VAT exemption for disabled car

silvertoes

Still slightly confused
- If you have MS and want a VAT exempt car do you need to have any modifications done to qualify or can you have the basic automatic?
- do you qualify as someone with ME and in a wheelchair for long distances out of the home?

Ted_Hutchinson

silvertoes wrote:

Still slightly confused
- If you have MS and want a VAT exempt car do you need to have any modifications done to qualify or can you have the basic automatic?

Yes. The car has to have been adapted to enable a wheelchair/stretcher user to travel. So something has to be bolted/welded onto the car to make the car suitable for this wheelchair user. A Grab rail or handle might just squeeze in but a wheelchair hoist, swivle seat, hand controls are the types of adaptations most usual. The concession for MS type conditions is that when in a bad patch they need to be full time wheelchair users but in a good patch of remission they may be walking about normally, however the progressive nature of the condition is such that the periods of remission are generally shortlived and it would be impractical to apply for an adapted vehicle while in a bad patch only to find the day it was delivered you had gone into remission for a couple of months.

- do you qualify as someone with ME and in a wheelchair for long distances out of the home?

I doubt it, it was this kind of scenario that Paul and I were slightly differing over. The Polio chap I was talking about had a scooter for "long distance" walking and crutches for short distances, he had probably been issued with a wheelchair and got frustrated with it for short distances. Just owning a wheelchair doesn't make you a "permanent wheelchair user" In my view you would have to need to use the wheelchair every time you went out in order to qualify. (but with the same exception for periods of remission as with MS)

But you best bet is to contact the very friendly and helpful people at the VAT National Advice Service on 0845 010 9000.

silvertoes

thanks for the reply Ted, it's made it all clearer now!

everkeen

Hello all - I`ve just read this thread so I`m a bit late............
All this talk of the fine details of not paying the VAT baffles me. I know as much as anyone about how this works - I even had a "conversation reference number" from the VAT people, I was asked by one section of Motability to pass on my knowledge to another Motability section(!), and I even tracked down a "vat sequence" showing the paperwork required to do it all.
However - could I find a dealer willing to even consider this idea? - could I hell!!! Not even close to it, and I `phoned all the local (SE Kent) main dealers and spoke to their Motability experts. Most had never even heard of this idea, and could really not get past trying to push the leasing side of the scheme, from which they make very little profit.

Which dealers actually do this?

silvertoes

everkeen wrote:

Hello all - I`ve just read this thread so I`m a bit late............
All this talk of the fine details of not paying the VAT baffles me. I know as much as anyone about how this works - I even had a "conversation reference number" from the VAT people, I was asked by one section of Motability to pass on my knowledge to another Motability section(!), and I even tracked down a "vat sequence" showing the paperwork required to do it all.
However - could I find a dealer willing to even consider this idea? - could I hell!!! Not even close to it, and I `phoned all the local (SE Kent) main dealers and spoke to their Motability experts. Most had never even heard of this idea, and could really not get past trying to push the leasing side of the scheme, from which they make very little profit.

Which dealers actually do this?

From my understanding, you can claim VAT back from any car manufacturer. But this is only if you qualify and buy the car from new.

everkeen

That`s the problem - you cannot claim it back! You can only not pay it in the first place.

Smaller_Holder

I just read this old thread and wondered if the loophole is still open. You will need to re assemble the link.

whatcar(dot)com/news-article.aspx?NA=22671

fizzer-uk

I have found Mercedes are willing and able to sell vat free cars to qualifying customers. I have recently placed an order for a CLS and as a regular user of a wheelchair (amputee) I have saved over £6000. They arranged for the fitment of a wheelchair lift and were extremely helpful and professional throughout the whole process.

JasonLVC

Smaller_Holder wrote: »

I just read this old thread and wondered if the loophole is still open. You will need to re assemble the link.

whatcar(dot)com/news-article.aspx?NA=22671

It is not a loophole, it is a specific piece of legislation designed to assist disabled people purchase cars.

It remains current and very much alive. The same legislation also applies to canal boats/narrow boats as well, so if not a car, get yourself a canal boat and add a few disabled adaptions and away you go.