Guidance

Plug-in wheelchair accessible vehicle grant: eligibility and applications

Published 14 June 2022

Base vehicles used for grant eligible wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) must have a recommended retail price (RRP) below £35,000 (see full price definition), subject to grant limits. This excludes the cost of conversion.

A base vehicle is a standard vehicle that can be modified by a converter to create a WAV.

We regularly review grant levels. Both the level of grant and the criteria for each category is liable to change at the discretion of the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV).

How the scheme operates

The plug-in wheelchair accessible vehicle grant (PiWG) can only be claimed by new WAVs at first registration. Preregistration conversions are eligible to apply for the grant scheme. Post-registration conversions are not eligible for the grant.

Eligible vehicles

To be eligible for the grant, the base vehicle needs to meet certain criteria to provide a minimum level of assurance to consumers.

OZEV reserves the right to alter these criteria. For example, if during the PiWG new regulations or standards come into force, these eligibility criteria will be bought in line with those regulations or standards.

To claim the PiWG, a base vehicle must be:

• priced at £35,000 or less
• suitable for conversion to a WAV, such as a large multipurpose vehicle (MPV)

A list of the eligible base vehicles for conversion is regularly updated.

Manufacturers of a base vehicle suitable for conversion to a WAV should apply so it can be listed as eligible.

Once a base vehicle has been considered eligible, details of the relationship between government and the applicant will be provided in an agreement. The vehicle will be formally approved for the scheme when the agreement is returned signed.

Convertors may not apply directly for a vehicle to be listed as eligible. They should work with manufacturers to ensure suitable vehicles are approved and added to the eligible vehicles list.

Applications for vehicles with multiple variants

When applying for more than one variant of the same vehicle to become eligible for the scheme, a single reference number and agreement will be used as long as the variants are covered by the same type approval and warranty terms.

New variants of a vehicle that is already eligible for the grant are not automatically eligible. A variant of a vehicle that requires an extension to type approval documentation will need to be approved separately.

Manufacturers should apply for these new variants to be approved under the grant scheme.

If you are unsure whether a new variant of a vehicle needs to be approved, contact PlugInGrants@dft.gov.uk.

Definition of price for application of the grant cap

To be eligible for the PiWG, eligible base vehicles must be priced below £35,000 subject to grant limits.

The definition of RRP includes:

• VAT, including VAT reclaimable by a business
• vehicle manufacturer or dealer’s mandatory extras including delivery charges or administration fees
• the battery cost (including where the battery is leased)
• any non-standard option fitted by the manufacturer or dealer affecting the capacity of the battery, drive train configuration or maximum net power

The definition of RRP excludes:

• modifications for disabled users, including WAV conversions
• any non-standard option fitted by the manufacturer or dealer that does not affect the capacity of the battery, drive train configuration or maximum net power
• modifications such as ‘police packs’, ambulance/fire engine modifications
• warranty/insurance and service packages
• first registration fee and cost of first licence
• discounts (including rebates)

Where a vehicle model has a price range that straddles the cap, only those variants/trim levels priced below the cap will be eligible for the grant.

Variants or trim levels of eligible vehicles that are priced above the price cap are not eligible for the grant.

Applying for the grant

From the customer’s point of view, the PiWG is deducted from the price of the vehicle at the point of sale by the dealership.

Both private consumers and businesses can benefit from the PiWG when purchasing a qualifying zero emission vehicle and registering it to a UK address^{[footnote 1]}.

WAV convertors will need to work with the manufacturer to register claims for vehicles they have committed to sell.

Claims will be paid to the manufacturer on a monthly basis.

Once a vehicle has been formally approved for the scheme, the manufacturer and its selected dealerships will be given access to an online portal, through which they can register claims for eligible vehicles.

Further details of this process will be made available to the applicant once a vehicle has been formally approved for the scheme. Alternatively, details can be found in the Plug-in grant portal guidance.

There is an annual cap on the maximum number of grants for WAVs. See Low-emission vehicles eligible for a plug-in grant for details.

Application process

Those wishing to apply for a base vehicle to become eligible for the scheme should complete:

• Form A: PIWG scheme number application
• Form B: plug-in WAV grant application cover sheet

Attach the required supporting evidence in English.

Form A should be completed and emailed to PlugInApprovals@vca.gov.uk.

The Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) will then supply access to the large file transfer system required to submit Form B and the relevant supporting evidence.

Detailed guidance on how to complete the application form is provided.

Any questions regarding the application process should be sent to PlugInApprovals@vca.gov.uk.

Assessment process

Applications will be processed as soon as they are received and we would hope to make a decision within 2 months from the time all documents are received.

This depends on the complexity of the application and whether further technical information is required.

We recommend that applicants engage as early as possible with OZEV and VCA to allow time for the application to be processed.

The assessment process is as follows:

1. Applicant submits completed Form A: plug-in WAV grant scheme number application to PlugInApprovals@vca.gov.uk.

2. VCA provides a scheme number and access to the file transfer system.

3. Manufacturer submits Form B: Plug-in WAV grant application cover sheet and the required supporting evidence onto the file transfer system.

4. VCA confirms the application has been received and is complete or requests further information.

5. VCA confirms the validity of type approval certificates and warranty documentation presented as evidence.

6. VCA either:

• decides the application has passed
• decides the application has failed
• requests further information from the applicant
• requests advice from independent technical experts before coming to a decision, at a potential cost to the applicant (see Costs).

7. If the vehicle passes the assessment process, an offer letter will be sent to the applicant setting out the terms of acceptance.

8. If the vehicle fails, a letter will be sent to the applicant explaining the reasons why and recommending steps the vehicle manufacturer might wish to take before resubmitting an application.

9. If the vehicle passes, OZEV will upload its make, model and trim if applicable onto the eligible vehicles list.

Costs

Cases where independent technical expertise is needed to assess applications are likely to be rare. In such cases, however, there may be a cost to the applicant.

Independent technical advice is most likely to be required for battery or fuel cell degradation.

Review of decision

Applicants have a right to seek a review of the VCA decision. Further details will be provided to the applicant in the letter advising that the application had been unsuccessful.

If significant further work is required to validate the submitted evidence, the applicant may be asked to meet those costs. OZEV will let the applicant know if this applies, to enable the applicant to decide whether they wish to meet the costs or to withdraw the application.

Applicants are encouraged to contact OZEV with any specific questions.

1. Where registered is defined as being registered in accordance with section 21 of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 and licensed for use on UK roads, or registered according to the terms of the Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964, and licensed for use on UK roads. ↩