Disabled persons bus pass

When applying for a disabled persons bus pass, you must ensure you have the following to hand:

• a digital passport style photo that clearly shows your full face to upload to your application
• a valid email address
• your supporting evidence

Additional documents can also be provided to us so we are able to further clarify your identity. To support your application, you will need to choose documents that will prove both your date of birth and your address.

Find out how we verify your identity in our privacy notice.

Accepted documents

These documents are to be submitted with your evidence that shows you are eligible for a disabled persons bus pass. Documents that we accept to prove eligibility can be found on our web page under the relevant section to your disability.

Passes can only be used within England and are therefore not valid for travel in other areas of the UK such as Scotland and Wales. Your pass is eligible for travel in North Yorkshire and York on local bus services at any time except between 6am and 9am on weekdays. There are a small number of journeys that are an exception to this where your pass is eligible for travel and these journeys are listed below.

In other areas of England passes generally can only be used from 9.30am to 11pm weekdays, and anytime on weekends and bank holidays, however it may be worth checking with the area’s authority before you travel. Although your pass will be valid for off peak bus travel in London, it does not allow you to enjoy the additional benefits of a London Freedom Pass as these apply to London residents only.

You can use your pass on the following eligible journeys:

Exceptions to using your pass

You can use the pass on all registered local bus services in England except: 

• you cannot use the pass on long distance coach services
• passes are not valid on local park and ride services but discounted fares are available
• passes are not valid on services that operate primarily for the purposes of tourism

Services on which passes are not valid

Other service types

Generally community transport demand responsive services operated under Section 19 permit are not eligible services and concessionary pass holders are not entitled to free travel. A discounted fare will often be offered.

• the use of bus passes are subject to the terms and conditions of the North Yorkshire and York scheme as well as the terms and conditions of the Operator on whose vehicle the journey is being made
• all passes must be produced for inspection prior to each journey whether demanded or not. This will be done by the driver scanning the pass on a ticket machine or manually recording the journey
• bus passes remain the property of the council and are not transferable. They may only be used by the person whose name and photograph appear on them. Any attempt to use a bus pass fraudulently will result in the pass being withdrawn
• only one pass is permitted per eligible resident for fraud prevention purposes
• passes will not be valid if they are out of date, illegible, damaged or altered. These may not work on the ticketing machines and the Operator will have the right to confiscate the pass should it be used in any of these conditions
• possession of a bus pass gives no priority over other passengers and does not guarantee any person the right to a seat on any such vehicle
• bus passes are not valid on taxis, rail services, tour buses, express coach, Park and Ride or coach services. They apply to eligible local bus services only
• we reserve the right to amend the terms of the travel concession scheme to withdraw, amend or replace any pass
• if you originally applied for a disabled person concessionary bus pass but either did not request the companion enhancement or did not qualify, you will automatically be issued an older person bus pass if you are old enough. This means your bus pass will automatically renew every five years without you having to do anything. You will need to let us know if your circumstances change - information on how to do this is under the ‘Change of Circumstances’ section on our website.

Pass holders must comply with our policies for bus pass usage. Further details regarding these can be found on our website under the relevant sections.

For information on what we do with your data, please see our privacy notice.

You are obliged to notify us if your pass is lost or stolen to enable us to prevent the pass being used fraudulently. Your old pass will be hotlisted during this process meaning it will no longer be accepted on services. If this happens the Operator is in their right to confiscate your bus pass - this is to reduce the number of cancelled cards in circulation as it reduces the chances of passes being used fraudulently.

Lost or damaged bus pass

If you have lost or damaged your bus pass, there will be a charge of £10 for a replacement.

Apply for a replacement bus pass

If you cannot apply online, please contact us.

Stolen bus pass

If your bus pass has been stolen please contact us.

Hotlisted bus pass

Once a pass is ‘hotlisted’ it means it has been electronically cancelled and will no longer be accepted on services. If you try to use a hotlisted pass then the Operator is in their right to confiscate this from you.

There are three main reasons why a bus pass will have been cancelled:

1. The pass was reported as lost or stolen and it was replaced. You may have the new pass at home or in another bag or wallet.
2. We wrote to you about your pass and the letter was returned by the Royal Mail. Have you changed address recently?
3. We wrote to you asking for up to date proof of eligibility or asking for you to return the pass. Do you need to confirm your eligibility?

Bus passes not reading correctly

Sometimes a pass may fail to work on the bus card reader. In this case, it can still be used if it is in date, not hotlisted and the driver is satisfied that the picture on the pass is the holder. As the pass is not hotlisted, it is unlikely it will be withdrawn, you should still contact ourselves to let us know it didn’t work as you may need to order a replacement pass.

If you move away from North Yorkshire then you will no longer be entitled to a concessionary bus pass from us. You must return your pass and apply for a pass from your new local authority. If the pass holder dies, please return the pass to us.

If you move to another part of North Yorkshire, you should contact us.

If you originally applied for a concessionary bus pass but either didn’t request the companion enhancement or didn’t qualify, you will automatically be issued a disabled person bus pass if you are old enough. This means your bus pass will automatically renew every five years without you having to do anything.

However, if you now require a companion to travel with you, you should contact us so we can issue you with a companion pass. Details on companion passes and the evidence you will need to provide for this can be found below.

There may be circumstances when the bus pass is no longer required. If the pass holder has passed away you can use the tell us once process and hand the pass in at the time of registering the death.

If the pass holder has passed away but the tell us once process is not used, please post the pass with a covering letter including the following information:

• name of pass holder
• pass reference number
• reason pass is no longer required (for example, deceased, moved, surplus to requirements, and so on)

If you move away from North Yorkshire then you will no longer be entitled to a concessionary bus pass from us. You must return your pass and apply for a pass from your new local authority.

Please post to: Service Delivery Team, North Yorkshire County Council, County Hall, Racecourse Lane, Northallerton, North Yorkshire DL7 8AD.

Companion passes are an enhancement to the national scheme and a discretionary element of the North Yorkshire English National Concessionary Scheme. The companion element is only available to those who are eligible for a disabled persons bus pass, providing that the individual can also provide the evidence required for the companion element.

You will be eligible if:

• you are sight impaired (partially sighted) or severely sight impaired (blind)
• you require support whilst travelling because of your disability

You will not be eligible if:

• you are a child, but do not meet the evidence criteria below.

Proving that you are eligible

Generally the companion entitlement is only valid for journeys in the issuing authorities’ area, however for some of our adjacent authorities there are reciprocal arrangements where the companion pass will be accepted. The pass will only be accepted for the cross boundary part of the journey, and not for onward journeys.

Participating authorities

• East Riding of Yorkshire Council
• West Yorkshire Combined Authority – WYCA
• Kingston Upon Hull City Council
• South Yorkshire PTE
• North Lincolnshire Council
• North Yorkshire Council
• North East Lincolnshire Council
• City of York Council

Whilst you are entitled to free travel anywhere in England within permitted off peak times, your companion will only be entitled to free travel on journeys where the local authority allows this discretionary element. If you travel in an area where it is not permissible, your companion will have to pay for their own travel.

You do not have to take the same companion on every journey, but they must board and get off the bus at the same location as you.

If you need any help applying for your bus pass, please contact us during office hours.

Libraries across North Yorkshire now offer free one-to-one support to help residents apply online for an older person's or disabled person's bus pass. For more information, visit our help to apply for a bus pass page.

Apple users

If you are applying for a bus pass using an Apple device please make sure that you have updated your device with the latest iOS software, otherwise you may not be able to access our online form properly.