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DVA FACTS
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Rates and Allowances
Vehicle Assistance Scheme
Purpose
This fact sheet provides a brief description of the Vehicle Assistance Scheme (VAS).
What is the VAS?
VAS provides financial assistance to enable a veteran to purchase a new motor vehicle. Once eligibility for financial assistance for a new vehicle is established, assistance may also be provided to purchase a replacement vehicle.
VAS also provides a running and maintenance allowance which may be used towards the cost of registering and insuring the vehicle. This is equal to 26 fortnights of recreation transport allowance (at the high rate) and is paid annually as a lump sum.
Assistance toward vehicle modifications may also be provided to enable the veteran to ride in, or drive, the vehicle.
Who is eligible to apply for assistance under the VAS?
A veteran incapacitated by a war-caused, or defence-caused, injury or disease, as follows:
· both legs amputated above the knee; or
· one leg amputated above the knee and the other leg amputated at or above the ankle and one arm amputated at or above the wrist, or
· one leg amputated above the knee and both arms amputated at or above the wrists; or
· complete paraplegia, to the extent that the person has insufficient power to stand or walk (even with the assistance of surgical or other aids); or
· a condition accepted by the Repatriation Commission as being of similar effect and severity to the first three conditions described above.
For VAS purposes, a leg that is wholly or permanently useless above the knee is treated as an amputation above the knee.
What if the veteran cannot drive?
It is not necessary for the eligible veteran to be able to drive the car in order to qualify for assistance under VAS. If the veteran has a partner or carer who holds a valid drivers’ licence and is willing and able to drive the car, assistance may be granted. However, the veteran must be capable of being easily transported in the car on a regular basis by the partner or carer.
How do I apply for assistance under the VAS?
A VAS application form is available from your nearest DVA office.
For entitled veterans with less severe war or defence caused disabilities, car modifications may be available under the Rehabilitation Appliances Program.
Oral advice
While we make every effort to ensure that you are given accurate information, it is important that you seek written confirmation of oral information or advice before making any major decisions based on that information.
We continually strive to improve the level of service you receive and make this request as an added safeguard for you.
Other fact sheets
Other fact sheets related to this topic include:
· Recreation Transport Allowance: DP 76
· Rehabilitation Appliances program: HSV107
More information
All DVA fact sheets are available on request from any DVA office or on the DVA website at www.dva.gov.au/factsheets/default.htm.
If you need more information about this topic, contact your nearest DVA office or visit the DVA website at www.dva.gov.au.
You can telephone DVA for the cost of a local call* on:
133 254 – general inquiries
1800 555 254 – non-metropolitan callers
*If you use a mobile phone, calls may be more
costly. You are advised to use a normal
phone (ie a landline phone) when ringing these numbers.