So, you have been granted entitlement to financial assistance in the purchase of one automobile or other conveyance. Now what? Not all BVA members qualify for this benefit, but per capita, we could wager that BVA has more eligible claimants than any other Veterans Service Organization because the vision loss of so many BVA members is related to active-duty service. 

Service-connected vision loss with central visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in the better eye, aka legal blindness, qualifies for an Automobile Allowance. Other qualifying disabilities include loss or loss of use of one or both feet, or of one or both hands. Severe burn injuries that limit motion and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis also meet eligibility requirements. An active-duty service member with a qualifying disability also meets eligibility criteria. See 38 CFR § 3.808. 

Generally, the VA Regional Office (RO) grants entitlement to Automobile Allowance as soon as eligibility becomes apparent. In other words, when service connection for vision loss with legal blindness is established, the RO also allows entitlement to ancillary benefits at the same time. However, the Secretary still requires submitting all claims on the prescribed form, which is 21-4502, for the auto benefit.  

The Auto Allowance claim form consists of four pages. The first page contains the initial application, which must be completed, signed, and dated by the veteran. Only the Social Security Number goes in the space provided at the top of page two, and nothing else. Please fax the completed form to the Veterans Service Program (VSP) for review and submittal. 

Once processed and approved by the RO, page two of the form becomes your Certificate of Eligibility. The Finance Division at the RO completes Section III with the certifying official’s signature and RO location. The Division then returns it to the veteran or service member by mail. This is known as the “original” copy, which must be safeguarded because the RO will not accept any other copy for payment to the seller. 

Pages three and four of the form contain benefits information and very specific instructions for the seller. For Auto Allowance claims related to vision loss, veterans may ignore the adaptive equipment guidance as it does not apply. However, all instructions to the seller must be followed precisely for timely payment. Please read and understand page three before proceeding. 

When veterans are ready to make the purchase, they take the original certified form to the dealership and purchase a vehicle. With the dealer’s assistance, they complete Section IV on page 2 of the form with vehicle and seller information. They should answer no to questions 30A and 30B as appropriate. They must sign and date in blocks 33A and 33B.  

Veterans must receive delivery of their vehicle at this point, and this is a deal breaker. If the seller does not agree, they may need to find a more reputable dealership. It is recommended to confirm delivery with the seller before putting information on the original form because, again, copies are not accepted and it is difficult to obtain another one. 

Then, per the instructions on page 4, the seller mails or sends via overnight service the original 21-4502 form with an itemized invoice to the RO shown in Item 23, Section III, “Attention Financial Division.” The balance due on the invoice should be at least equal to the amount of the grant in most cases. The RO then pays the seller directly by check, usually within two weeks. Any deviation from the instructions will result in delays. 

Some key takeaways for Auto Allowance usage: 

• Read all of the instructions on page three of the 21-4502 form and ask the seller to do the same before writing anything on the original Certificate of Eligibility. 
• VA will pay only the seller. Veterans must not purchase a vehicle until they have received the Certificate of Eligibility. VA will not provide reimbursement if payment is made any other way! 
• VA will accept only the original Certificate of Eligibility. Faxed, scanned, emailed, or electronic copies are not accepted. The original must be kept safe – it is not easy to get another original copy. 
• The seller must deliver the vehicle to the veteran upon receiving the completed and signed Certificate of Eligibility. 
• The amount due on the invoice should equal or exceed the amount of the grant, unless the full amount is used in paying for the vehicle. 
• The original Certificate of Eligibility and detailed invoice packet must be mailed or sent via overnight service by the seller to the attention of the Financial Division at the RO listed in Item 23 on page two of the form. 
• Despite the general instructions for submitting documents included in every letter from the RO, mailing the packet to VA’s intake center will result in delay. Faxing the packet to VA’s intake center will also result in delays. Submitting the packet electronically online will result in a delay. Payment cannot be made to the seller until the original Certificate of Eligibility has been received by the Financial Division at the RO listed in Item 23.

For additional information and instructions, please download the PDF attachment.