vat relief on motor vehicles

You can purchase, a motor vehicle VAT- free when all the following conditions are met:

  • the motor vehicle is supplied to a disabled person who normally uses a wheelchair to be mobile.
  • the vehicle is permanently and substantially adapted.
  • the adapted motor vehicle is for the domestic or personal use of the disabled wheelchair user, and the supplier has been given a completed declaration, form VAT1615A, which confirms eligibility.

Definition of ‘wheelchair’ and ‘wheelchair user’

In legal terms, a wheelchair is a chair on wheels for disabled people, which is either manually propelled or electrically powered. A mobility scooter is not a wheelchair for VAT purposes. A wheelchair user is any disabled person who normally uses a wheelchair in order to be mobile. A person who occasionally uses a wheelchair is not eligible.

For further information please see the HMRC leaflet about purchasing zero-rated adapted vehicles for;

  • Customers
  • Dealer and Suppliers
  • Phone the VAT Disabled Reliefs Helpline on 0300 123 1073 and select option 3. The helpline is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm.