Are there resources available to help disabled service members and veterans buy vehicles and adaptive equipment?

Yes, the Department of Veteran Affairs has a program known as Automobiles and Adaptive Equipment for Certain Disabled Veterans and Members of the Armed Forces (64.100)

The goal of this program is to provide financial assistance to certain disabled servicepersons and veterans toward the purchase price of an automobile or other conveyance and an additional amount for adaptive equipment deemed necessary to insure the eligible person will be able to operate or make use of the automobile or other conveyance. To provide adaptive equipment only for certain other disabled veterans.

Uses and Restrictions
Assistance toward purchase of an automobile or other conveyance is a one-time payment only. Necessary adaptive equipment may be furnished, repaired, replaced, or reinstalled on a conveyance which may be purchased with assistance or any other conveyance subsequently or previously acquired. Adaptive equipment will be provided for no more than two conveyances during any 4-year period unless one of those two vehicles becomes unavailable to the veteran.

Eligibility Requirements
Veterans with honorable service and servicepersons on duty having a service-connected disability due to loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet, one or both hands, or a permanent impairment of vision of both eyes to a prescribed degree. For adaptive equipment only, eligibility also exists if there is service- connected ankylosis of one or both knees or one or both hips. Personnel on active duty also qualify under the same criteria as veterans.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance
No statutory maximum for adaptive equipment; $9,000 maximum for automobile or other conveyance.

An application (VA Form 21-4502) may be obtained from any VA Office or Regional Office

For more information, contact the Regional VA Office and ask for 38 CFR 3.808. "Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents," VA Pamphlet 80-00-1, $5.00, available from Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. The stock number is 051-000-00220-2.