NDIS driving lessons: specialised support and licence checks
Behind the Wheel: Learning to drive under the NDIS
By Julia · Originally published 15 July 2021
How participants can separate the funding and licence steps
Ask your licensing authority what applies to your situation before practising. If disability-related training is proposed, ask the assessor what assistance is needed and how it differs from ordinary driving tuition. Keep a funding decision separate from permission to drive.
Ask a driving-assessment occupational therapist about their specialist experience, assessment costs and any report required. Then compare instructors who can follow the assessment recommendations and your permit conditions.
Original article and dated context
Julia is a driving instructor with over 20 years of experience. She specialises in teaching those with Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome and is an NDIS approved driving instructor. For more, click here.
The main reason people learn to drive is to gain freedom so they can go where they want, when they want. Driving gives you greater access to recreational and social activities, helps you gain and keep employment and enables you to do many other important things such as shopping or visiting the doctor.
If you have a disability, you might be wondering how the NDIS can help you get behind the wheel. The good news is that the National Disability Insurance Scheme can fund supports from specialised driving training to vehicle modifications. Let's take a look at how it works - and how you can go about with your NDIS driving lessons.
Using your NDIS Funds for Driving Lessons
You will need to first ensure 'learning to drive' is a goal in your NDIS Plan. You will also need to demonstrate in your Planning meeting that the support you need is reasonable and necessary. This might include a report from your Occupational Therapist.
[Clickability update, September 2026: A goal alone does not approve specialised training, ordinary lessons or a vehicle modification. The proposed disability-related support must meet current rules and fit your plan. Check support rules.]
Also think about how driving will be able to improve your life; write down a few points and be sure to discuss them with your Planner. If you need help, speak to your Support Coordinator or Local Area Coordinator (LAC).
Applying for your Driving License
Once you've had your Planning meeting and the funds are in your NDIS Plan, you can begin looking at getting your license. Each state and territory is slightly different, but they all follow a similar process. This includes getting a medical fitness assessment and occupational therapy driving assessment.
[Clickability update, September 2026: The required medical and practical checks depend on the person’s circumstances and jurisdiction. A licence decision belongs to the relevant authority; do not assume every disabled learner follows the same assessment sequence. See Austroads guidance.]
For information specific to each state, please visit below:
To find out if you're eligible to drive, you will need to be evaluated by a medical practitioner and complete a 'fitness to drive' assessment. You will be asked about things such as vision, hearing, decision-making and coordination. Click on your state above to find out what's required where you live.
In many instances, your medical practitioner will require you to be assessed by a specialist or an Occupational Therapist. This is to figure out if you need any supports while driving or if a vehicle modification might be needed.
Occupational therapy assessment
Your driving assessment will be funded out of your Capacity Building budget - usually out of Improved Daily Living. Remember to raise this in your Planning meetings, so you have funds in your NDIS Plan and you're not paying out of pocket.
The assessment itself will include both off-road and on-road assessments. For your off-road assessments, you will be asked about your history and skills related to driving. If you want, ask a family member or friend to help out. They won't be able to answer for you, but it's always good to have some emotional support.
If your occupational therapist believes you meet the requirements of the off-road assessment, you will then be able to start your driving lessons!
[Clickability update, September 2026: An off-road assessment alone does not authorise driving. Follow the licence or learner-permit conditions and the assessor’s advice about any further on-road assessment. Read the assessment distinctions.]
NDIS Driving Lessons
Driving a car is not something you can learn from Youtube – you need to find someone to teach you all the ins and outs of being behind the wheel. Make time for one or two hours of tuition a week. If you leave long gaps between driving lessons, you might forget something important that you’ve learnt. Once you start learning, try to keep the lessons regular and stay committed. Learning to drive can be quite a complex task.
When you sit in the driver’s seat, you’re surrounded by all sorts of buttons, dials, mirrors, numbers, and flashing lights. The pedals will be close to your feet, the steering wheel over your knees and the gear stick to your left. There is also quite a bit of multi-tasking that you will need to be able to do when controlling a car but with practice and time you will be doing many of these things automatically. This is why finding a good teacher is important.
Finding a Good Driving Instructor
Once you’ve passed the theory test and picked up a pair of L plates, you’ll need someone to teach you how to operate the car. As a learner driver, the person in the passenger seat with you must have a valid, unrestricted Australian driver’s license. Some things you’ll need to learn, in order to drive safely and confidently, include operating the pedals and steering wheel, changing gears, adjusting your mirrors and even turning the engine on. Learning to drive can be pretty stressful so you’ll want to find someone experienced that you’re comfortable with.
[Clickability update, September 2026: Supervisor requirements vary by state and territory and can include further conditions. Check your licensing authority’s current rules before supervised practice.]
Try to find someone who can explain things patiently and simply to you. A good instructor can make learning to drive fun and relaxed. All instructors are different and often it's best to go with someone who has a good reputation. You can ask your friends or family might be able to recommend a good teacher, but it is still important to do your own research. Have a look at what different driving schools offer. This can include their experience, available resources and teaching methods. You might even be able to pick out your preferred instructor.
As with most things, it’s important to shop around. The first school you find may not be the best one for you. Find out first what the school can do for you. If you have specific needs, you can even do a quick Google search. You can search for things like “Special Needs Driving Instructor” or “NDIS driving lessons”. The NDIS also has a list of approved providers on their website who specifically cater to the disability sector.
The item comes under Improved Daily Living Skills (CB Daily Living Skills) and is called Specialised Driver Training. The code is: 15_046_0129_1_3.
[Clickability update, September 2026: This historical item reference is not independently verified as a current billing code here. Check the official catalogue and applicable conditions before quoting or claiming. Use the current pricing documents.]
Additional Benefits of Learning to Drive
Even if you don’t go all the way to getting your P’s or driving independently, there are a lot of other great benefits gained from learning to drive. These can include improved self-confidence and multi-tasking skills, better spatial awareness, visual skills and hand-eye coordination, as well as better knowledge of your neighbourhood and road safety.
You don’t need to rush the process of learning to drive. It can be a long-term project and you can fit it into your own schedule. You can even treat learning to drive as a recreational activity or have extra driving lessons if you want to refresh a few things. Once you’ve passed your driving test and received your driver’s license, you’ll be able to drive wherever and whenever you like.
[Clickability update, September 2026: Recreational or ordinary refresher lessons are not automatically disability-funded training. Confirm the specific funded support before arranging extra lessons. Check current support rules.]
Happy Safe Driving!
Clickability editorial update: September 2026
What families can agree before supporting driving practice
Check who is legally allowed to supervise, the vehicle requirements and any conditions on the learner’s permit. Do not use the article’s general description as a substitute for the local rules.
Agree how the learner wants help, how to communicate during practice and when to pause. Coordinate with the instructor or assessor rather than adding unplanned lessons because they might build confidence.
No. The specific proposed disability-related support must meet the rules and fit the plan. Ordinary tuition is a separate question. Official guidance
Does an OT assessment itself issue a licence?
No. Assessment information can inform the decision, but the licensing authority determines licensing requirements and conditions. Official guidance
Find an OT and ask about specialist driving assessment
Explain your driving-assessment needs through Clickability. Compare occupational therapy profiles and reviews, then confirm specialist qualifications and availability directly.
