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Millions to get free bus travel 24 hours a day under new rules – check if you qualify
Vicky Parry
18th Aug 2026
Disabled people across England will be able to use their free bus passes 24 hours a day under a major change to concessionary travel rules.
The Government has announced that the current time restrictions on disabled bus passes will be removed, meaning eligible passengers will be able to travel for free even during the morning rush hour.
The change comes into force on 1 April 2027 and could make a particularly big difference to people who need to catch an early bus for work, education, training or medical appointments.
Currently, the national disabled person’s bus pass in England generally provides free bus travel between 9.30am and 11pm on weekdays, as well as all day at weekends and on bank holidays.
Some councils already offer more generous arrangements, but the new rule is designed to remove those regional differences.
🚍 At a glance
From 1 April 2027, eligible disabled bus pass holders in England will be able to travel on buses for free 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You don’t need to wait until 2027 to apply for a disabled person’s bus pass if you qualify.
What is changing with disabled bus passes?
Disabled people who qualify under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme can already receive a bus pass providing free travel on local buses across England.
However, there is currently an important catch.
Unless a local council provides an additional concession, the pass generally cannot be used before 9.30am on weekdays.
That can be a problem for someone who needs to travel to work, attend an early hospital appointment, get to college or simply make an essential journey before the off-peak period begins.
From 1 April 2027, that national time restriction will be removed for disabled bus pass holders.
This will effectively make the concession available 24/7.
Important: this doesn’t start straight away
The 24-hour national entitlement starts on 1 April 2027. Until then, existing national and local rules still apply, so check with your council before travelling outside the normal concessionary hours.
Why is the Government changing the rules?
The Government says the current system can create a postcode lottery because individual councils are able to fund extensions to the national scheme.
That means a disabled person in one part of England may already be able to travel early in the morning for free while someone living elsewhere may have to pay for exactly the same type of journey.
The Government has announced £60 million of funding to support the national extension.
The aim is not simply to offer cheaper leisure travel. Removing the morning restriction could make it easier for disabled people to get to work, training, education and healthcare without having to pay for journeys that take place before 9.30am.
MoneyMagpie says
If you already have a disabled person’s bus pass, don’t assume you always need to pay before 9.30am right now. Some councils already offer additional travel concessions. Check the rules where you live because you may already have access to free early-morning travel.
Who can get a free disabled person’s bus pass?
This announcement does not mean that every disabled person will automatically receive a free bus pass.
You still need to qualify for a disabled person’s pass under the existing eligibility rules.
In England, you may qualify if you:
- Are blind or partially sighted
- Are profoundly or severely deaf
- Are unable to speak
- Have a disability or injury that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to walk
- Do not have arms or have long-term loss of the use of both arms
- Have a qualifying learning disability
- Would have an application for a driving licence refused on certain medical grounds
Your local council is responsible for assessing your application and can tell you what evidence is required.
Don’t assume you need PIP
Receiving certain disability benefits can sometimes help demonstrate eligibility, but the bus pass has its own qualifying criteria. If you have a qualifying disability but don’t receive PIP, it is still worth checking whether you can get a pass.
How do I apply for a disabled person’s bus pass?
You can check where to apply using the Government’s official disabled person’s bus pass service.
Enter your postcode and you will be directed to the council responsible for issuing passes in your area.
You may need to provide evidence of your identity, address and disability, depending on the grounds on which you are applying.
The exact application process can vary between councils.
✅ Check your entitlement now
If you think you might qualify, there’s no need to wait until April 2027.
Do I need to apply for a new pass in 2027?
The change announced by the Government concerns the hours during which disabled concessionary passes can be used, rather than the creation of an entirely new type of bus pass.
If you already have a valid disabled person’s concessionary pass, keep an eye on information from your local council as the April 2027 launch approaches.
There may be more practical guidance about how the change will work nearer the time.
Be wary of unsolicited emails, texts or social media posts claiming you need to pay to “upgrade” your bus pass. Check any request directly with your local authority.
How much could 24-hour free bus travel save?
How much you could save depends on how often you currently have to pay for journeys outside the free travel period.
Someone who already travels after 9.30am may notice little difference financially.
However, for a disabled worker who regularly has to catch an early bus, removing the restriction could eliminate the cost of those journeys.
It could also help people who frequently attend early medical appointments, training courses, college or other activities.
While one journey may not seem expensive, paying several times a week can quickly add up over a year.
Will carers and companions travel for free too?
Not necessarily.
The national announcement concerns people who qualify for a disabled person’s concessionary bus pass.
Some local authorities have additional schemes for people who cannot travel independently, including companion passes that allow another person to travel with the pass holder.
These additional arrangements can vary by location, so it is worth asking your council whether a companion concession is available if you need someone to travel with you.
Does the new free bus travel rule apply across the UK?
No. This particular announcement applies to England.
Transport and concessionary travel policies are devolved, which means Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland operate their own arrangements.
If you live outside England, check the concessionary travel scheme available through your own council or national government.
England only
You may see this described as a new “UK free bus travel scheme”, but the newly announced 24/7 entitlement specifically covers eligible disabled bus pass holders in England.
Could you already be missing out on free travel?
Possibly.
If you have a disability and have never investigated whether you qualify for a concessionary pass, now is a good time to check.
The most important thing to remember is that you don’t need to wait until April 2027 to get a bus pass.
Eligible disabled people can already get free bus travel under the existing scheme. What changes in April is the national restriction on when the pass can be used.
It’s also worth checking your local council’s rules if you already have a pass.
Councils are allowed to provide concessions beyond the statutory national minimum, so your pass may already offer more than you realise.
Frequently asked questions
When does 24/7 free bus travel for disabled people start?
The new national entitlement in England is due to begin on 1 April 2027.
Will disabled people be able to travel free before 9.30am?
Yes. From 1 April 2027, the national weekday time restriction for eligible disabled bus pass holders in England will be removed, allowing free travel regardless of the time of day.
Can I get free bus travel now?
Yes, if you qualify for a disabled person’s concessionary bus pass. Under the current national scheme, passes can generally be used between 9.30am and 11pm on weekdays and all day at weekends and on bank holidays. Some councils provide additional concessions.
Do I have to receive PIP to get a disabled bus pass?
Not necessarily. Eligibility is based on statutory disability criteria. Benefit awards may be accepted as evidence in some circumstances, but not receiving PIP does not automatically mean you cannot qualify.
Will the new rule apply in Scotland and Wales?
No. The newly announced 24/7 concession applies to England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have separate concessionary travel arrangements.
How do I apply?
Use the official GOV.UK disabled person’s bus pass service to enter your postcode and find the local authority responsible for applications in your area.
The MoneyMagpie bottom line
This isn’t a brand-new disabled bus pass, but it is a significant extension of an existing benefit. From April 2027, eligible disabled pass holders in England will no longer have to plan journeys around the 9.30am weekday restriction. If you think you might qualify for a disabled person’s bus pass, however, check now. You could already be entitled to free travel.
Rules and eligibility can change. Always check current information with GOV.UK and your local authority before travelling.
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