10.12.7 Subsidising the purchase of an initial new or second-hand motor vehicle

Section 10.3 of the Motor Vehicle Compensation Scheme (MVCS) Legislative Instrument enables the Commission to consider provision of compensation for the purchase of an initial vehicle. Where the Commission provides compensation (a subsidy) for the purchase of a motor vehicle for a person for the first time, that vehicle is known as an “initial motor vehicle”. An initial MVCS vehicle may be new or second-hand. 

Compensation for an initial vehicle may be considered where a person has complex accepted conditions which have a significant impact on their ability to drive safely, or if they are unable to drive, to be transported in a vehicle safely and reasonable comfort. 

As a first step, consideration must always be given to whether the person’s assessed clinical needs may be met through compensation for driving devices or other modifications to a vehicle the person already owns or has an interest in. 

Eligibility for an initial vehicle 

The MVCS legislative instrument specifies that an eligible person seeking compensation for an initial vehicle under the MVCS must: 

• have a condition accepted under the MRCA which impacts their ability to drive or if they are unable to drive, be transported in a vehicle; and 

• have been clinically assessed as 

• unable to drive safely without driving or other modifications; or 

• unable to be transported in a motor vehicle safely and in reasonable comfort without driving or other modifications, if the person is unable to drive; and 

• be able to derive benefit from driving, or having access to a motor vehicle; and 

• if the person is a resident of a care institution, that they are capable of leaving the care institution. 

   

When considering whether a person is able to “derive benefit”, consideration must be given to the impact on the person’s physical and mental health, and level of mobility without driving, or having access to a motor vehicle. 

Decisions about whether these criteria are met must be informed by clinical evidence from an assessment by a Driver Trained Occupational Therapist (OT) or other suitably qualified approved program provider.