Website of the UK government

Free bus travel anywhere in England for over 60s and disabled people

Since April 2008 everyone who is resident in England and who is:

• over 60 or
• 'eligible disabled'

has been entitled to a free annual bus pass giving free off-peak travel on local buses anywhere in England (before this you could only travel for free within your local area). 'Off-peak' is between 9.30am and 11pm Monday to Friday and all day at weekends and on public holidays.

Local authorities may offer further benefits to their residents, such as free travel outside off-peak times or reduced tram or rail travel, but these will apply only for travel in the local area, not elsewhere in England.

If you have questions about how to get your bus pass, you should contact your local pass provider.

• List of England's concessionary bus pass providers Opens new window
• Bus passes for over 60s (pensions and retirement planning section)
• Bus passes for disabled people (disabled people section)

Services that are not covered

On 1 April 2009 the rules about the services on which you can use your bus pass were clarified. You can use your bus pass on all local bus services in England but, as a general rule, not on the following types of non-standard service:

• services where most seats can be reserved (eg coaches)
• temporary services running for less than six weeks (eg shuttle buses to special events)
• tourist services or services on vehicles of historical interest (eg open-top bus tours)
• rail replacement services
• services where 'extras' (eg refreshments or car parking) are included in the fare

There is a separate half-price coach concession for older and disabled people that many coach operators participate in. For more information please contact the coach company directly.

For detailed information on the changes to bus concessions see the DfT website.

• Changes to bus concessions (DfT website) Opens new window

What is 'eligible disabled'?

You are eligible disabled if you:

• are blind or partially sighted
• are profoundly or severely deaf
• are without speech
• have a disability, or have suffered an injury, which has a substantial and long-term effect on your ability to walk
• do not have arms or have long-term loss of the use of both arms
• have a learning disability, or
• would, if you applied for a licence to drive a motor vehicle under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988, have your application refused under section 92 of the Act (physical fitness) on grounds other than persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol.

How to get your bus pass if you live outside Greater London

If you have not yet applied for an England-wide pass, or if you have only just become eligible, you will need to apply to your local pass provider. They will ask you to:

• prove that you are eligible
• prove that you are a permanent resident of your area
• supply a passport-sized photo for your new pass.

• List of England's concessionary pass providers Opens new window

How to get your bus pass if you live in Greater London

If you have an older Freedom Pass you will have been given a sticker when you renewed it for April 2008. You can use your stickered pass in London and for free off-peak travel on local buses anywhere in England.

If you are eligible but don't have a Freedom Pass, you can find out how to apply on the Freedom Pass website.

• Freedom Pass website Opens new window

Free travel on London buses for children and young people

In London everyone under 16 can travel free on buses and trams. This includes residents and non-residents. Children aged 14-15 will need an Oyster photocard to take advantage of free travel.

16-17 year olds (and some 18 year olds) in full-time education or on a work-based learning scheme who live within a London borough can travel for free on buses and trams across the entire London bus network, including sections outside Greater London. You will need a valid Oyster photocard to take advantage of free travel.

Information on how to obtain an Oyster photocard can be found on the Transport for London (TfL) website.

• Oyster photocards - information on the TfL website Opens new window

Other reduced fares

Reduced, or concessionary, bus fare tickets are sometimes available to:

Some companies also offer half-price coach travel for:

Your local authority will have details of local transport schemes in your area - you can contact them through your local council.

• Find your local council