diff --git a/cmd/setup.go b/cmd/setup.go
index 6a77f1c24..4cc932170 100644
--- a/cmd/setup.go
+++ b/cmd/setup.go
@@ -538,9 +538,14 @@ func configureVehicles(static []config.Named, names ...string) error {
 				}
 			}
 
-			instance, err := vehicleInstance(cc)
-			if err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("cannot create vehicle '%s': %w", cc.Name, err)
+			// disabled vehicles are not instantiated
+			var instance api.Vehicle
+			if !conf.Disable {
+				var err error
+				instance, err = vehicleInstance(cc)
+				if err != nil {
+					return fmt.Errorf("cannot create vehicle '%s': %w", cc.Name, err)
+				}
 			}
 
 			mu.Lock()
diff --git a/core/loadpoint.go b/core/loadpoint.go
index 154686ac0..13f2e6e0e 100644
--- a/core/loadpoint.go
+++ b/core/loadpoint.go
@@ -253,7 +253,8 @@ func NewLoadpointFromConfig(log *util.Logger, settings settings.Settings, collec
 		}
 		lp.defaultVehicle = dev.Instance()
 		if lp.defaultVehicle == nil {
-			return lp, errors.New("missing default vehicle instance")
+			// disabled vehicle
+			lp.log.DEBUG.Printf("default vehicle '%s' is disabled", lp.VehicleRef)
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/core/loadpoint_test.go b/core/loadpoint_test.go
index 59f55c5c9..d427b0f1d 100644
--- a/core/loadpoint_test.go
+++ b/core/loadpoint_test.go
@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@ import (
 	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/core/soc"
 	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/messenger"
 	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/util"
+	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/util/config"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 	"go.uber.org/mock/gomock"
 )
 
@@ -882,3 +884,26 @@ func TestBatteryBoostHold(t *testing.T) {
 	// which is what keeps the sitePower priority adjustment applied to the loadpoint
 	assert.NotEqual(t, boostDisabled, lp.GetBatteryBoost(), "hold is active")
 }
+
+// default vehicle referencing a disabled vehicle must not fail loadpoint creation
+func TestNewLoadpointFromConfigDisabledVehicle(t *testing.T) {
+	config.Reset()
+	t.Cleanup(config.Reset)
+
+	ctrl := gomock.NewController(t)
+
+	// disabled vehicle: device registered without instance
+	var vehicle api.Vehicle
+	require.NoError(t, config.Vehicles().Add(config.NewStaticDevice(config.Named{Name: "vehicle"}, vehicle)))
+	require.NoError(t, config.Chargers().Add(config.NewStaticDevice(config.Named{Name: "charger"}, api.Charger(api.NewMockCharger(ctrl)))))
+
+	lp, err := NewLoadpointFromConfig(util.NewLogger("foo"), nil, nil, map[string]any{
+		"charger": "charger",
+		"vehicle": "vehicle",
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Nil(t, lp.defaultVehicle)
+
+	// disabled vehicle is filtered from instances
+	require.Empty(t, config.Instances(config.Vehicles().Devices()))
+}
diff --git a/core/site_vehicles.go b/core/site_vehicles.go
index aa457808c..cedccb264 100644
--- a/core/site_vehicles.go
+++ b/core/site_vehicles.go
@@ -104,14 +104,7 @@ type vehicles struct {
 }
 
 func (vv *vehicles) Instances() []api.Vehicle {
-	devs := config.Vehicles().Devices()
-
-	res := make([]api.Vehicle, 0, len(devs))
-	for _, dev := range devs {
-		res = append(res, dev.Instance())
-	}
-
-	return res
+	return config.Instances(config.Vehicles().Devices())
 }
 
 func (vv *vehicles) Settings() []vehicle.API {
@@ -119,6 +112,10 @@ func (vv *vehicles) Settings() []vehicle.API {
 
 	res := make([]vehicle.API, 0, len(devs))
 	for _, dev := range devs {
+		// skip disabled vehicles
+		if dev.Instance() == nil {
+			continue
+		}
 		res = append(res, vehicle.Adapter(vv.log, dev))
 	}
 
diff --git a/tests/config-disable.spec.ts b/tests/config-disable.spec.ts
index 744bb07e7..5f5b66e19 100644
--- a/tests/config-disable.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/config-disable.spec.ts
@@ -239,6 +239,10 @@ test.describe("disable / enable", async () => {
     await start();
     await page.goto("/#/config");
 
+    // loadpoint so the vehicle shows up on the dashboard
+    await createLoadpoint(page, "Carport");
+    await page.reload();
+
     // add user-defined vehicle
     await page.getByTestId("add-vehicle").click();
     const modal = page.getByTestId("vehicle-modal");
@@ -277,6 +281,23 @@ soc:
     await expectNoFatal(page);
     await expect(disabledBadge(vehicleCard)).toBeVisible();
 
+    // disabled vehicle is hidden from main ui
+    await page.goto("/");
+    await expect(page.getByTestId("loadpoint")).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(
+      page.getByTestId("change-vehicle").getByRole("option", { name: "blue Honda" })
+    ).toHaveCount(0);
+
+    // no vehicles entry in more menu
+    const moreTab = page.getByTestId("tab-more");
+    await moreTab.click();
+    await expect(moreTab.getByRole("button", { name: "User Interface" })).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(moreTab.getByRole("button", { name: "Vehicles" })).not.toBeVisible();
+    // close more menu
+    await moreTab.click();
+
+    await page.goto("/#/config");
+
     // re-enable by clicking the disabled card
     await disabledBadge(vehicleCard).click();
     await expect(disabledBadge(vehicleCard)).toHaveCount(0);
@@ -286,6 +307,19 @@ soc:
     await page.reload();
     await expectNoFatal(page);
     await expect(vehicleCard).toContainText("blue Honda");
+
+    // vehicle is selectable on the dashboard again
+    await page.goto("/");
+    await expect(
+      page.getByTestId("change-vehicle").getByRole("option", { name: "blue Honda" })
+    ).toHaveCount(1);
+
+    // vehicle is back in the more menu vehicles modal
+    await moreTab.click();
+    await moreTab.getByRole("button", { name: "Vehicles" }).click();
+    const settingsModal = page.getByTestId("vehicle-settings-modal");
+    await expectModalVisible(settingsModal);
+    await expect(settingsModal.getByRole("group", { name: "blue Honda" })).toBeVisible();
   });
 });