VA Automobile Allowance & Adaptive Equipment

The VA Automobile Allowance is a one-time grant to help eligible veterans and servicemembers purchase a specially equipped vehicle. It is separate from the Adaptive Equipment program, which provides (and can repeatedly provide) modifications to make vehicles safe for disabled operators.

Payment goes directly to the vehicle seller, not to the veteran. The grant covers part or all of the purchase price up to the maximum amount.

These benefits are governed by 38 USC Chapter 39 (§§ 3901–3904) and 38 CFR § 3.808.

38 USC §§ 3901–3904; 38 CFR § 3.808

The automobile allowance amount adjusts annually on October 1 based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), per 38 USC § 3902(e). This annual adjustment provision was added by law effective 2011.

The payment goes directly to the vehicle seller — not to the veteran. The seller must submit the completed form and an itemized invoice to VA.

Source: VA Special Benefit Allowance Rates; 38 USC § 3902(e)

Per 38 CFR § 3.808, a veteran or active-duty servicemember must have a service-connected disability (or disability treated as service-connected under 38 USC § 1151) that includes at least one of the following:

1. Loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet
2. Loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands
3. Permanent vision impairment in both eyes: visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in the better eye with corrective lenses, OR a visual field defect reducing peripheral vision to 20 degrees or less in the better eye
4. Severe burn injury — contractures limiting extremity or trunk movement affecting safe vehicle operation
5. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
6. Ankylosis of one or both knees or hips — eligible for adaptive equipment only, NOT the automobile grant

Source: VA.gov Automobile Allowance; 38 CFR § 3.808

Adaptive equipment grants are separate from the automobile purchase grant and are recurring — VA may provide financial assistance for adaptive equipment more than once. VA also repairs, replaces, or reinstalls adaptive equipment as needed, not just on the original vehicle but on any vehicle the veteran subsequently acquires (per 38 USC § 3902(c)).

Types of Adaptive Equipment

Per 38 USC § 3901(2), adaptive equipment includes but is not limited to:

• Power steering, power brakes, power windows, power seats
• Automatic transmission
• Special equipment to assist entry and exit from the vehicle
• Wheelchair lifts
• Non-articulating trailers for powered wheelchairs or scooters
• Air conditioning when medically necessary for health and safety
• Interior space modifications needed due to physical condition

Vehicle Limits

Per 38 USC § 3903, adaptive equipment is limited to no more than two vehicles at any one time or during any four-year period. The Secretary may authorize a third vehicle if a prior vehicle became unavailable through circumstances beyond the person's control.

How to Apply for Adaptive Equipment

File VA Form 10-1394 and bring it to the prosthetic representative at your local VA medical center. Payment may go to the veteran or the equipment seller.

Source: VA.gov Automobile Allowance; 38 USC § 3903

Public Law 117-333 (the Veterans Auto and Education Improvement Act of 2022, signed January 5, 2023) amended 38 USC § 3903 to allow additional automobile grants, ending the former lifetime one-time-only restriction.

Current & Future Rules

• Now (as of January 5, 2023): An eligible person may receive a second automobile grant if 30 or more years have elapsed since the date they last received such assistance
• Beginning January 5, 2033 (10 years after enactment): The period shortens to 10 or more years since last assistance

Natural Disaster Exception

A second grant is available if a prior VA-purchased vehicle was destroyed by a natural disaster, the person was not compensated by insurance, and the loss was not the person's fault. This exception applies regardless of the 30-year or 10-year waiting periods.

Source: 38 USC § 3903 (as amended); P.L. 117-333

For the Automobile Grant

1. File VA Form 21-4502 (Application for Automobile or Other Conveyance and Adaptive Equipment)
2. Submit by mail to the address on the form, through an accredited representative, or in person at a VA regional office
3. Receive VA approval before purchasing
4. Present the original form to the seller upon vehicle receipt

For Adaptive Equipment Only

1. File VA Form 10-1394
2. Bring to the prosthetic representative at your local VA medical center
3. Payment may go to the veteran or the equipment seller

Contact: Call VA at 800-827-1000, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. ET.

Source: VA.gov Automobile Allowance; VA Form 21-4502

• Driver Training: Per 38 USC § 3903(d), VA provides special driver training courses at VA hospitals and medical facilities to instruct eligible persons on operating their chosen vehicle type.
• Safety Requirement: Per 38 USC § 3903(c), before receiving assistance, VA must establish that the person can operate the vehicle safely for themselves and others.
• Maintenance: Per 38 USC § 3902(c), VA repairs, replaces, or reinstalls adaptive equipment — not just on the original vehicle but on any vehicle the person subsequently acquires.
• Research: Per 38 USC § 3904, VA conducts research and development of adaptive equipment and adapted conveyances (including vans) through the Under Secretary for Health.

38 USC §§ 3902–3904

Forms for This Topic

The official VA forms relevant to this page, in one place. Select a form to view, download, or add it to your report.

• VA Form 10-1394 — Application for Adaptive Equipment—Motor Vehicle
• VA Form 21-4502 — Application for Automobile or Other Conveyance and Adaptive Equipment (UNDER 38 U.S.C. 3901-3904)Use VA Form 21-4502 if you’re a Veteran with a disability and you want to apply for compensation for a vehicle that meets your needs.