Can I drive if I have the absence of a limb?

You may have the absence of a limb due to a congenital condition or following an amputation.

Some limb absence may not affect driving, for example if you have an amputation of the left leg you will be able to drive an automatic vehicle without any adaptations. Other limb absence will require adaptations to the vehicle to assist with driving.

We would recommend an assessment by a driving assessment centre to determine the best way for you to drive. We can also discuss adaptation options with you to provide information around the types of adaptations you may want to try when visiting an assessment centre.

If returning to driving following an amputation, you must inform the DVLA. We would always recommend advising the DVLA and your insurers if there is a change to your driving circumstances.

When having any driving adaptations installed, we would always recommend an automatic vehicle. Many adaptations cannot be installed on to a manual transmission vehicle.

Adaption Examples

There are many different combinations of adaptations to consider, some are listed below but if you would like to discuss your specific requirements, please contact us and we would be happy to chat to you about the different adaptations available.

Single upper limb absence:
Assistance with vehicle operations such as steering, stalk functions, and the handbrake are key things to consider if you are driving with an upper limb absence.

A simple steering aid may be suitable, or a remote control device which combines a steering aid with the secondary functions such as indicators may be preferable.

If you would need assistance with operating a conventional handbrake, we would recommend purchasing a vehicle with an electric handbrake where you can operate the switch with your other hand. If the vehicle you have has a conventional handbrake, it may be that an easy release handbrake will assist.

It is also important to consider things such as ignition placement before purchasing a vehicle. We would always recommend sitting in the vehicle and ensuring that you can use all required buttons and functions.

Single lower limb (right leg) absence:
Assistance with operating the brake and accelerator pedal would be required if you are considering driving following a right leg amputation. Two main adaptations to consider are the hand control or a left foot accelerator.

If you have previously driven a vehicle in the conventional way, the hand control would be the preferred adaptation to consider. If you are learning to drive, a left foot accelerator may be suitable but, in all instances, we would recommend a driving assessment to determine the best way for you to drive. Both adaptations are often used in conjunction with other adaptations to improve the driving experience.

Lower limb absence:
It is not only driving that some people need to consider, but also accessing the vehicle they want to drive or be a passenger in. If you have difficulties reaching the vehicle seat directly from a wheelchair or from standing due to the gap created by the sill, the transfer plate can provide extra support to assist with transition into the vehicle.