Vehicle modifications
NDIS Capital support
Changes to a vehicle so a person can drive it or travel in it, such as hand controls, hoists or a wheelchair-accessible conversion.
The short answer
Vehicle modifications are changes to a vehicle so a person can drive it or travel in it, such as hand controls, a hoist or a wheelchair-accessible conversion.
About Vehicle modifications
A modified vehicle can open up independence, work and community life. Modifications range from simple changes such as hand controls, steering aids and swivel seats, to larger conversions such as lowering the floor, adding a ramp or lift, or fitting wheelchair restraints.
The process usually starts with an assessment by an occupational therapist who looks at how you move and what you need. A specialist modifier then designs and carries out the work, and it must meet standards and be approved. Some changes also require approval from the relevant authority and may affect registration and insurance.
Think about the whole picture: the vehicle you will modify or buy, how it will be used, who else uses it and how long you plan to keep it. Ask about the process, timeframe, warranty and what happens if the modification needs adjustment.
Who is this service for?
People who need changes to a vehicle so they can drive it or travel in it, such as hand controls, a hoist or a wheelchair-accessible conversion.
What a typical session looks like
Vehicle modifications change a car or van so a person with disability can drive it or travel in it. Common examples include hand controls, steering aids, wheelchair hoists and ramps, lowered floors, swivel seats and secure fittings for wheelchairs. The process starts with an assessment by an occupational therapist, who recommends what is needed.
A specialist workshop then designs and installs the modifications, and the vehicle must meet safety and legal requirements. After the work is done, you practise using the modifications and have the fitting checked. Servicing and repairs are part of ongoing use, and the vehicle may need to be inspected or approved.
Who delivers this support
An occupational therapist, often with driver rehabilitation experience, assesses what is needed, and an accredited vehicle modification workshop carries out the work. Choose a workshop that follows the relevant standards and provides warranties. Ask about the approvals needed and who takes responsibility for them.
How to choose a provider
- Choose an occupational therapist with driver or vehicle assessment experience.
- Check that the modifier is qualified and that work meets standards.
- Ask about approvals and how modifications affect registration and insurance.
- Get more than one quote and check what is included.
- Ask about warranty, servicing and what happens when you change vehicles.
Questions to ask a provider
- Can an occupational therapist assess me and recommend what I need?
- Is the workshop accredited, and does it follow the relevant standards?
- What approvals or inspections are required?
- What warranty and servicing arrangements are there?
- Will I be able to practise with the modifications before I drive alone?
- What happens to the modifications if I change vehicles?
Common mistakes to avoid
- Buying a vehicle before finding out whether it can be modified.
- Using a workshop that is not accredited.
- Not getting the assessment done first.
- Skipping practice with new controls.
- Not planning for servicing and repairs.
Getting started
- Talk to a therapist about your needs.
- Choose or confirm the vehicle before modifying it.
- Get quotes and check approvals.
- Arrange training to use the modifications.
How it fits with the rest of your plan
Vehicle modifications connect with driver training, transport allowances and mobility equipment. Because they can be a major investment, it is worth exploring all your transport options first, and thinking about how the vehicle will be used, where it will be stored and how it fits with your equipment.
Eligibility
You can use NDIS funding for Vehicle modifications if it is included in your NDIS plan. The NDIS funds supports that are reasonable and necessary: they relate to your disability, help you pursue your goals and represent value for money. Not sure whether it is in your plan? Check your plan, or ask your planner, Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator. You can also arrange it privately.
Funding
Capital supports cover higher-cost items such as home modifications, vehicle modifications and specialist housing. They are generally included only where the NDIS has decided they are reasonable and necessary, often based on assessments and quotes from qualified professionals. Ask your planner what evidence is needed for Vehicle modifications. Whether your plan is managed by the NDIA, by a plan manager or by you, ask for a written quote and a service agreement before you start. If your plan is plan-managed or self-managed you can use providers who are not registered with the NDIS. If it is NDIA-managed you generally need a registered provider.
What it costs
Higher-cost items such as home modifications, vehicle modifications and specialist housing are usually priced by quote rather than by the hour. Ask for itemised quotes so that you can see exactly what Vehicle modifications includes, and expect to compare more than one. Before you start, ask for a written quote that lists each support, the hours and the price, and check it against the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits on the NDIS website. A provider may charge less than a limit. If you pay privately, the provider sets its own fees. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can also use providers who are not registered, and those providers set their own prices.
Checking credentials
- Check registration Search the NDIS Commission's register of registered providers to see whether a provider is registered and for which types of support. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can also use unregistered providers.
- Ask about worker screening Ask whether workers hold a current NDIS Worker Screening Check where their role requires one, and how the provider checks its workers' identity and qualifications.
- Get it in writing Ask for a written quote and a service agreement that describes the support, the prices, how to change or end it and how to make a complaint.
Regulation and safeguards
NDIS providers and their workers must follow the NDIS Code of Conduct, and registered providers are regulated by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission Regulates NDIS providers and handles complaints about the quality and safety of NDIS supports. Phone: 1800 035 544.
- National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Runs the NDIS. Contact them about your plan, your funding and eligibility. Phone: 1800 800 110.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
What vehicle modifications are available?
Examples include hand controls, hoists, ramps and lifts, transfer seats and wheelchair-accessible conversions. What suits you depends on your needs.
Who assesses and does the work?
Usually an occupational therapist assesses your needs, and a specialist modifier carries out and certifies the work. Check that modifiers are suitably qualified.
Will modifications affect my insurance or registration?
They can. Tell your insurer and the relevant transport authority, and ask the modifier what approvals or certification are required.
Do I need to tell my insurer?
Yes. Modifications should be disclosed to your insurer and the relevant authority.
Can modifications be moved to another vehicle?
Some can be moved, and others are fitted to one vehicle. Ask the modifier before you decide.
Should I buy the vehicle first?
Ask your therapist and modifier before buying, since not every vehicle can be modified.
Can any car be modified?
Not always. Some vehicles are better suited than others, so get advice before you buy.
Do modifications have to be approved?
Requirements vary between states, and modified vehicles often need to be inspected or approved. The workshop should explain what is required.
Will my modifications work in a different vehicle?
Some can, depending on the type of modification and the vehicles. Ask the workshop.
Can I use my NDIS plan to pay for Vehicle modifications?
If Vehicle modifications is in your NDIS plan and is reasonable and necessary for you, then yes. Check with your planner, Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator. You can also arrange it privately.
How do I find a Vehicle modifications provider near me?
Browse providers on SolDirectory, or send a free enquiry with your location and what you need and suitable providers will review it. Then ask each one about availability, a quote and a service agreement before you decide. Details come from providers and registers, so confirm them directly.
Sources and further reading
- NDIS: how the NDIS works, plans and price limits
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission: find a registered provider, make a complaint
Browse the NDIS and aged care provider directory
Helpful reading
- How to choose an NDIS provider: 12 questions to ask before you commit: A practical checklist for comparing providers, from how a service fits your plan to what happens when something goes wrong.
- Registered or unregistered? What it means when you choose an NDIS provider: Registered and unregistered providers can both be legitimate, but the rules, checks and options for your plan are not the same. Here is how to think about the difference.
- How to change NDIS provider without losing support: You are allowed to change providers. A little planning means the new service is ready before the old one ends, and nothing falls through the gap.