Has serving your country eliminated you having the ability to drive a vehicle or safely ride as a passenger? VA grants 4502 (Auto Grants) and 1394 (Adaptive Equipment Grants) can help cover the cost to purchase a vehicle or upfit it for you to safely drive or ride as a passenger. In both cases the VA will pay the selling dealer directly so the service member will not have the burden of the cost at the time of delivery. Both veterans and service members can qualify for 1 or both of these VA benefits/grants. Looking to see what lowered floor convresions and other adpative equipment in your area are available, visit blvd.com to learn more.
If you have a disability caused by your service you are eligible to apply for 1 or both benefits. Contacting your VA advocate local to you can help you apply and determine if you will qualify. If you can answer yes to 1 or more of the questions below it would be possible for you to qualify.
As of 8-22-23 the automobile grant 21-4502 is a one time grant in the amount of $22,355.72 towards the purchase of an automobile or other form of transportation for a disabled veteran. Unlike adaptive equipment that receive multiple grants over a lifetime, the 4502 grant can only be claimed once. Approval is needed prior to purchasing the vehicle and the selling dealer will be paid directly from the VA. Click this link to download the Automobile grant and submit according to the instructions - https://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-21-4502-ARE.pdf
Adaptive equipment allowing you to drive the vehicle or get in or out of the vehicle as a passenger safely can be covered by the VA benefit 10-1394. Local dealers can adapt your current vehicle or adapt a new vehicle with hand controls, left foot gas, lowered floor conversion, scooter lifts, wheelchair lifts, steering aids giving you accessible transportation. Driver evaluations or safe passenger evaluations with the VA are required so your local dealer knows exactly what you qualify for. The VA benefit can be completed on multiple vehicles at once and can be received multiple times over your lifetime for 100% service connected disabled veterans. To download the 10-1394 Adaptive Equipment form and submit according to the instructions - https://www.va.gov/vaforms/medical/pdf/10-1394-fill.pdf
Veterans that are not 100% service connected disabled can apply for a 1 time adaptive equipment grant. The VA will adapt your current or new vehicle 1 time with a lowered floor conversion for the veteran to drive or ride as a passenger. Evaluations with the VA are required so the prescription for the equipment can be sent out to local vendors in your area. Unlike service connected benefits where the veteran can choose the vendor they prefer to work with, the 1 time grant will be determined solely by the VA based on a bidding process. Contact your local VA benefits office or speak with your primary care physician to learn more about the 1 time VA grant.