Reducing Transport Costs
Travel expenditure can be a big chunk of your monthly spending, but there are plenty of ways to cut travel costs.
Bus travel
In England and Wales, when you reach State Pension age or over, you can apply for a free bus pass. This means you can travel on buses at non-peak times for free.
If you are disabled and meet specific criteria, you can apply for a free disabled bus pass.
In Scotland, you can apply for a free bus pass if you are disabled or when you reach 60 years of age.
In Northern Ireland, if you're over 60 you can apply for free travel.
London Freedom Passes
Freedom Passes give London residents free travel in the city – including trams, National Rail services, the Underground, river services and buses – and free local bus journeys nationally.
If you live in London, you can apply for a Freedom Pass if one of the following applies to you:
- you've reached State Pension age
- you have a disability.
To find out more or to apply, visit the London Councils Freedom Pass webpage.
If you're over 60 but under the State Pension age and you live in London, you can get a special Oyster card for free travel in the city.
Coach travel
National Express offers Coachcards - a senior Coach card for people over 60. They also offer a disabled Coachcard
Coach cards are £12.50 (plus postage). You'll save a guaranteed 1/3 on standard and flexible fares throughout the UK for 12 months. With your Coachcard, there are no restrictions on peak and off-peak travel times, so you can travel when it suits you and your plans. This includes public holidays, bank holidays and weekends.
Rail travel
If you’re over 60 years old, you can purchase a senior railcard and receive a third off rail tickets for 1 year or 3 years.
There is also a disabled railcard available to purchase for 1 year or 3 years if you meet one of the following criteria:
- you receive a disability-related benefit, such as Personal Independence Payment
- you're registered as deaf or you use a hearing aid
- you're registered as having a visual impairment
- you have epilepsy
- you receive Attendance Allowance
- you receive Severe Disablement Allowance
- you receive War Pensioner's mobility supplement
- you receive War or Service Disablement pension
Shopmobility scheme
Shopmobility schemes help people shop in town centres by lending out wheelchairs and motorised scooters.
Other organisations that offer support
- There's some great advice from Age UK Mobility on travel discounts available.
Webpage updated September 2023.
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