate the resourcefulness of nosy and jealous neighbours...PorkInsider said:
I'd say you're stretching the definition.
It's supposed to be, for example, collecting a prescription for your dad.
I wouldn't condemn what you're doing, though. And it seems to be in the spirit of the rules given that you're doing it on your dad's behalf.
Not if he’s ‘laid up’, as OP wrote.It's supposed to be, for example, collecting a prescription for your dad.
I wouldn't condemn what you're doing, though. And it seems to be in the spirit of the rules given that you're doing it on your dad's behalf.
I would suspect no. I would say that's not for the direct benefit of him. I would see that as taking him to the shops, taking him for hospital trips, anything that would involve him directly being in the car. Perhaps at a stretch, picking up medicine or vital equipment if he can't drive it.
This is not for his benefit, it's for the benefit of your relatives in my eyes.
This is not for his benefit, it's for the benefit of your relatives in my eyes.
If your dad owns the car then you could change the tax class to Petrol Car or Diesel Car or whatever, pay to tax it for 6 months, then SORN it and re register the tax class as disabled when you have finished your running around chores. The nation will rejoice at your £10 extra contribution to the coffers 
Bit more difficult if it's a Motablility car and you don't have the reg doc.
Who would be the arbiter of whether the trip was for the benefit of your dad? He asks you to take his car and nip to the chemist to pick up his prescription? Are you allowed to collect your mum's prescription at the same time? What it it's only your mum's prescription?
What if it's not a prescription, just some beer and a lottery ticket? Or just some gin for your mum? Do you have to phone DVLA and check?
Surely if your dad asks you to complete the task on his behalf then he considers it to be for his benefit?
Bit more difficult if it's a Motablility car and you don't have the reg doc.
Who would be the arbiter of whether the trip was for the benefit of your dad? He asks you to take his car and nip to the chemist to pick up his prescription? Are you allowed to collect your mum's prescription at the same time? What it it's only your mum's prescription?
What if it's not a prescription, just some beer and a lottery ticket? Or just some gin for your mum? Do you have to phone DVLA and check?
Surely if your dad asks you to complete the task on his behalf then he considers it to be for his benefit?
speedyman said:
It sounds to me like your father would have to be in the car when anyone else is driving it.
Doesn't have to be in the car. It's a motorbility car by the sounds of it. My brother has one and we can use it to go shopping for him etc. He stays at home.
Give motorbility a ring, they are very helpful.
Ive issued more of the certificates in my time than youve had hot dinners
The disabled person doesnt have to be in the car, just that the trip is for their benefit, so going shopping is OK, going to play golf on your own is a no-no
This trip would be outside the rules IMHO. The chances of being caught are minimal, but the cops can still check: once wife & I were parked up in a beauty spot, she has the free VRL, cops came by and after checking why we were there,came back from their car (presumably after checking insurance etc) to check that the woman in the car WAS my wife!
The disabled person doesnt have to be in the car, just that the trip is for their benefit, so going shopping is OK, going to play golf on your own is a no-no
This trip would be outside the rules IMHO. The chances of being caught are minimal, but the cops can still check: once wife & I were parked up in a beauty spot, she has the free VRL, cops came by and after checking why we were there,came back from their car (presumably after checking insurance etc) to check that the woman in the car WAS my wife!
FWIW I bought a secondhand car a few years back when tax was transferable. It wasn't until the time came to renew it that I noticed the tax class was 'disabled'. The seller hadn't mentioned it and was possibly unaware as it was his late father's car. I changed the tax class at the post office, paid the new rate and heard no more about it despite driving it for over six months by then - yes, the DVLA had been notified of the change of owners.
LosingGrip said:
Doesn't have to be in the car.
It's a motorbility car by the sounds of it. My brother has one and we can use it to go shopping for him etc. He stays at home.
Give motorbility a ring, they are very helpful.
This isn't (directly) related to Motability.It's a motorbility car by the sounds of it. My brother has one and we can use it to go shopping for him etc. He stays at home.
Give motorbility a ring, they are very helpful.
You can have free VED on any car, if you qualify, regardless of who owns it.
My view is that your fine as the visitors are there for your dads benefit and thats also a form of therapy for an elderly person (to have people who care visit them) so carting them around is fine mate,of course if your dad is in the car then it will be great if by chance you got stopped for something else
just dont mis-use his disabled badge though thats all.
just dont mis-use his disabled badge though thats all.
Tannedbaldhead said:
Being disabled my old father qualifies to run his car tax free. As such the car can only be used by either himself or other people can drive it on behalf of the disabled person, but it must be for the sole benefit and purpose of the disabled person.
To date no family member has had any need to make use of this allowance till now.
My father is unwell and unable to drive. At the same time we have relatives over from abroad staying with my parents.
Usually my father runs them around. This visit he is unable. I have had to step up and pay back for all those taxi of Mum and Dad trips I made use of as a teenager. I have taken annual leave spent time running the visitors to various tourist attractions round Scotland. With my cars being a Peugeot 208 and MGTF and my partner owning a FIAT 500 I'm using dad's Zafira for the task.
With dad laid up am I within the spirit of using his vehicle running our relatives around Scotland in his car or am I stretching the allowance beyond reason?
To date no family member has had any need to make use of this allowance till now.
My father is unwell and unable to drive. At the same time we have relatives over from abroad staying with my parents.
Usually my father runs them around. This visit he is unable. I have had to step up and pay back for all those taxi of Mum and Dad trips I made use of as a teenager. I have taken annual leave spent time running the visitors to various tourist attractions round Scotland. With my cars being a Peugeot 208 and MGTF and my partner owning a FIAT 500 I'm using dad's Zafira for the task.
With dad laid up am I within the spirit of using his vehicle running our relatives around Scotland in his car or am I stretching the allowance beyond reason?
Edited by Tannedbaldhead on Thursday 8th August 14:37
Like Motability cars, a private car registered as a disabled vehicle; I should imagine the rules and regulations on who can drive it and for what exact purpose are quite loose and not written in stone, it is all dependant on each individual circumstances, as long as primarily the car is used for the benefit of the disabled person.
My colleagues dad has a Motability car which is driven by his mum, his dad is in a home but is visited regularly by my colleagues mum, she does his washing, some shopping, gets his prescriptions, takes him out etc, however she also uses the car for her own personal use, Motability have no issue with this.
My colleagues dad has a Motability car which is driven by his mum, his dad is in a home but is visited regularly by my colleagues mum, she does his washing, some shopping, gets his prescriptions, takes him out etc, however she also uses the car for her own personal use, Motability have no issue with this.
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