Bus travel in Scotland

Last Updated:

8 Jan 2010

Review Due Date:

9 Aug 2010

The new Entitlement Pass (the pass) allows members of the public to use a number of public services through a single card. From 1 April 2006 older people and people with disabilities in Scotland will be able to travel free by bus anywhere in Scotland on local buses and long distance scheduled coaches throughout the day. This will include the morning rush hour.

Who is eligible for the pass?

People living in Scotland aged 60 or over
People with disabilities

Image of bus There is a range of different reasons why a person will be classed as being ‘disabled’ when applying for the free fares. Full information can be found on the Scottish Executive website.

People with epilepsy will meet the standard for disability if they receive certain welfare benefits or:

they have had a driving licence refused: this applies to people who have applied for a first provisional licence; to renew an expired licence; or for a duplicate or exchange licence and declared a medical condition and had that licence turned down on medical grounds (1) or

they have had a driving licence revoked (withdrawn): this applies to people who currently hold a driving licence and inform the DVLA of a change in their health, which would affect their entitlement to drive.

Proof of eligibility

In both the above cases the evidence needed when applying for the pass will be a refusal of application letter or notification of the applicant’s driving licence being revoked (withdrawn) from DVLA, reference number D206, D235, D220 and NS57.

There is an additional group of people who may be eligible for the pass. They are generally people under the legal age to drive but who are of fare paying age. The evidence needed will be confirmation of your medical condition and inability to meet the fitness standards required to hold a driving licence. You will be able to get this from your medical/health practitioner.

Where can I get the pass?

This depends on where you live. In Strathclyde the Passenger Transport Executive will issue the Entitlement Pass. In other areas of Scotland this would be the responsibility of the local authority Social Services Department.

Find out where you can get a free pass in your local area

Can the pass be used anywhere else?

Yes, it will also give you free travel throughout Scotland on virtually all scheduled local registered and long distance bus services available to the general public. The pass also allows the holder to travel to and from Carlisle from Dumfries and Galloway and to and from Berwick-upon-Tweed from the Scottish Borders. However, the pass does not allow you free bus travel within Carlisle or Berwick-upon-Tweed. Premium fare night buses and city sightseeing buses will not recognise the pass.

What about concessions on other modes of transport?

Your national Entitlement Pass may allow you to access other concessions on other modes of transport in your local area – and the local authority logo, green ‘L’ or the orange ‘S’ symbol are the signs for this. Please contact your local authority or concessionary scheme to find out if other concessions are available to you. Details of how to contact your local authority can be found on the back of your pass. Holders of ferry cards within the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) Scheme area will be required to continue using their Strathclyde Concession Travel Cards for ferry travel.

Our thanks to staff at Transport Scotland for their help in ensuring this information is correct at time of writing.

(1) The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) regulations 1999 permit the granting of a driving licence to a person with epilepsy if:

that person has not had an epileptic attack while awake for a year or more, or
that person has a history of attacks while asleep, and only while asleep, over the past three years or more, and
the driving of a vehicle by that person is not likely to cause danger to the public.

To summarise, this means that a person will not be eligible for a concessionary pass just because they have epilepsy. They will be eligible for the pass if they would not be eligible for a driving licence, should they wish to apply for one or if they receive certain welfare benefits.