A guide to travel discounts in retirement

Free or discounted bus travel for older people

In England, once you reach state pension age, you may apply for a bus pass that will allow you to travel for free. (Please note that people in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland may be able to claim a free bus pass at the age of 60). 

The bus pass provides unlimited free off-peak bus travel.  Off-peak times vary according to area.  In some areas it is between 9.30 am and 11 pm on weekdays and in others it is between 9 am and midnight but in most areas, there is full access to buses on weekends and Bank Holidays.   In many areas, you’ll also be able to use your bus pass on ‘Park and Ride’ services.  Eligibility criteria and access to services also vary from area to area so do check with your local council.  It is important to note that in all areas: 

Your main residence must be in the area where you are applying for a bus pass. If your main residence is outside the area or you have a second home in the area which you do not occupy permanently, you will not be eligible.

For further information, visit the Government's website.

How do I apply for a free bus pass in the UK?

• Check your eligibility on the website – gov.uk
• Find out which council you should contact by entering your postcode on gov.uk
• Collect the documents you will need, including proof of age and address
• Apply online or in person at a bus station travel centre

What documents do I need when applying for an older person’s bus pass?

• Proof of identity and age - current passport, driving licence or pension letter.
• Proof of address – if you have lived at your current address for less than three years you may be asked for further proof. The following documents are acceptable – a pension letter, current driving licence, recent utility bill (less than 3 months), bank or credit card statement or current council tax bill.
• Passport photograph in colour and taken within the last six months with no one else visible in the photo.

Please note that in some areas your library may be able to validate the documents you need if you have proof of identity, age and address. 

What do I do if I already have a bus pass and move to a new area?

If you move home, you will need to apply for a new bus pass with the local authority in the area you have moved to, notify your previous local authority of the move and destroy your old bus pass.

Once I have applied, how long will it be before I receive my bus pass?

It can take up to 15 working days to process your bus pass.

I am disabled but have not reached state pension age – can I apply for a bus pass?

Many councils allow people with limited mobility to apply for a bus pass – but you must have a disability that Is considered permanent and impacts your daily lie, so if this applies to you, check with your local council but if you have one of the following you could be considered:

• Blind or partially sighted
• Profoundly or severely deaf
• Lacking speech
• Severe difficulty in walking
• Long-term loss of the use of both arms
• Learning disability
• Unfit to hold a driving licence

For further information, please take a look at the disabled person's bus pass website..  

Don’t forget, if you drive and are disabled, you may be eligible for a Blue Badge which costs up to £10 in England or £20 in Scotland (and free in Wales) as of the time of writing, and lasts for three years before you need to renew. If you are disabled you may also be eligible for a reduction or exemption from vehicle tax.

Can I use my old person’s bus pass on National Coach Services?

If you have a concessionary bus pass, you are not granted free travel on coach services but if you use National Coach Services regularly you can buy a Senior Coach Card for just £15 a year at the moment and this will save you a third on standard and flexible fares.

The coach service also offers £15 day returns on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays with your Coachcard. Anyone aged 60 and over can buy a Coachcard.

I live in London, is there a different type of bus pass and where can I use it?

In London, people over the age of 66 are eligible for the Older Person’s Freedom Pass which enables free travel on buses, trains, trams, tube, the DLR, overground and Elizabeth line. You must be a resident of London (with a main residence in London) You can apply online or by post. See the London Councils Freedom pass website. For information, you can contact the Freedom Pass team by email on info@freepass.org or on the dedicated helpline on 0300 330 1433 between 9 am and 5 pm weekdays.

If you are aged 60 or over and live in a London borough you can also apply for a 60+ Oystercard. Costing £20, this gives you free travel on bus, tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and Elizabeth line services except between 04.30 am and 09.00 weekdays. You can also travel for free on selected National Rail Services in certain areas. To apply, you will need an active email address, details from your passport or driving licence, a colour image of your machine-readable passport, a clear, colour, digital photograph of you in jpg or png form, less than 6 MB and a debit or credit card. If you don’t have all these you can apply online but may be asked to print a verification letter to take to a post office with your proof of age and address and your payment.

If you have a Freedom Pass or 60+ card Oyster card, you can get discounts of 50% on bicycle hire subscriptions with Santander Cycles. Current membership subscriptions are £20 a month or £120 a year. These subscriptions allow unlimited 60-minute rides.

London bicycles with Santander concessions discount on monthly subscription (unlimited 60-minute rides if you have a 60+ Oyster Card, Older Person’s and Disabled Person’s Freedom Pass, Bus and Tram Discount) Find out more here >

I don’t live in London but can I use my older person’s bus pass on the train in my area?

In some areas, you will be able to travel on local trains during off-peak hours for free or at a discounted price.

This depends on the area, so do check with your local authority or the rail service provider.

Rail travel discounts for the over 60s

What is a Senior Railcard?

The Senior Railcard is specifically for people aged 60 and over and gives up to a third discount on rail fares throughout Great Britain.

Where do I buy a Senior Railcard?

You can buy the railcard at any staffed ticket office or National Rail licensed travel agent or, alternatively, online at senior-railcard.co.uk.

How much does the Railcard cost?

The Senior Railcard costs £30 a year or you can buy a three-year card for £70 (at the time of writing).

When you buy the card, you must provide proof of age – for example, using a driving licence. Please check the Senior Railcard website for the most up-to-date prices. 

Where and when can I use the Senior Railcard?

You will get a third off standard and first-class tickets, anytime, off-peak and advance fares.

There’s no limit to the number of times you use it – so you can travel right across the country. 

For more information visit senior-railcard.co.uk.

Two Together Railcard

If you have a partner or spouse, you may want to consider buying a railcard designed to allow couples to travel together at discount prices. 

This card is available to those over the age of 16 and costing £25.50 enables you to save a third off the price of train tickets.

Find out more and purchase a Two Together railcard here. 

Interrail passes and senior discounts

If you enjoy travelling abroad, there are benefits to buying an interrail pass. On the interrail website there is an option to buy senior passes either for individual countries or global.  

At the time of writing, the global passes (second class) start at 722 euros for four days within one month (flexi pass) if you are over the age of 60.  What I would say is that, whilst this is convenient, remember that train travel in certain countries is very reasonably priced – for example, in Italy, a train from Verona to Venice – a rail journey that takes between 90- and 140-minutes costs less than £10. 

For the interrail passes see the Interrail website.