Free driving lessons for people on benefits - full list of who qualifies and how to apply

Learning to drive can be a costly affair. The expenses of a provisional licence, lessons and the tests themselves can quickly accumulate.

For some individuals, it may seem financially unattainable. However, if you're receiving certain state benefits, you could be eligible for free lessons.

A charity-run initiative from Motability can offer grants and jobcentres also have separate funding available. Individuals claiming benefits from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), including Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Universal Credit and Housing Benefit may be able to access the free lessons.

Those who have a reduced or written-off council tax bill through Council Tax Support could also be eligible. Motability stated that people with a vehicle, or one on order due to be delivered within four months, as well as a provisional licence, could apply for a Driving Lessons Grant if they're on certain means-tested benefits.

Those with a full licence who need to familiarise themselves with the adapted controls on their vehicle can also qualify. Here's how it all operates.

Which benefits do you need to be receiving to get free driving lessons?

People claiming one of the following benefits could qualify for free driving lessons, although access to them is discretionary and not automatic:

• Universal Credit
• Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
• Income Support
• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Carer's Allowance
• Pension Credit

People who are eligible for Work Preparation Support - including single parents, partners and carers - could also get help from the fund.

How to apply

If you believe you meet the criteria for a grant, ring Motability on 0800 500 3186 and request a Driving Lesson Grant application form. The application is assigned to a case manager and can take up to ten weeks to be processed.

Motability will assess your financial situation to determine if it can provide a grant and states that all decisions are final. If a grant is given, it can offer up to 40 hours of driving lessons to assist you in passing your driving test.

You'll have to cover the costs of both the theory and practical driving tests yourself.

If you're already a Motability customer and modifications have been made to the vehicle to accommodate your disabilities, a grant can also contribute towards familiarisation lessons on how to operate your car's controls. Motability collaborates with the AA Driving School, which includes BSM, who will locate a local instructor and contact you to schedule your first lesson.

It warns that it may take several weeks, or even months, before the lessons commence.