Modified vehicles for people with disability
Vehicle modifications can help you get and keep your licence if you're a person living with disability. Find out more about getting modifications.
Types of vehicle modifications
If you have a disability, vehicle modifications can help you drive or be transported in a vehicle comfortably and safely.
Common modifications may help you:
- get in and out of a vehicle, with or without a wheelchair
- be safely transported while sitting in a wheelchair
- transport your wheelchair without lifting it
- drive the vehicle using specialised aids, appliances or hand controls.
How to get modifications made
Talk to an Occupational Therapist
Before having a vehicle modified, we recommend you book an appointment with a suitably qualified occupational therapist.
Occupational therapists can organise on-and-off-road training and driving assessments.
They can recommend vehicle modifications and equipment suitable for your specific needs. See Driving assessments for more information.
Find a qualified modifier
It's important to speak to a Vehicle Safety Compliance Certification Scheme (VSCCS) licensed certifier before building or making significant modifications to a vehicle.
The certifier ensures all modifications are assessed and found to be compliant and safe for use in road transport.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides guidance on getting a vehicle modified and a list of providers to make modifications.
You may also be eligible for funding if you have an endorsed licence. This is when a condition is added to your licence requiring you to use vehicle modifications.
If you need advice, contact Technical Enquiries at Transport for NSW by phoning 1300 137 302 or emailing technical.enquiries@transport.nsw.gov.au.
Information about vehicle modification is also available in Vehicle Standards Information No. 21 (VSI.21) - Vehicles modified for people with disabilities (PDF 688.6KB) and Modified and non-standard vehicles.
Register a modified vehicle
You need to get a modified or non-standard vehicle certified before you can apply for registration.
It must be inspected to make sure it doesn't pose a safety risk on the road, and that it complies with legal standards.
How it affects your licence
Once the modification has been made, you may need to pass a vehicle specific disability driving test to get or keep your licence.
See driving assessments and contact a service centre to find out more about assessments you may need.
Licence conditions
Licence conditions are legal requirements you must follow when driving or riding.
Sometimes a condition is added to your licence relating to vehicle modifications. For example, your licence may have the condition ‘Vehicle to have handbrake operable by left or right hand’ added to it.
If you're unable to freely rotate your head, you may be required to have wing mirrors or a panoramic or fisheye mirror installed on both sides of your vehicle. This requirement may be added as a licence 'condition'.
See licence conditions to find out more.
You will need to visit a service centre to have the conditions added to your licence.