Need to drive asap!

[MamaTo3under4]

Hey guys, just wondering if anyone kmows
of any grants to help with driving lessons, I have 3 children ages 4,3,2 my oldest is non verbal autistic and get DLA for him. We are struggling so much financially though, I really want to learn to drive to take the kids out more my son absolutely goes mad when we go on public Transport bless him he gets really over whelmed so driving wpuld just help
so Much

Could you afford the costs of running a car? The purchase, insurance (which will be higher being a new driver), MOT etc.
I don’t know of grants you can get, I know there can be help for the person themself on certain benefits but I’m guessing you don’t receive them directly.

If the kid gets DLA Mobility higher rate OP could get a Motability Car.

If that's their line of thought a word with Motability about help wit driving lessons might be a shout.

Motability provide help for those with disabilities not the relatives of them unfortunately. And even then it does not cover the cost of the theory or practical driving test.

OP has three children. The eldest is on DLA and is, apparently a begaroo on public transport.

What bit of swapping DLA(M), if child gets the higher rate, for a Motability car for his Mother/Carer is not for his benefit?

When it comes to stopping fraud with Motability I'm at the front of the queue. This would however be exactly what it's there for.

I didn't say Motability provided help with the test(s). It must be a common question though and they may have an answer?

I read the OP’s post, my post was written pretty much as the say on the website. I wasn’t trying to be rude or condescending. I think they could stretch to parents of those with disabilities to be honest but I don’t make the rules.

@Upsetbetty sorry, Pavlovian recation to MN posters on my part.

I misunderstood you to be saying that the idea of a Motability car was an abuse of the system, which seemed a bit of a reach.

This is not true. If you have a child that qualifies for the correct level of mobility DLA then you can get a Motability vehicle

Yes of course you can get the vehicle but the question was will they provide lessons etc. and the answer is no they won’t unfortunately. But worth asking maybe.

Ah, I see what you’re getting at now. Sorry. Misunderstood

Another organisation here who might possibly have links.

https://www.disabledmotoring.org/

You could get a mobility car on a provisional license if you have someone to teach you? Parent friend relative? They can go as a named driver. Means you are practising in your own car with them and will save money on the cost of lessons, which are extortionate.

Thank you to everyone who have commented I will definitely take the advice and look at the links you guys have sent I really appreciate you all taking time to comment xx

Would it be worth learning automatic rather than manual? Much easier so less lessons needed?

My understanding is that motability cars are usually automatics which should cut down on the amount of lessons you will need

They're just cars supplied by dealers.

If you need or want and auto you can have one.

Given a subset of Motability customers are themselves physically disabled it's not a massive shock that autos are common.

Electric cars and full hybrids, ever more common, are also two pedals like autos.

This is what Google AI says

AI Overview

+9

To get grants for driving lessons as a carer in the UK, contact your local Social Services for a Carer's Assessment to see if Direct Payments can fund them, and explore options with your local Carers' Centre, which may offer grants or provide information on other support. Other avenues include charities like the Carers Trust and The Capstone Care Leavers' Trust (for care leavers), and the Motability Foundation for eligible individuals. You can also use the grants search tool Turn2us to find applicable charities and grants in your area.

Our local carers trust offers grants and specifically mentions funding driving lessons but your most stable way might be to apply for a carers assessment and see if it can be funded that way, at least they could help with seeking funding

You might be able to apply for a carers support grant from your local authority. Its been a while since I was in social work front line services, but we used to do carers assessments and part of that was identifying what would help support the carers role. We could apply for a grant, at the time it was up to £200, and people often said they would put it towards driving lessons. This was a discretionary power, rather than a duty to provide, though. So it may not be available due to cuts. Another route might be to have a look at Turn2us, they have a grant search function. You never know, there might be a charity that would help.