VA Automobile Allowance 2027: Amount and Who Qualifies

• Start with a service-connected disability that includes at least one of the conditions below. VA.gov says that if you have not yet filed a disability compensation claim, you need to do that first. Estimate your combined rating and monthly pay.

  “You may be eligible for VA automobile allowance or adaptive-equipment benefits if you have a disability that’s related to your service (called a service-connected disability)” (VA.gov automobile allowance page)

• Veterans: you must be entitled to disability compensation for one of the disabilities listed in 38 CFR 3.808(b).

  “A veteran who is entitled to compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, for a disability described in paragraph (b) of this section” (38 CFR 3.808(a)(1))

• Service members on active duty: a member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty with one of those disabilities, caused or aggravated by service, is also covered.

  “A member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who has a disability described in paragraph (b) of this section that is the result of an injury or disability incurred or disease contracted in or aggravated by active military, naval, air, or space service” (38 CFR 3.808(a)(2))

• Feet: loss, or permanent loss of use, of one or both feet.

  “Loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet” (38 CFR 3.808(b)(1))

• Hands: loss, or permanent loss of use, of one or both hands.

  “Loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands” (38 CFR 3.808(b)(2))

• Vision: permanent impairment of vision of both eyes, at 20/200 or less in the better eye with glasses, or a field defect that has narrowed the visual field to no more than 20 degrees in the better eye.

  “Permanent impairment of vision of both eyes: Central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye, with corrective glasses, or central visual acuity of more than 20/200 if there is a field defect in which the peripheral field has contracted to such an extent that the widest diameter of visual field subtends an angular distance no greater than 20° in the better eye.” (38 CFR 3.808(b)(3))

• Severe burn injury: the regulation limits this to burns with scar formation that restrict movement and make it impossible to operate an automobile effectively.

  “Severe burn injury: Deep partial thickness or full thickness burns resulting in scar formation that cause contractures and limit motion of one or more extremities or the trunk and preclude effective operation of an automobile.” (38 CFR 3.808(b)(4))

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

  “Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.” (38 CFR 3.808(b)(5))

• Ankylosis of one or both knees or hips counts for adaptive equipment only, not the automobile allowance. VA.gov repeats that this qualifies you only for an adaptive-equipment grant.

  “For adaptive equipment eligibility only, ankylosis of one or both knees or one or both hips.” (38 CFR 3.808(b)(6))

• Compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1151 counts too: VA.gov says you need to show your disability is service connected or treated as if service connected under that section.

  “You’ll need to show that your disability is service connected or treated as if service connected under 38 U.S.C. 1151.” (VA.gov automobile allowance page)

• You do not have to be the driver: if an eligible person cannot qualify to operate a vehicle, the statute lets VA provide or assist in providing one that another person will operate for them.

  “If an eligible person cannot qualify to operate an automobile or other conveyance, the Secretary shall provide or assist in providing an automobile or other conveyance to such person, as provided in subsection (a) of this section, if the automobile or other conveyance is to be operated for the eligible person by another person.” (38 U.S.C. 3902(d))

Your disability rating and any special monthly compensation are decided separately; see VA SMC rates and VA benefits by disability rating.

• What counts as adaptive equipment: equipment that must be part of or added to a vehicle built for the general public to make it safe for the eligible person. The regulation lists a basic automatic transmission, power steering, power brakes, power window lifts and power seats, air conditioning when needed for health and safety, and special equipment to get into or out of the vehicle.

  “Adaptive equipment includes, but is not limited to, a basic automatic transmission, power steering, power brakes, power window lifts, power seats, air-conditioning equipment when necessary for the health and safety of the veteran, and special equipment necessary to assist the eligible person into or out of the automobile or other conveyance” (38 CFR 17.157 (also 38 CFR 3.808(e)))

• Who qualifies under the health-care regulation: 17.156 names loss or permanent loss of use of the feet or hands and ankylosis of the knees or hips. 38 CFR 3.808(b) and VA.gov also list vision loss, severe burn injury and ALS (see the eligibility list above).

  “the loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands; or ankylosis of one or both knees” (38 CFR 17.156(a)(1))

• Together with a vehicle claim, VA furnishes a certificate for the adaptive equipment that fits your losses unless a physical or legal inability to operate the vehicle rules it out.

  “a claimant for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile will be furnished a certificate of eligibility for financial assistance in the purchase of such adaptive equipment as may be appropriate to the claimant's losses unless the need for such equipment is contraindicated by a physical or legal inability to operate the vehicle” (38 CFR 3.808(c))

• Limit: adaptive equipment for no more than two vehicles at one time or in any four-year period, with exceptions when a vehicle is lost or no longer usable through no fault of yours (fire, theft, accident, court action, prohibitive repair costs or a change in physical condition).

  “An eligible person will not be provided adaptive equipment for more than two automobiles or other conveyances at any one time or during any four-year period” (38 CFR 17.158(a))

• How much VA pays: the amount depends on what VA decides is needed and on the VA adaptive equipment price schedule, which VA publishes on prosthetics.va.gov.

  “VA will reimburse or pay for adaptive equipment that VA determines is needed in accordance with this section based on the information submitted and the VA Adaptive Equipment Schedule for Automobiles and Other Conveyances (Schedule).” (38 CFR 17.158(b) and (b)(7))

• Paid in full: when VA pays for authorized equipment, a registered provider cannot bill you extra for it.

  “The registered provider may not impose any additional charge on the eligible person for any adaptive equipment that is authorized under this section and for which payment is made by VA.” (38 CFR 17.158(b)(1))

• Paperwork when VA pays a registered provider: VA Form 10-1394 and an itemized estimate go in before the work is finished, and a final itemized invoice follows.

  “The eligible person or the registered provider must sign and submit to VA a completed VA Form 10-1394 and an itemized estimate prior to the completion of work.” (38 CFR 17.158(b)(2)(iii))

• VA does not vouch for installers: the regulation says VA does not approve, endorse or assess modifiers.

  “VA does not approve, endorse, or assess the abilities of any modifiers to perform any requested or represented modification services.” (38 CFR 17.157 (definition of modifier))

• Repairs and replacement of adaptive equipment are covered by statute, for a vehicle bought with this benefit or one you acquired before or after.

  “repair, replace, or reinstall adaptive equipment deemed necessary for the operation of an automobile or other conveyance acquired in accordance with the provisions of this chapter” (38 U.S.C. 3902(c))

• Eligibility for adaptive equipment has two layers: 38 CFR 3.808(d) says claimants for adaptive equipment must also satisfy the criteria in 17.156, 17.157 and 17.158.

  “Claimants for adaptive equipment must also satisfy the additional eligibility criteria of §§ 17.156, 17.157, and 17.158 of this chapter.” (38 CFR 3.808(d))

• A basic automatic transmission is covered only for a claimant who has lost, or lost the use of, a limb.

  “the term includes a basic automatic transmission as to a claimant who has lost or lost the use of a limb” (38 CFR 3.808(e)(1))

• Since 2023 the statute also covers nonarticulating trailers designed solely to carry powered wheelchairs, powered scooters or similar mobility devices (Pub. L. 117-333 §20).

  “nonarticulating trailers solely designed to transport powered wheelchairs, powered scooters, or other similar mobility devices” (38 U.S.C. 3901(2))

• A vehicle you sold or gave to a household member, or to a business owned by you or a household member, still counts as available to you for the two-vehicle limit.

  “an eligible person shall be deemed to have access to and use of an automobile or other conveyance for which the Department of Veterans Affairs has provided adaptive equipment if that eligible person has sold, given or transferred the automobile or other conveyance to a spouse, family member or other person residing in the same household as the eligible person; or to a business owned by the eligible person, spouse, family member or other person residing in the same household as the eligible person” (38 CFR 17.158(a)(2))

• New equipment: VA pays the lesser of what the itemized invoice, paid receipt or bill of sale shows and the amount in the Schedule, so the Schedule is a cap.

  “VA will pay the lesser of the amount for the new adaptive equipment listed in either a final itemized: (1) invoice, (2) paid receipt, or (3) bill of sale for the purchase; or (4) the amount listed in the Schedule.” (38 CFR 17.158(b)(4)(i))

• Used equipment more than one year old is depreciated 20 percent a year for up to five years against the Schedule amount.

  “the lesser of the amount of the adaptive equipment listed in the final itemized invoice, paid receipt, or bill of sale for the purchase or the amount listed in the Schedule reduced by twenty (20%) percent for each year” (38 CFR 17.158(b)(5)(i))

• Labor: VA does not pay labor costs for pre-installed equipment, and it pays no labor costs for work by unregistered providers.

  “VA does not reimburse or pay labor costs of unregistered providers.” (38 CFR 17.158(b)(3)(iii))

• VA disability calculator – combined rating and monthly compensation
• VA SMC rates 2026 – special monthly compensation
• VA benefits by disability rating – what each rating unlocks
• VA clothing allowance – annual payment for clothing damage
• VA disability pay chart 2026 – monthly rates by rating