Short answer: the main taxi grant in Ireland is the NTA’s Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) grant. In 2026 (the WAV26 scheme) it pays 3,500 to 15,000 euro towards a wheelchair accessible taxi or hackney, depending on the vehicle’s age. Both 2026 rounds are over: Round 2 closed at 5pm on 15 July 2026 and was decided by lottery. Offers already issued stay valid until 11 December 2026, when the scheme closes. Everything below is as of 24 September 2026.
WAV26 at a glance
| 2026 scheme | |
|---|---|
| Round 1 | Open 10am 12 January to 5pm 19 January 2026 |
| Round 2 | Open 10am 8 July to 5pm 15 July 2026, now closed; applicants told by mid August |
| How winners are picked | Lottery. No advantage for applying early |
| Applications | Online only, one per applicant |
| Offer valid | 5 calendar months from issue, and never past 11 December 2026. No extensions |
| Waiting list | None, and no cancellation list |
| Round 1 offer not completed | Not eligible for Round 2 |
How much the grant pays
The amount depends on the vehicle’s age, counted from its first registration to the day of its Initial Suitability Inspection.
| Vehicle | Grant |
|---|---|
| New (under 3,000 km and under 3 months old) | 15,000 euro |
| Less than one year old | 14,500 euro |
| Less than two years old | 12,000 euro |
| Less than three years old | 11,000 euro |
| Less than four years old | 7,500 euro |
| Less than five years old | 4,000 euro |
| Less than six years old | 3,500 euro |
Six years is also the age limit for a new wheelchair accessible taxi or hackney licence. That licence costs 125 euro plus the 45 euro inspection. In its September 2026 newsletter the NTA points out that a wheelchair accessible taxi can stay licensed for 15 years, 50% longer than a standard taxi.
Who can apply
The information guide lists three groups: people or companies applying for a new SPSV vehicle licence; existing wheelchair accessible licence holders replacing their vehicle with another one; and standard taxi licence holders who switch to a wheelchair accessible taxi licence, by converting their car or buying a wheelchair accessible vehicle. You do not need an SPSV driver licence to apply, the NTA FAQ says. The person who will drive the vehicle does need one.
The main conditions from the 2026 guide:
- Tax cleared, and the name on the application must match your Revenue record exactly or it is rejected automatically.
- No conviction, upheld complaint or fixed payment notice under the Taxi Regulation Act in the 24 months before applying.
- The proposed driver completes the NTA’s free SPSV disability awareness training, or shows a certificate from the last 3 years.
- Your contact details go on an NTA-nominated website or booking app, so wheelchair users get priority.
- SPSV insurance, a vehicle that meets the wheelchair accessible standards, and ownership or a lease of at least 12 months.
- Records of every wheelchair accessible trip kept on form WAV26J and sent to the NTA within 10 working days if asked.
The grant comes with a 36-month service period. Sell the vehicle, let the licence fall inactive or go back to a standard taxi licence during that time and the NTA can ask for the money back. If you are buying in the UK, check the vehicle has EU type approval; the guide says UK approval is no longer valid.
From offer to payment
- Receive the Provisional Grant Letter. Do not buy the vehicle before this.
- Get a Technical Assessor’s Full Report on the vehicle and post it with a vehicle licence application (form VL1) to the NTA in Galway. The review can take up to 15 working days.
- Attend the free disability awareness training if the proposed driver needs it. Rescheduling late or missing it costs 50 euro.
- Book the Initial Suitability Inspection on 0818 064 000 and license the vehicle.
- Send the Grant Payment Request Form. The NTA aims to pay within 20 working days.
What the inspection checks is in the suitability inspection checklist, and all the vehicle licence fees are in the licence cost guide.
How many grants there are
The NTA issued 519 WAV grants in 2025. At the end of 2025 there were 4,781 wheelchair accessible vehicles, the highest number on record and 23% of the whole SPSV fleet. Demand outruns the money: the NTA’s own newsletter tells new operators to treat the grant as a possible bonus, not a precondition, and lists bank loans, credit unions, hire purchase and Microfinance Ireland as other funding.
What to do before the next round
No 2027 dates are published yet; the NTA posts them on its SPSV news page. The part of the plan you can move on today is the driver licence, because whoever drives a grant-funded taxi needs one and the route takes months: the 90 euro SPSV Driver Entry Test, then the Garda application. The Industry Knowledge module has questions on wheelchair accessible vehicles and on assisting passengers with disabilities, so start with our customer service practice and the full licence steps.