Free Bus Passes, Senior Railcards & More: Getting Out & About For Over 60s

Free travel options for over 60s

Older adults can benefit from many discounted travel passes or free travel within their local area and further afield, but figuring out how to access and apply for these can be daunting. Here, we are discussing the various travel discounts and passes available in the UK, advice on how to apply for each one, other ways to make the most of travel benefits if you are over 60, and how families and caregivers can help. 

At Home Instead, our aim is to help people age positively and in place by bringing expert care to their home. For nearly 20 years, we have been providing the highest standard of care, and creating industry-leading training programmes for our Care Professionals that are accredited by nursing and medical professionals. Today, we are the world’s largest global domiciliary care network, supporting over 100,000 older adults with personalised, tailored care at home. So whatever questions you have about travel concessions for older adults, we can help. 

What are the most common travel discounts and passes available for older adults in the UK? 

There are many travel discounts and passes available around the UK, and the exact options available to you will depend on which area you live in. For bus passes and rail cards, it is worth checking your individual county to see what regional discounts may be offered, as these often differ depending on location. For example, Scotrail Club 50 in Scotland gives discounts to those over 50 years old, and in Northern Ireland over 60s can apply for a 60 Plus SmartPass.

Some general discounts and passes available throughout the UK include:

Bus Passes

The Over 60s Bus Pass

Free bus passes are available on many services in England or Wales, in Scotland, and in Northern Ireland for those who have reached State Pension age.

• To apply for a free bus pass in England or Wales, visit the GOV.UK website
• To apply for a free bus pass in Scotland, visit Transport Scotland
• To apply for a free bus pass in Northern Ireland, visit NI Direct

What do I need?

When applying, according to Age UK, you will need to have reached State Pension age (currently 66), and provide:

• A passport-style photo taken within the last 30 days.
• Proof of address to confirm you live locally (such as your driving licence, or a pension letter – utility bills, bank statements and tenancy agreements are not accepted).
• Proof of identity, such as your driving licence, passport, birth certificate or marriage certificate.

How do I apply?

• Online – You can provide this information online by taking a photograph or scan of the above documents and uploading them.
• In person – If you are unable to apply online, you can also visit your nearest bus station and speak to staff, who can provide you with an application form to fill out. Remember you will still need to provide the above passport-style photo and proof of address and identity for them to process this. 
• Over the phone – Similarly, you can call your local council to apply over the phone, but you will still be asked to post the above documents within a few days of phoning. 

How long does the process take?

Once your application has been received, your local council will process it and send out your free bus pass to the address you provide, and this typically takes around 21 days to arrive.

Disabled Person’s Bus Pass

A disabled person’s bus pass is different from an older person’s bus pass, and this pass has no central provider. For this reason, you must contact your local council to find out what may be offered to you in your area, whether or not you are eligible, and how to apply.

You can visit theGOV.UK website and enter your postcode to be redirected to the relevant council website. 

Whatever type of pass you are applying for, it helps to reach out to your local council anyway to find out if there are any other transport schemes or discounts you could be using. 

Coach Cards

It is also helpful to reach out to local coach companies operating in your area to find out if they offer discounted or free travel for older people.

Throughout the UK, National Express offers theirSenior Coachcard to older people aged 60 or over, enabling them to save 1/3 on standard and flexible fares. National Express travels to hundreds of towns and cities in the UK, so if you tend to use their service this could be useful. This card costs £15 plus a £3 postage fee, and can be purchased online here. 

They also offer a Disabled Coachcard so people with disabilities can save 1/3 on their standard and flexible fares. This card also costs £15 plus a £3 postage fee, and can be purchased online here. 

Senior Railcards

Rail travel is also accessible to many older adults, and can connect them to a number of destinations throughout the country. Through National Rail, older people can purchase either a Senior Railcard or a Disabled Person’s Railcard, which will get them discounted travel on trains in their network. 

Senior Railcard

According to Age UK, aSenior Railcard is available to people aged 60 and over, and costs £30 a year. You can also purchase a 3-year card for £70 to save money. The Senior Railcard means you can benefit from saving 1/3 on the majority of rail fares across Britain. 

What do I need?

To apply for a Senior Railcard, you will need to show a valid passport, a UK driving licence or a National Identity number as a form of ID. You may also need a passport-style photo. 

How do I apply?

• Online – You can apply and purchase your Senior Railcard through theNational Rail website. 
• In person – You can visit your nearest staffed railway station to apply for a Senior Railcard in person.

How long does the process take?

After you have ordered a Senior Railcard, it may take up to 10 days to be delivered to you, or it may come sooner if you pay for special delivery.

Disabled Person’s Railcard

ADisabled Person’s Railcard offers 1/3 off rail travel for a disabled person and an adult companion, and this is also provided through National Rail. 

What do I need?

According toNational Rail, anyone seeking a Disabled Person’s Railcard must meet any of the following criteria to be eligible: 

• You receive a disability-related benefit, such as Personal Independence Payment or Attendance Allowance. 
• You are registered as deaf or use a hearing aid.
• You are registered as having a visual impairment.
• You live with epilepsy.

How do I apply?

You can apply for a Disabled Person’s Railcard online here, or if you need help with your application, speak to an advisor at your nearest staffed train station.

How long does the process take?

When your Disabled Person’s Railcard has been successfully purchased and you have received an email confirmation, you should allow up to 5 working days for your Railcard application to be reviewed. If approved, you should allow up to 10 days for your plastic railcard to be delivered, unless you pay for special delivery.

London Travel

While the above bus and rail passes and discounts are usable throughout the country, London has a different system for transport, so your passes may not be eligible depending on where you are travelling. 

If you are an older person or live with a disability and regularly travel in London, there are other discount passes you should know about:

Older Person’s Freedom Pass

If you live in Greater London and are aged 66 or over, you may be eligible for an Older Person’s Freedom Pass which provides you with free travel on buses, trains, trams, river services, and on the London Underground system during off-peak hours. 

What do I need?

To be eligible for a Freedom Pass, you must:

• Have reached State Pension age (66) or are starting the application process no earlier than 14 days before your 66th birthday.
• Can provide your proof of age.
• Can provide a proof of address showing that your primary address is in London.

How do I apply? 

• Online – You can apply for a Freedom Pass online, where you will need to provide your email address, full name, home address, proof of name and age, proof of residential status in London, and a colour passport-style photograph of yourself.
• Post – You can apply for a Freedom Pass by postbydownloading the applicationform and sending it to the relevant office along with copies of your proof of identity, address documents, and a colour passport-style photograph of yourself. 

You can send this to: 

Freedom Pass Application
PO Box 572
Hull
HU9 9LP

How long does the process take?

Once you have submitted an application for a Freedom Pass online, you should allow up to three working days for tracking information to become available. 

If you have any questions about applying for a London Freedom Pass, you can visit the London Councils Freedom Pass website for more information.

Disabled Person’s Freedom Pass

If you live in Greater London and have a disability, you may be eligible for a Disabled Person’s Freedom Pass which provides you with free or discounted travel on various London services. 

This pass is only available through your individual London borough, so you will need to reach out to them directly for information on the benefits offered, your eligibility, and how to apply. You will find a list of London boroughs and their websites and phone numbers here. 

When you reach out to your relevant borough, you may be asked to provide a colour passport-style photograph, and other proof of identification documents.

How can older people make the most of travel benefits?

If using public transport seems confusing, daunting or overwhelming, there are other ways to make the most of the options available to you and maximise your savings and convenience. For example:

• Travel during off-peak hours for more savings and less crowded public transport
• Plan your journeys in advance to reduce overwhelm while travelling
• Plan out an alternative route option in case you come across any issues 
• Take a mobility device such as a walking stick or walking frame to give you more support – some walking frames have a built-in seat, which can be helpful for those who may become fatigued easily 
• Combine your discounts if you are travelling in a group, and check if there are other ways to save if you book in advance
• Ask a family member, friend or caregiver to help you access more information about discounts and savings online 
• Speak to ticket agents in person at your local train station or bus depot to find out if there are any other ways to save money on regular journeys 
• Check Age UK’s list of free days out in the UK to find inspiration for affordable day trips, either alone or with family 

You may find helpful advice in our guide to Financial benefits for pensioners.

How can families or caregivers help older people utilise travel benefits?

If you have an older relative who is reluctant to use public transport options due to confusion or financial concerns, it is certainly worth having a discussion with them about how you could simplify this for them. By helping them discover ways to make regular journeys to their favourite places or necessary trips like doctor’s visits, they could become more independent which can improve their overall wellbeing. 

Begin by finding out which modes of transport they would prefer to use or need to use. For example, if they have a bus stop right outside their home, this will probably be the easiest way for them to get around. Find out which places on the bus route would be most helpful for them to learn about, and look online at the schedule to find out when they run. 

If a transport schedule seems confusing at all, it may help to write down the times they need in a more simple way, and even write a note of which stops may come up before the stop they want, so they can look out for them and prepare to depart. They may also appreciate it if you accompany them the first few times until they get used to the journey.

Home care services can assist older adults with public transport and travel planning too. Our Care Professionals can help you apply for the relevant passes and accompany you on days out for companionship. They can also help with personal care and other needs you may have. Having a caregiver around can help to maintain your comfort and safety while promoting exploration and independence. 

If you or a loved one would like help accessing public transport to get out and about, our friendly, supportive Care Professionals can assist. From general companionship and mobility support to complex care and home help, whatever support you need, you can reach out to your local Home Instead office to discuss your options.

We’re an award-winning home care provider and part of a worldwide organisation devoted to providing the highest-quality relationship-led care for older people in their own homes. Arranging care for yourself or your loved one shouldn’t be stressful, so whatever questions you would like answered, feel free to reach out to the Home Instead team to discuss your needs.