Bus passes

Please tell us what you think about our website, we welcome your feedback.

• Who qualifies for a bus pass?
• What pass options are available?
• How do I apply?
• What if I lose my bus pass?
• List of bus pass restrictions 37kb

Who qualifies for a bus pass?

• People who are permanent residents of Wiltshire and
• Who have reached the qualifying age or
• Are disabled for any of the reasons shown below

Are you looking for school and college bus passes?

What is my qualifying age?

• If you were born on or before 5 April 1950 your qualifying age is 60.
• If you are a woman born after 5 April 1950 the qualifying age will be your pension age.
• If you are a man born after 5 April 1950 the qualifying age will be the pensionable age of a woman born on the same day.
• If you were born on or after 6 April 1955 and before 5 April 1959 your qualifying age is 65.
• If you were born after 5 April 1959 other rules apply.

You can check with the state pension age calculator to see what age you will be entitled to a bus pass.

• Calculate the date of your state pension age

Alternatively contact us and we will check for you.

Do I qualify because of my disability?

You qualify if you are within one of the seven categories listed in the Transport Act 2000, as shown below:

• Is blind or partially sighted
• Is profoundly or severely deaf
• Is without speech
• Has a disability, or has suffered an injury, that has a substantial or long-term effect on his ability to walk
• Does not have arms or has long-term loss of use of both arms
• Has a learning disability, that is, a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning
• Would, if they applied for the grant of a licence to drive a motor vehicle under Part 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 have their application refused on the grounds of medical fitness. Examples of those who are currently barred are people with, epilepsy, severe mental disorder and liability to sudden attacks of giddiness or fainting

The disability should be permanent or have lasted at least 12 months, be likely to last 12 months or be likely to recur, and should have a substantial effect on the person's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

What pass options are available?

The scheme offers three options for getting help with the cost of transport, which will differ depending on your eligibility. You can only choose ONE option.

Option 1 – bus pass

The bus pass provides the pass holder with free off peak travel on registered local bus services anywhere in England, between the hours of 9.30 am and 11 pm Monday to Friday and all day at weekends and bank holidays. Additionally, the Wiltshire Bus Pass also allows free travel at any time on buses in Wiltshire, but there are some bus routes in Wiltshire on which the pass is not accepted before 09.00am.

• List of bus pass restrictions 37kb

The bus pass does not cover long distance coach services like National Express or any rail services. Whilst travel in Wiltshire is free at all times, it is only free for off peak travel as above in Swindon and other bordering areas.

Passes are issued free of charge – however, there is a charge of £5 for duplicate passes when the original is lost or damaged. If your pass is stolen, this charge will be waived when a crime number is provided.

The Wiltshire Bus Pass can be used on all Connect2Wiltshire services and will give either free travel or a cheaper fare, depending on the service. Ask for details when you book (08456 525255).

• Your bus pass explained

Option 2 – bus pass plus companion

This is only issued where a person cannot travel unaided due to a disability. It offers the holder the same free national travel as the bus pass but in addition it allows a companion to travel accompanying the pass holder free of charge in Wiltshire and the adjoining authorities with whom we have a reciprocal agreement. Currently these are Swindon, Hampshire, Dorset, Somerset, Bath & North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire, and Bristol and North Somerset.

See how to apply below for evidence to be supplied to qualify for this pass.

Option 3 – taxi vouchers

As an alternative to the Wiltshire Bus Pass, Taxi vouchers to the value of £40 for the full year can be claimed by those people who use a wheelchair for most of their day-to-day activities and expect this to continue permanently

People who choose taxi vouchers will not be able to change their travel concession until invitation to renew, the following April.

On first application a reduced value of vouchers may be issued for the part-year as follows: 1 July to 30 September - £30, 1 October to 31 December - £20, 1 January to 31 March - £10.

How do I apply?

Download the bus concession application form and guidance notes 100kb .

Alternatively, application forms are available at Wiltshire Council Offices.

Applications can be posted to us at the contact address below or handed in at Wiltshire Council Offices. However we receive your application, your pass or vouchers will be posted to you, which could take up to ten days.

Don’t forget you must include copies of the documents listed on the application form as proof of residence and age or disability along with your application form. Please do not send original documents. You must also enclose a recent passport-style photo. Please write your name and post code on the back of the photo.

What must I include with my application form?

1. All applicants must include a passport style photograph with your name and post code clearly written on the back in block capitals.

2. All applicants must include evidence of permanent residence in Wiltshire; we will accept a copy of one of the following:

• Council Tax bill
• Utility bill
• Electoral registration
• Mooring licence
• Bank statement
• TV licence
• Landline phone bill
• Driving licence (driving licence can only be used as evidence as proof of age OR proof of residence, not both)

3. All applicants must include evidence of age. We will accept a copy of one of the following:

• Pension letter/card
• Passport
• Birth certificate
• European Travel Insurance card
• NHS card (not NHS registration letter)
• Driving licence (driving licence can only be used as evidence of proof of age OR proof of residence, not both)

4. If you are applying for the Wiltshire Bus Pass because of disability you must include evidence of disability. We will accept a copy of one of the following:

• Disability Living Allowance book or award letter showing the mobility component
• War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement award letter
• A letter from the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency stating that you have been certified to have “a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking.”
• Blue Badge (showing number, expiry date and photograph) or evidence of registration
• Blind/disabled person's certificate of registration
• Evidence of registration with other bodies, such as the RNIB
• Evidence of registration with social service under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act
• Evidence from the DVLA that a driving licence has been refused or revoked. This does not include those who have had their licence refused/revoked through misuse of alcohol or drugs.

It is likely that the majority of service personnel and veterans who have received compensation for an injury in tariffs 1 – 8 of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) will be eligible for a Wiltshire Bus Pass because of their disability. Please send a copy of your “Reason for Decision” letter from the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency so that we can assess your eligibility.

If you are unable to provide evidence as above we will consider an explanation of how you qualify under the seven categories mentioned previously from a social worker or other official body, which must be on the relevant official headed paper and signed by a qualified official in support of your application.

5. If you are applying for The Wiltshire Bus Pass plus Companion because of disability you must include evidence of disability. We will accept a copy of a Disability Living Allowance award letter showing that you receive the higher rate mobility component

If you are unable to provide evidence of high rate mobility component Disability Living Allowance award letter we will consider an explanation of how you qualify from a doctor or social worker on official headed paper, signed by a qualified official in support of your application.

6. If you are applying for taxi vouchers you must sign the declaration headed “for taxi voucher applicants only."

What if I lose my bus pass?

If you lose your bus pass and can’t find it again let us know. There is a charge of £5 for a replacement bus pass when the original is lost or damaged. If your pass is stolen, this charge will be waived when a crime reference number is provided.

Lost taxi vouchers will not be replaced.

Related documents

• Your bus pass explained 716kb
• List of bus pass restrictions 37kb

Last updated: 17 January 2012