Financial help with driving
This page has information on options to help with driving and parking if you have Parkinson’s.
You may be able to get help with driving and parking if you have Parkinson’s.
This includes being able to park closer to your destination, exemptions from road charges, and schemes to help you get or adapt a vehicle.
The Blue Badge scheme
A Blue Badge helps people with disabilities or health conditions park closer to where they need to go. It can also help reduce parking costs in some places, making it easier and more affordable to get around.
Blue Badges are issued to a person, not a vehicle. This means you can use your badge in any car you travel in, including taxis, hire cars, or when someone else is driving you.
Road charges, tolls, and clean air zones
Some roads, bridges, and tunnels charge a fee to use them. Some cities also charge drivers as a way to reduce traffic or pollution.
These charges include:
- congestion charges where you pay to drive in busy areas at certain times
- tolls on certain roads, bridges, or tunnels
- clean air zones (CAZ) or low emission zones (LEZ), where drivers must pay if their vehicles do not meet emission standards.
Many schemes offer discounts or exemptions for disabled people, including Blue Badge holders.
You usually need to register your vehicle first. There may be a one-off registration fee. Some vehicles registered with the DVLA as disabled tax class may be automatically exempt.
Rules, charges, and exemptions vary depending on where you live and travel. It’s important to check before you set off. Some exemptions may need to be renewed.
Find out more about charges
Vehicle tax
You may be able to register your vehicle in a disabled tax class if you receive certain mobility benefits. This means you do not have to pay vehicle tax, or you may pay a reduced rate.
Your vehicle must be:
- registered in your name, or
- registered to a nominated driver and only used for your needs.
Find out more about vehicle tax reduction and exemption on the GOV.UK website.
Motability
The Motability Scheme lets disabled people use certain benefits to lease a new car, scooter, powered wheelchair, or wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV).
You can join the scheme if you receive one of the following benefits and have at least 12 months left on your award.
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP), higher rate mobility part.
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA), higher rate mobility part.
- Adult Disability Payment (ADP), enhanced rate mobility part.
- Child Disability Payment (CDP), higher rate mobility part.
- Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance, higher rate mobility part.
- Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP).
- War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement (WPMS).
The Motability scheme includes:
- insurance cover
- breakdown cover
- servicing and maintenance
- some vehicle adaptations if you need help to drive, get in and out, or carry equipment.
Find out more about the Motability Scheme on the Motability website.
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