Published 20 August 2026
Disabled people in England will be able to use their bus pass at any time of day from 1 April 2027, after the Government confirmed it will fund the removal of time restrictions in every local authority area. The change is backed by £60 million and is expected to benefit around one million pass holders.
Under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme as it stands, a Disabled Person’s Bus Pass is only valid between 9.30am and 11pm on weekdays. Individual councils are allowed to fund longer hours out of their own budgets, and some do, but many do not. The result has been a patchwork in which two disabled people living a few miles apart can have very different levels of free travel.
Why the 9.30am cut-off mattered
The morning restriction has long been the sharpest edge of the scheme. Early shifts, hospital appointments, college start times and school runs all tend to fall before 9.30am, which meant pass holders either paid a full fare at exactly the time they most needed to travel, or rearranged their lives around the clock. For people who cannot drive, and who rely on the bus as their only practical option, that is a significant barrier to work and education.
The announcement follows two trials in Greater Manchester, where time restrictions were lifted on the Bee Network and then made permanent in March. Ministers have pointed to those trials as evidence that the change works in practice, and have framed the national rollout as a cost-of-living measure as well as an access one.
What Transport for All said
Disabled-led campaign group Transport for All, which has campaigned on the issue for several years, welcomed the announcement. James Barber, its Interim Chief Executive Officer, said the change “will help to unlock transport access for around a million people and puts an end to the confusing and unjust postcode lottery caused by different rules in different areas”.
The group was clear that it sees this as a first step rather than a finish line. Its Unlock Transport Access campaign is still calling for consistent eligibility criteria across councils, clearer rules on companion passes for people who need to travel with someone, and a single accessible application process designed with disabled people involved from the start. Eligibility is not changing in April 2027, so the rules on who qualifies will still differ depending on where you live.
What it means if you use mobility equipment
Buses are the default option for a lot of people who use mobility aids day to day, and the practicalities are worth knowing before you travel. Nearly all buses in England are now low-floor with a manual ramp and a designated wheelchair space, and drivers are required to deploy the ramp on request. Manual and powered wheelchairs are accepted as standard, as are walking aids such as rollators, sticks and crutches, provided they can be folded or stowed clear of the aisle.
mobility scooters are the exception. Most operators do not carry mobility scooters unless the scooter is part of a local permit scheme, and even then the permit usually applies only to smaller boot or travel models that meet the operator’s size and weight limits. If you use a scooter and expect to use your pass more often from 2027, it is worth checking your operator’s permit scheme now, and worth considering whether a folding travel scooter or a lightweight powerchair would give you more flexibility than a road-class machine.
How to apply for a pass
Disabled Person’s Bus Passes are issued by local councils, not by central government, and applications go through your council’s website or the GOV.UK application service. If you already hold a pass you do not need to reapply. The removal of time restrictions will apply automatically to existing passes from 1 April 2027.
If you are weighing up equipment that will travel with you on public transport, our guides on wheelchair costs and daily living aids cover what to look for, and you can find a company near you to try equipment in person before buying.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Free bus travel 24/7 for disabled people
- Transport for All: Campaign win, time restrictions lifted
- THIIS Magazine coverage
Related guides on Review Mobility
- Wheelchairs buying guide
- Mobility scooters explained
- Walking aids guide
- Find a mobility company near you
Published 20 August 2026
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