Apply for a Senior Citizen's or Disabled Person’s Travel Concession
The National Concessionary Travel Scheme
You can apply for a travel concession card if you are disabled, or 60 years of age or over, male or female. Card holders are entitled to unlimited free bus and coach travel (bus, coach, rail and ferry for blind persons) throughout Scotland and to Berwick and Carlisle. The national scheme is operated by Transport Scotland, an executive agency which is directly accountable to Scottish Ministers.
If you can only use public transport with assistance then you can apply for a travel concession card marked ‘with Companion’. If you are blind, the card is also valid on rail and ferry services in Scotland
Please note that the travel concession cards are NOT valid on excursions or tours.
Applying for a Travel Concession Card
Your travel concession card is issued free of charge. Application forms are available from your local contact centre . You will need to provide a recent passport-type colour photograph and current documentary evidence of your age or disability along with proof of your current address.
Full details of acceptable documentary evidence can be found on the front page of the application forms. If you require clarification on any aspect of the application process, please contact us
What the Travel Concession Card looks like
A sample copy of the travel concession card is shown here. Your photograph will appear in the black area. On the front will be:
- your photograph
- the Council logo
- card expiry date
Symbols on the card indicate what entitlement it gives you. They are:
The large 'C' symbol in the bottom right hand corner indicates that you are entitled to Scotland-wide free bus travel. Only cards with the 'C' are valid for free bus travel.
If your card has an '+1' symbol, this indicates to the driver that you are entitled to have a companion travel free with you on your journey. The companion can only travel when you are travelling and cannot travel for free without you. This symbol gives you the option to have a companion with you but you are also allowed to travel independently if you wish.
This symbol means that the card holder is blind or partially sighted and is also entitled to the National Blind Scheme Concessions.
The green 'L' symbol is there to indicate that you may be entitled to other concessions in your local area. To find out if other concessions are available to you, contact us - details can be found on the reverse of your card.
The National Concessionary Travel Scheme came into being in 2006. You can find out more about the scheme and about concessionary fares in general.
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