Will the NDIS fund my driving lessons?

Key Information

• The NDIS may fund specialised driving lessons if your disability affects how you learn to drive or what you need to drive, but it won't fund standard lessons.
• You'll usually need a GP fitness-to-drive check, a learner's permit and an assessment with a driver-trained occupational therapist (OT).
• Funding is based on a quote for the lessons your OT recommends, and it must be approved before you start.
• Driving lessons need to be linked to your NDIS plan goals and are usually funded under Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living.

Being able to drive can mean having more freedom to get to work or study, see friends, and even just more independence for where you go and when. If you’re a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participant looking into driving lessons, the NDIS may fund support for specialised driver training – however, it will not fund standard lessons.

What does ‘specialised driver training’ mean?

Specialised driver training is lessons with an instructor who has experience teaching people living with disability - this is what people are referring to when they mention "NDIS driving lessons", even though these lessons are not provided directly by the NDIS.

These driving instructors offer specialised support for people with various needs. For example, if you need a different teaching approach or extra support, or if you need to use modified equipment (such as using hand controls instead of pedals).

If it’s funded, this support will be written into your plan.

What the NDIS may fund (and what they won’t)

Funding for approved supports will generally come under Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living budgets.

What the NDIS may fund	What the NDIS won't fund
An assessment with a driver-trained occupational therapist (OT)	Standard L-plate lessons
A driving instructor for the on-road part of the assessment	Lessons or supervision to log practice hours
Lessons with a specialised instructor	Your GP's fitness-to-drive check (generally)
Training to use modified controls or equipment	Buying a car, fuel, registration or standard insurance

There’s no set NDIS price for specialised driving lessons, because the support everyone needs is different. Though Specialised Driver Training is its own line item, it doesn’t have a set cost – if approved, the NDIA will fund the amount in your quote. This is based on your individual needs.

If you’ve tried standard driving lessons and the impact of your disability has prevented you from succeeding, this can actually strengthen the case for specialised driving lessons. You can provide documentation from past attempts with standard lessons to support your need for funding in this area.

Note: Improved Daily Living is one of the categories impacted under the new NDIS rules. Find out more about how some NDIS funding is changing from October 2026.

6 steps to get specialised driving lessons in your NDIS plan

1. See your GP for a medical fitness assessment

All drivers in Australia must meet medical fitness requirements to drive legally. These cover:

• Vision
• Attention, decision-making, reaction time
• Muscle strength, coordination and mobility

Your GP can assess your fitness using national Assessing Fitness to Drive standards. This makes sure you’re good to go for beginner driver training or vehicle modifications, and that learning to drive will be safe for you to do.

2. Get your learner’s permit

To get a learner’s permit, you’ll need to sit a written test. Some states and territories will let you do this online, and others need you to visit in person. Age requirements can also vary between states and territories, so best to check with your local licensing authority.

3. Book an OT driving assessment

If the impact of your disability may affect your ability to drive, you’ll need an occupational therapy driving assessment (funded through your Improved Daily Living budget). The OT assessment process looks into your physical and cognitive abilities, your medical history, and tests your road-rule knowledge. You can get a letter of recommendation reporting on:

• Whether you’re suitable to learn to drive
• A recommended number of specialised driving lessons
• Any vehicle modifications you need (e.g. left-foot accelerators, hand controls, steering knobs or spinner handles)
• Strategies or accommodations needed (specific to your disability-related needs)
• Goals to work towards for each stage of learning

OT assessment is usually funded through Improved Daily Living if you already have this funding in your current plan, or it may be added when your plan is reassessed.

4. Get a quote

After your OT assessment, the OT will recommend a number of lessons they think you will need. A specialised driving instructor can then provide a quote for that number of lessons.

5. Send the quote to the NDIA for approval

Once you have all of your supporting evidence and reporting together, send it off and wait for approval. Remember, don’t start lessons until your funding is approved – you won’t be able to claim them until the funding is officially in your plan and available to spend.

Related: How do NDIS Reimbursements Work?

6. Start your specialised training

Depending on your needs, your OT may check in on your progress and adjust the number of lessons if needed. This is important, because the NDIA will only fund what’s in the approved quote – if you need more time, you will need to get this approved before it can be funded.

Remember to keep track of how many lessons you’re doing, so you don’t accidentally book more lessons than your funding will cover. It can also be helpful to coordinate with your driving instructor to ensure the timing of your lessons aligns with your funding windows. Timing of support delivery and invoicing is part of why it’s worth setting up a service agreement.

Related: How to Budget Your NDIS Funding Periods

How to request funding in your NDIS plan

The easiest way to request funding for driving lessons is to raise it at your next plan reassessment. Having your GP check and OT assessment done early can help to show the NDIA that this is a good investment and will help build your capacity and independence.

Driving lessons, like any other NDIS support, will need to be connected to goals in your plan. If you don’t currently have driving related goals, you should discuss this with your support coordinator or Local Area Coordinator (LAC) ahead of your next reassessment. These are usually connected to how driving will help you achieve other goals, such as:

• “I want to gain employment; being able to drive will give me a wider pool of employment options and allow me to get to and from my workplace independently.”
• “I live in a regional town with limited public transport, and I want to be able to get around to see friends and take part in community events.”
• “I'd like to move into my own place and be able to do my grocery shopping and run errands on my own.”

Will learning to drive impact your NDIS plan?

Once you can drive yourself where you need to go, you may need less funding for things like transport or other supports to participate in the community – like going to appointments, work, school, or catching up with your loved ones. The NDIS may recognise this and adjust your plan accordingly at reassessment. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing! NDIS plans are designed to build your capacity where possible (through your Capacity Building supports budget); as your needs change over time, so can your NDIS plan and funding.

Choosing the right NDIS-funded driving instructor

Your NDIS-funded driving lessons have to be delivered by a driving instructor experienced in supporting people living with disability (a specialised driving instructor). Look for instructors who:

• Are trained and experienced in disability support, particularly those who know how to work with your specific needs.
• Offer modified vehicles if needed – if your OT has recommended modifications, it’s important to work with a driving school that has these available to support your journey.
• Operate close to you, so you can easily attend your driving lessons. Availability can vary between cities and regional areas, so check ahead of time what is in your local area. Many schools in metro areas are NDIS registered providers, though this is not strictly required at this time (plan managed individuals can work with registered or unregistered NDIS providers).
• Can provide detailed progress reporting and communicate regularly with your OT.

How plan management can help drive independence

Plan management helps you stay across your plan funding, funding windows, spending, and what your supports as written mean. Having a plan manager means you have someone working on the everyday financial admin of your NDIS plan, so you can focus on what you really want to achieve - like getting your licence and growing your independence!

NDSP handles your budget tracking, reporting, processing provider invoices, and making sure your plan remains compliant with NDIS rules – which is especially important as these rules change and develop under the Securing the NDIS for Future Generations Act.

If you’re new to the NDIS or looking for a new plan manager to fit your needs, why not get in touch with NDSP today for a no-obligation chat. You can contact our friendly team online or by free-calling us on 1800 63 63 77 (Monday to Friday, 8.30AM to 5.30PM ACT).