The Playbook › Tools, state benefits and reference
If a service-connected disability keeps you from driving a standard vehicle, VA can help in two ways: a one-time automobile allowance toward buying a specially equipped vehicle, and adaptive-equipment grants to change a vehicle with features like power steering, special seats or a lift. The vehicle can be a car, a van, a motor home, a commercial truck, or even farm machinery like a tractor.
The short version
- The automobile allowance pays up to $27,908.90 toward a specially equipped vehicle, for purchases from October 1, 2026.
- Adaptive-equipment grants pay to modify a vehicle, and can be used more than once.
- You must get VA’s approval before you buy. VA will not pay for a vehicle or equipment you bought first.
- VA pays the seller directly for the allowance.
- Apply with VA Form 21-4502 (allowance) or VA Form 10-1394 (adaptive equipment).
On this page
Who qualifies
You need a service-connected disability (or one treated as service connected under 38 U.S.C. 1151) that includes at least one of these:
- Loss, or permanent loss of use, of one or both feet
- Loss, or permanent loss of use, of one or both hands
- Permanently decreased vision in both eyes: 20/200 or less in your better eye with glasses, or better than 20/200 but with your field of vision narrowed to 20 degrees or less in your better eye
- A severe burn injury
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Ankylosis (a fused, immovable joint) in one or both knees or hips. This qualifies you for the adaptive-equipment grant only, not the automobile allowance.
You can apply for and use either benefit before or after you leave the military.
How much it pays
| Benefit | Amount |
|---|---|
| Automobile allowance | Up to $27,908.90, one time, effective October 1, 2026 |
| Adaptive equipment | Depends on the equipment you need |
VA updates the automobile allowance each year on October 1. The allowance is a one-time payment that VA sends to the seller of the vehicle.
A second automobile allowance
You may qualify for a second allowance if either of these is true:
- You bought a vehicle with a VA automobile allowance 30 or more years ago, or
- A natural disaster destroyed a vehicle you bought with the allowance, it was not your fault, and your property insurance did not already pay you for the loss.
How to apply
Order matters. File your claim and get VA’s approval before you buy anything. Before you buy, make sure the seller agrees to send VA the completed form and an itemized invoice.
For the automobile allowance: apply online at VA.gov, or mail VA Form 21-4502, Application for Automobile or Other Conveyance and Adaptive Equipment, to the address on the form.
For an adaptive-equipment grant: fill out VA Form 10-1394, Application for Adaptive Equipment, Motor Vehicle, and take it to the prosthetic representative at your local VA medical center. VA may pay you or the equipment seller.
What happens next
- If you are eligible, VA completes the authorization section of your form and sends it back to you.
- You buy the vehicle or equipment.
- When you collect the vehicle, bring the original form, not a copy. Sign and date it to show you received the vehicle, and give it to the seller.
- The seller sends VA the form and an itemized invoice, and VA pays the seller.
If your disability is not service connected yet, that claim comes first. See how to file a VA disability claim.
Common mistakes
- Buying first and claiming later. VA will not reimburse a vehicle or equipment bought before approval.
- Losing the original form. The seller needs the signed original to get paid.
- Missing the adaptive-equipment grant. Even if you do not qualify for the allowance, ankylosis of a knee or hip can still qualify you for equipment.
Related benefits
- VA housing grants to buy or adapt a home
- VA clothing allowance for clothing damaged by a prosthetic or skin medicine
- Special monthly compensation for loss of use of hands, feet or eyes
Free printable checklist. Everything to gather before you file, what to bring to your C&P exam, and what to check in your decision, on two pages.
Last reviewed October 2026. This guide is general educational information, not legal or medical advice, and this site is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Rules and rates change. Confirm details on VA.gov or with an accredited representative. See our disclaimer and editorial policy.