Concessionary bus pass

To check your qualifying age for a free bus pass go to Calculate the date of your state pension age (opens new window) on the .Gov website.

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

• blind or partially sighted;
• profoundly or severely deaf;
• without speech;
• has a disability, or has suffered an injury, that has a substantial or long-term effect on their ability to walk;
• does not have arms or has long-term loss of use of both arms;
• has a significant 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. This does not include those who have had their licence refused/revoked through the misuse of alcohol or drugs.

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.

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 local bus services, anywhere in England between the hours of 9.30am and 11pm, Monday to Friday and all day at weekends and bank holidays. Additionally in Wiltshire it gives free travel on buses from 9am and after 11pm, where these operate. Also on certain infrequent bus services it can be used from an earlier time than 9.00am - see Concessionary fare pre 9am exemptions from 1 May 2024.

If travelling on a non-Wiltshire issued bus pass or boarding outside the Wiltshire Council area, the free travel times run from 9.30am to 11pm. 

It can be used on all Wiltshire Connect services and will give either free travel or a cheaper fare, depending on the service. For more information call the Buses line 01225 718 080. It can also be used on the Salisbury Park and Ride buses.

The bus pass does not cover long distance coach services like National Express, and in Swindon it only provides free off peak free travel as in other parts of England.

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 with the pass holder free of charge in Wiltshire and some adjoining authorities with whom we have a reciprocal agreement. Currently these are Swindon, Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, Dorset (not including Bournemouth and Poole), Hampshire and South Gloucestershire.

See 'How to apply' for required qualifying evidence for this pass.

Option 3 - taxi vouchers

As an alternative to the Wiltshire Bus Pass, Taxi vouchers are available to those who qualify as they use a wheelchair for most of their day-to-day activities and expect this to continue permanently. By signing the "declaration for taxi voucher applicants only" on side one of the application form, you will give up your right to a concessionary bus pass until the following 31 March.

The value of the taxi vouchers issued for a full year is £40. The vouchers will be posted to you for use from 1 April.

On first application a reduced value of vouchers will be issued for the part year as follows:

• 1 April to 30 June - £40
• 1 July to 30 September - £30
• 1 October to 31 December - £20
• 1 January to 31 January - £10
• No taxi vouchers are issued between 1 February and 31 March.

Apply online

If you are applying for a bus pass because you are eligible due to your age, or you want to renew your age related bus pass if the pass has recently expired or is due to expire soon, you can apply online using the link on this page. At present we are unable to accept online applications for plus companion (C+) passes eligible because of disability - please see the instructions below to apply by post.
 
Remember you must be entitled to be drawing your state pension to qualify for an age-related concessionary bus pass.
 
If applying for a new age related pass online:

• You must be able to upload documentary proof of both your age and residence and a recent colour passport-style photo. The photo can be either a saved picture file or, when requested, you can take one using a webcam or captured via your phone/tablet if applying via mobile device. The documents can also be picture files or can be scans stored in pdf/doc files. See below for guidance on documents accepted.

If applying to renew your existing age related pass online:

• You will be able to upload a new colour passport-style photo if you wish, and you must send a new recent colour photo if yours is more than 10 years old or your appearance has changed significantly. Note - if you are under 28 you must supply a new photograph.
• If you have changed address then upload of proof of residence will be required. See below for guidance on documents accepted.

If applying for a disabled pass (new or replacement) online:

• You must be able to upload documentary proof of both your age and residence and a colour passport-style photo as above, and 
• You must include recent evidence of disability - see below for guidance on documents accepted.

If applying for a replacement for a lost, stolen or damaged pass online:

• You will be required to pay a fee of £15 online and you will receive a receipt by email. If you have any problems with making the payment telephone 0300 456 0100 to make payment.

You can not at present, apply for a disabled companion bus pass online - see below for details of how to apply by post.

With all applications you must be able to supply an email address for communication regarding acceptance of, or problems with, your submitted application. You will also be required to provide a password to enable you later to log in (only if requested) to supply an alternative photo, for example, or different documentation proving eligibility.

Apply online (opens new window)

Apply by post

Download the travel concession application form available on this page, alternatively, application forms are available at Wiltshire council offices.

Applications can be posted to us at the contact address on the application form or handed in at Wiltshire council offices. However, we receive your application, your pass or vouchers will be posted direct to you.

Don't forget, with the application form you must include one copy of evidence for each date of birth and residence as well as a copy of your qualifying evidence of disability if applicable, and a recent colour passport-style photograph. Write your name and postcode on the back of the photograph. See below for more details.

What you must include with your application form

1. All applicants must include a recent colour passport-style photograph with your name and postcode clearly written on the back in block capitals.

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

• Wiltshire council tax bill;
• Electoral registration;
• Mooring licence;
• TV licence;
• landline phone bill;
• UK driving licence (a 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 date of birth. We will accept a photocopy of one of the following:

• Recent state/basic pension entitlement letter (dated within the last 12 months);
• Passport;
• Birth certificate;
• UK Driving licence (a 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 recent evidence of disability. We will accept a photocopy of one of the following:

• Disability living allowance (DLA) award letter showing the mobility component and eligibility dates (dated within the last 12 months);
• Personal independence payment (PIP) decision letter showing a score of eight points or more in the moving around activity or communicating verbally activity.It must also show, the eligibility dates, when dated and your name and address;
• War pensioner's mobility supplement (WPMS) award letter, (dated within the last 12 months);
• a letter from the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) stating that you have been certified to have "a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking," dated within the previous twelve months;
• a copy of your audio graph showing your hearing reaches 70 dBHL or above;
• a copy of your certificate of visual impairment (CVI) confirming you are registered as partially sighted;
• current evidence from the DVLA that your UK driving licence has recently been refused or revoked on grounds of medical fitness dated within the last 12 months. 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. 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 requested we may consider an explanation from a doctor or consultant of how you qualify under the seven categories mentioned previously. This must be on their official headed paper, dated and signed by the doctor or consultant in support of your application. Contact concessionarybuspasses@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window) to discuss what is appropriate before obtaining such a letter.

 5. If you are applying for the Wiltshire bus pass plus companion (C+) you must include evidence of disability as explained in 4 above and must also show one of the following:

• DLA higher rate mobility component and eligibility dates;
• PIP score of 8 points or above in the communicating verbally activity or 12 points in the moving around activity;
• evidence of registration as blind;
• a copy of your latest audio graph showing your hearing reaches 95+dBHL.

If you are unable to provide evidence of the above we may consider a letter of explanation from your doctor or consultant of why you are unable to travel on public bus transport unaided. This must be on their official headed paper recently dated and signed by the doctor or consultant in support of your application. Contact concessionarybuspasses@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window) to discuss what is appropriate before obtaining such a letter.

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

 7. There is a fee of £15 effective from 1 April 2023 to replace a lost, stolen or damaged bus pass. Please contact Wiltshire Council for more information.

 8. A charge of £15 effective from 01 April 2023 is required to issue a NEW bus pass if you change your name and/or you wish to update your photograph during the life of your current pass. However this is free if you inform us within 2 months BEFORE the expiry date of the current bus pass. The renewed bus pass will show the new details.

If you lose, have your bus pass stolen, or damaged, we can provide a replacement. The bus pass reported lost, stolen or damaged, will be invalidated so it cannot be used if found. To report your lost, stolen or damaged bus pass, apply online using the link at the top of this page, call Wiltshire Council on 0300 456 0100 or email concessionarybuspasses@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window). There is a non-refundable charge of £15, effective from 01 April 2023, for a replacement bus pass when the original is lost, stolen or damaged.

Regrettably, Lost, stolen or damaged taxi vouchers can not be replaced.

We only supply passes to permanent primary residents of Wiltshire. If you move somewhere outside Wiltshire you will need to make a new application to the council for your new address. When you have received your new concessionary bus pass send the Wiltshire pass back to us, the address is on the back of the bus pass, or contact us direct. Your old Wiltshire bus pass will be invalidated so that it can no longer be used.

Your Wiltshire bus pass provides you with free off-peak travel on local bus services anywhere in Wiltshire (excluding Swindon Council area) between the hours of 9am and 11.59pm, Monday to Friday and all day at weekends and bank holidays. There are also a limited number of morning buses where you can travel free before 9am because the services operate infrequently.

If travelling on a non-Wiltshire issued bus pass or boarding outside the Wiltshire Council area the free travel times run from 9.30am to 11pm.

These are shown on page Concessionary fare pre 9am exemptions from 1 May 2024.

Wiltshire Council has a duty to protect personal information - see our Privacy notice - Passenger transport  in the link on this page.

If you've got an English National Concessionary Scheme bus pass, issued by an English council outside of London, you can travel on London buses. Just show your pass to the driver, as the ticket machine will not be able to read it.

London - free and discounted travel (opens new window)