Can a live-in carer drive my loved one?

Being able to get out and about makes a real difference to daily life: a trip to the GP, a visit to the shops, seeing friends and family, or simply enjoying a change of scenery. So one of the questions families often ask is whether a live-in carer can drive their loved one to where they need to go.

The answer is often yes, and it can be wonderful for keeping someone active, independent and connected. There are a few things worth knowing, though, including how it works, what it costs, and one honest point about availability. Here is the full picture.

How a driving carer can help

With a carer who drives, your loved one can keep getting to the places that matter: medical and hospital appointments, the shops, hairdresser or pharmacy, social activities, and visits to friends and family. Rather than being stuck at home, they can carry on being part of their community.

This can be especially valuable in rural areas, or anywhere public transport is limited, where getting out otherwise means a real effort. A carer behind the wheel keeps the world within easy reach.

Two ways it can work

There are two ways a driving arrangement can be set up, depending on whose car is used.

The carer drives their own car. The carer provides a valid driving licence and the correct insurance, and keeps their vehicle roadworthy. This is charged as an optional extra of £80 per week.

The carer drives your loved one's car. If your loved one has their own vehicle, the carer can drive that instead. For this, you provide fully comprehensive insurance that names the carer as a driver, along with a valid MOT and tax. This is charged as an optional extra of £40 per week.

Either way, the arrangement is agreed in advance, written into the care plan, and itemised clearly on your invoice, so there are never any surprises. You can read more about optional extras in our guide to the cost of live-in care.

One honest thing worth knowing

It is worth being upfront about this: not every carer drives, and relatively few have their own car. Driving is genuinely helpful, but it is not something most carers can offer, so it is best thought of as a valuable added extra rather than a given.

What this means in practice is simple. If having a carer who can drive is important to you, please tell us right at the start. That way we can build it into the matching process from the beginning and do our best to find you a wonderful carer who also drives. It may take a little longer to find the right match, but it is well worth flagging early so we can plan for it.

Safe, legal and properly checked

When a carer does drive, we take safety extremely seriously. Before any driving takes place, we verify the carer's licence and insurance, confirm the vehicle is roadworthy, complete a transport risk assessment, and make sure the carer is competent and fit to drive.

Every journey is made with your loved one's consent, and with their comfort and dignity protected: safe help in and out of the vehicle, seatbelts used properly, and any mobility aids or wheelchairs secured correctly by a carer trained to do so. And a carer will never drive if they are tired, unwell, or do not feel safe to do so. Your loved one's safety always comes first.

For the journeys that matter

Driving is there for agreed, care-related trips, appointments, shopping, outings and social visits, rather than a carer's own errands. Everything is handled responsibly and above board: your loved one's car is never used for anything other than their care, costs are billed clearly, and proper records and oversight run throughout.

Keeping your loved one out and about

The freedom to get out into the world, to appointments, to the shops, and to the people and places they love, is a big part of living well. A carer who drives can help make that possible, safely and comfortably, so your loved one need never feel confined to home.

If a driving carer is something you would like, just let us know, and we will do our best to make it happen.

Book a free care advice call, or give us a ring on 020 3970 9900. We are always happy to help.