Motability Scheme lessons in Askern

How Motability lessons work

Our Motability lessons take place in automatic, dual controlled cars. An automatic gearbox removes the clutch and gear lever, which many disabled learners find makes driving more comfortable. Your instructor plans each lesson around your needs, building in rest breaks where they help.

You will follow the same progression as any learner. Quiet estate roads off Rushy Moor Lane come first. After that you move on to Moss Road and High Street, and later the A19 towards Doncaster. Read more on our main Motability driving lessons page, or call 07402 034084 to talk it through.

Accessible places to meet

• Your home. For most learners, door-to-door pick-up is easiest.
• Askern Leisure Centre. Its recent refurbishment added a Changing Places facility and extra car parking that opens onto Campsall Country Park.
• Askern Boating Lake, off Station Road. There is parking near the Lakeside Café, and toilets between the café and the car park, though opening hours vary through the year.

If somewhere else suits you better, such as your college or workplace, just tell us. Your instructor will check there is safe space to stop.

Comfort and lesson length

Lesson length can be adjusted to suit you. Some disabled learners prefer shorter lessons more often, while others like a longer session with a pause in the middle, perhaps in the car park at Askern Boating Lake. Tell your instructor if pain or tiredness is affecting your driving on a given day, and the plan can change. Ending a lesson early is always fine.

Your instructor will also spend time on the cockpit drill at the start, making sure the seat and steering wheel are set, along with the mirrors, so you can reach the controls and see clearly without strain.

Learning from 16

Most people wait until 17 to start driving. Anyone who gets the enhanced rate of the mobility part of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), or who has applied for it, can start driving a car at 16 instead. For a young person in Askern who would otherwise rely on the 51 bus or lifts to reach college, that extra year matters. Apply for your provisional licence through GOV.UK.

Funding and assessments

Motability Foundation driving lessons grant

Through its driving lessons grant, the Motability Foundation may pay for up to 40 hours of lessons. It is open to Motability Scheme customers who meet the Foundation's extra conditions, which include getting a means-tested benefit, and who already have a theory test pass. The Foundation books grant lessons itself rather than through a school like ours, so check first with the Motability Foundation on 0800 500 3186. If you are not eligible, or would prefer to start sooner, you are welcome to learn with Alma as a private pupil.

Driving Mobility

The charity Driving Mobility offers car driving and adaptation assessments at its Doncaster outreach centre, arranged through its Leeds centre. It is a good first step if you are unsure which controls will work for you.

Nearby areas

Learners in the Skellow area can see Motability driving lessons in Skellow. If anxiety is part of the picture, our nervous driver lessons in Askern may help too. For everything else, go to driving lessons in Askern.

Motability Scheme driving lessons in Askern: your questions

Does Alma run the Motability Foundation grant lessons?

No. The Motability Foundation arranges lessons funded by its grant directly. Call them on 0800 500 3186 to check eligibility. If the grant is not an option, or you want to begin straight away, you can book with Alma in Askern as a private pupil.

Can I start driving at 16 in Askern?

If you receive the enhanced rate of the PIP mobility component, or have applied for it, yes. You will need a provisional licence before your first lesson. Everyone else can start at 17.

Do you have adapted cars?

Our Motability lessons use automatic, dual controlled cars. If you need specific adaptations, please mention them when you first contact us so we can discuss what is possible. A Driving Mobility assessment can help pin down the right setup.

Is the Doncaster test centre accessible?

Your practical test takes place at the Doncaster test centre at Shaw Wood Business Park, DN2 5YL. If you have particular needs on the day, tell DVSA when you book. You can take the test in our automatic car, with your instructor in the back if you ask.