Free travel for concessionary bus pass holders

If you have reached state pension age or have a certain disability, you may be eligible for a concessionary bus pass from your local council.

Concessionary bus pass holders can enjoy free travel in England, Scotland or Wales on most of our Stagecoach bus services.

How to apply for a bus pass in your location

How you apply for a concessionary bus pass and how you use it depends on where you live.

How to use your pass on the bus

Once you've received your concessionary bus pass, you can start using it straight away. Just hold it against the reader on the ticket machine by the driver. Wait for the green light or listen for a beep - then remove your pass, take your receipt, and find a seat.

A pass doesn't give you any priority over other passengers. If you need extra help you may also be eligible for a journey assistance card.

What to do if you lose your pass

Unfortunately, we’re not able to give you free travel if you don’t have your pass with you. If you lose your pass, you’ll need to contact the local council that issued it to you for a replacement.

I live in England

In England, the concessionary bus pass is called the older person's bus pass or the disabled person's pass.

Apply for your pass

You can apply for a pass by contacting your local council, or you can apply online:

Apply online for an older person’s bus pass.

Apply online for a disabled person’s bus pass .

When you can use your pass

Normally, you can travel after 09:30 until 23:00 on weekdays and all day at weekends and bank holidays. Some local councils have different rules on when you can use your pass.

Where you can use your pass

You can travel for free anywhere in England, including London on local bus services.

It’s not valid for journeys within Scotland or Wales.

Free travel is not available on tourist buses or coach services like megabus.com and National Express.

I live in Scotland

The concessionary bus pass in Scotland is called the National Entitlement Card.

Apply for your pass

If you're 60 or over, you can get an application form from your local Post Office or from a Strathclyde Partnership of Transport (SPT) travel centre.

If you have a disability, you can get an application form from your local council.

When you can use your pass

Your pass can be used at any time, every day of the week. There are no peak-time restrictions, however concession passes are not valid on some specific night buses where a set fare is applicable.

Where you can use your pass

You can travel for free on all local bus and coach services anywhere in Scotland.

Your National Entitlement Card is valid on services to and from Carlisle and on services to and from Berwick-upon-Tweed from anywhere in Scotland. It's not valid for travel within these towns.

It's not valid for all other journeys in England, or Wales.

I live in Wales

In Wales, the pass is called a concessionary travel pass or cerdyn teithio rhatach.

Apply for your pass

You can apply for a concessionary travel pass by contacting your local council.

When you can use your pass

Your pass can be used at any time, every day of the week. There are no peak-time restrictions.

Where bus services are limited, you can use your pass on certain train lines.

Where you can use your pass

You can travel for free on all local bus services anywhere in Wales. You can also use it on some journeys across the border into England like on routes 39 and X4 to Hereford.

The pass also entitles you to a reduced fare on the Greyhound service between Swansea and Cardiff.