Driving, Vehicle Modifications, and Transport

There are very few production vehicles made for people with disabilities. In most cases, standard production vehicles are specially modified to cater for drivers and passengers with disabilities. Modifications can range from simple additions of a steering wheel spinner knob to major modifications to the vehicle body structure such as extending the body length and altering the roof of the vehicle.

Licensing

The NSW Roads and Traffic Authority requires that drivers who sustain a disability or have a medical condition that may affect their ability to drive safely must notify it as soon as possible.  The driver may undergo a medical examination to certify ability to drive.  In some cases an off- and on-road driving assessment by a driver trained Occupational Therapist may be required and in such circumstances the need for customised vehicle modifications and/or equipment will be assessed. The driver’s licence will be conditional on the fitting of any special equipment or modifications. The licence is endorsed accordingly, just as for drivers who require spectacles.

The process for a person with a disability who does not yet have a licence and wishes to drive is:

  1. complete an application for a learner's permit.  It asks whether you have a disability or have a medical condition that may affect your ability to drive.  When you answer YES you may be required to have a medical assessment;
  2. do the Driver Knowledge Test. When you pass your learner’s permit may be endorsed to show that your vehicle requires modifications, or other endorsements;
  3. an off- and on-road driving assessment by a driver trained Occupational Therapist may be required.  The need for any vehicle modification that may be needed is assessed.  Any new or additional endorsements may be added to your licence;
  4. learn to drive a suitably modified vehicle;
  5. do a Driving Ability Road Test with an RTA assessor in a suitably modified vehicle; and
  6. when you pass, your P licence will be endorsed to show what modifications you must use when you drive.

What equipment and modifications are needed will be assessed by a specialist occupational therapist.  Contact the Australian Association of Occupational Therapists (03 9415 2900) for a list of registered driver trained occupational therapists. Some of them in NSW are ***:

  • Coorabel Driving Centre Phone: 02 9808 9328
  • Driver Rehabilitation & Fleet Safety Services Phone: 02 9351 9331
  • Dawn O'Reilly  Phone: 02 4759 3099
  • Mt Wilga Phone: 02 9847 5000
  • Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service  Phone: 1800 624 824
  • St Josephs Hospital Driving Program Phone: 02 9649 8941
  • Calvary Hospital Driver Rehabilitation and Assessment Service Phone: 9553 3000
  • Lady Davidson Hospital: 9488 0111
  • Nepean Hospital: 4734 2000
  • Berkely Vale Private Hospital: 4398 1970
  • Bankstown Health Service: 9722 7200
  • TT Driver Training - Newcastle  Phone: 4955 7860

A major issue for learner drivers with disabilities is the cost of lessons. Recent rule changes require that learner drivers acquire 50 hours of driving experience before the Driving Ability Road Test can be taken. Drivers with disabilities who need vehicle modifications and while the don’t have their own  vehicle must use driving schools that do have them for the full hours. The cost of 50 hours of lessons is exorbitant and not required for the large majority of learners who can use a family car for non-lesson driving.  Apart from the driver assessment centres' vehicles, driving schools that have modified cars are ***:

  • Macquarie Driving School, Phone: 02 9681 5910
  • Marque's Driving School, Phone: 02 9477 5802
  • TT Driver Training - Newcastle, Phone: 02 4955 7860
  • Gold Star Driving School - Newcastle,  Phone: 02 4334 4944; 1300 766 876

However these may only have very minor modifications that do not include what you may need.

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Modifying

Any modifications must be approved by the RTA to show that the vehicle's safety standards have been maintained. This may be by certification of the modifications by an “Engineering Signatory” (listed in the RTA’s Vehicle Standards Information Sheet No. 15) or “Restricted Signatory” (listed in Vehicle Standards Information Sheet No 2).

A number of companies in NSW *** modify cars for people with disabilities as drivers and passengers:

Accessible Transit Specialists
Phone: 02 9724 7826
www.accessibletransit.com

Arlow Engineering (including driver modifications)
Unit 4, 42 York Road, INGLEBURN NSW  2565
Phone: 02 4648 0370

Epps Engineering
6 McIntosh St Tamworth NSW 2340
Phone: 02 6765 9272

Freedom Motors Australia
17 Plasser Cr, St Marys NSW 2760
Phone: 02 9673 4033
www.freedommotorsaustralia.com.au

Littles Child Restraints
Unit 19/176 Sunnyholt Rd, Blacktown  NSW  2148
Phone: 02 9831 7110
www.littles.net.au

Mobility Engineering  (including driver modifications)
3/28 Leighton  Pl Hornsby NSW 2077
Phone: 02 9482 4572
www.mobilityengineering.com.au

Mobility for the Disabled   (including driver modifications)
243 Wallsend Rd, Cardiff NSW 2285
Phone: 02 4956 5422

Para Mobility
569 Guildford Road Guildford NSW 2161
Phone: 02 9632 6299
www.paramobility.com.au

Problem Management Engineering (including driver modifications)
Unit 2, 8a Kookaburra Road , Hornsby Heights NSW 2077
Phone: 02 9482 2808
www.pmeautoconversions.com.au

Razorback
1300 669 951
www.razorback-vehicles.com

Trakka Conversions
9 Beaumont Rd, Mt Kuring-Gai 2080
Phone: 02 9472 9000
www.trakka.com.au/access.html

Tieman Industries
3 Arnott Place, Wetherill Park
NSW 2164
Phone: 02 9732 7100
www.tieman.com.au

Tysons
81 Milperra Rd, Revesby NSW 2212
Phone: 02 9771 3855
www.tysons.com.au

Western Truck Equipment P/L NSW
3 Smoothy Place, Arndell Park  NSW 2148
Phone: 02 9672 1973
www.wte.net.au

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Is there any assistance with transport costs? 

There is some assistance with the cost of vehicle purchase, modification and repair, and other transport costs.  They are:

  • GST exemption
  • Mobility allowance
  • Pensioner concession
  • Taxi transport
  • Parking

GST exemption

If you have lost use of one or more limbs to the extent that you are unable to use public transport you may be eligible to purchase a vehicle (and parts) free of GST.  The vehicle must be for transport to and from paid employment, including activities in self-employment. People who can use only accessible public transport may still be eligible.

The first step is to have your disability confirmed by a Disability Certificate from Health Services Australia.  To obtain one have an Application for Medical Assessment to Obtain Motor Vehicle or Parts GST-free form completed by your doctor and send it to Health Services Australia.

Once you have the certificate, take it and a Declaration to the Commissioner of Taxation to the dealer. Do this before you buy your vehicle—doing so after the purchase the dealer will not be able to refund the GST.

Make copies of all documentation and do not lose your Disability Certificate. You will need to go through the whole process again if you do.

GST and Motor Vehicle Purchases by Eligible People with Disabilities Fact Sheet is a full explanation of the eligibility criteria and application process. Request these forms from the Tax Reform Infoline on 13 24 78 or download them from  www.ato.gov.au/businesses/content.asp?doc=/content/13098.htm.

Mobility Allowance

Mobility Allowance provides assistance with the cost of transport to people:

  • whose disability makes it  difficult to use public transport; and
  • who are in paid employment or are doing voluntary work, vocational training or independent living/life skills training for at least 32 hours every four weeks. 

Mobility Allowance recipients who do not already have one will also receive a Health Care Card.

To claim Mobility Allowance submit two forms to Centrelink:

Pensioner concession

Transport related benefits of the Pensioner Concession Card are:

  • Reduction in public transport costs; and
  • Reduced cost of vehicle registration and drivers licence

Taxi fares

Each State and Territory has schemes for reduced cost taxi fares for people whose disability makes it  difficult to use public transport.

Contact the transport authority in your State.

Parking

Each State and Territory has schemes to allow people with mobility disabilities to use allocated accessible parking spaces or stay for extra time in controlled parking spaces.

Contact the transport authority in your State.

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Other Resources

The RTA's Vehicles Modified for People with Disabilities is the first stop for people when they consider modifying a vehicle.  It outlines the regulations relating to licensing and the standards and procedures to follow to make sure the vehicle is safe (and legal) on the road.  It can be downloaded @ www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/vsi/vsi21.pdf.

Novitatech publishes The Van Book to help people choose a vehicle. It was first published in 1990 (with supplement updates in 1997 and again in 2002), and has information on new and used cars, including people movers and four wheel drives. There are details about dimensions of cars and useful contact numbers. The book saves time and money by giving a guide to suitable vehicles, without people having to go to car yards and spending lots of time with salespeople; to say nothing of finding out after purchase that the vehicle is not quite suitable.   The cost of the 2002 supplement is $16.50 and all three publications can be purchased for $38.50.  Contact NovitaTech on 1300 85 55 85 for your copy of The Van Book.

Wheels Within Wheels—A guide to safe vehicle travel for wheelchair users (2nd ed), by Andrew Gagalowicz on behalf of NRMA ACT Road Safety Trust is a 2001 comprehensive guide to vehicle travel for wheelchair users. It answers all your questions about appropriate vehicles, modifications, lifting devices and wheelchair restraints, and much more. For your copy contact Eddie Wheeler, NRMA ACT Road Safety Trust (02 6207 7151).

For these and other helpful resources contact SCInfo on (02 9661 8855; information@scia.org.au).

With thanks to Driver Rehabilitation and Fleet Safety Services for assistance in compiling this information.

*** SCI Australia does not endorse or promote organisations and companies, or claim to include all that provide a particular service.  If you know of others that should be included please contact SCInfo (02 96618855; information@scia.org.au).

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