Concessionary Bus Pass
A Concessionary Bus Pass allows you to travel free of charge anywhere within the Tees Valley (Stockton, Middlesbrough, Darlington, Hartlepool and Redcar and Cleveland) between 9:30am and 11pm on weekdays and at any time on weekends.
Journeys starting before 9:30am, Monday to Friday have a fixed fare of 30p.
You can travel anywhere in England as long as they are part of the ENCT scheme. If you travel outside the listed areas you may be charged full price before 9:30am or after 11pm.
Who can get a Concessionary Bus Pass?
You may qualify for a Concessionary Bus Pass if you:
- are of pensionable age, you can check if you are eligible using the pension age calculator
- are blind or partially sighted
- are profoundly or severely deaf
- are without speech
- have a disability or an injury which 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 learning disability (a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning)
- would have an application to drive a motor vehicle refused due to your disability (other than on the ground of misuse of drugs or alcohol)
- in receipt of Personal Independence Payment with 8 points or more on communication or 8 points or more on moving around
- in receipt of high rate of mobility (Disability Living Allowance)
- in receipt of War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement (WPMS)
How to apply
Apply for an older person's bus pass
Apply for or renew an older person's bus pass
Apply for a disabled person's bus pass
Apply for or renew a disability bus pass
If you cannot apply online, please call Customer Services on 01642 528499.
To complete your application, you are required to provide:
- proof of identity
- proof of address
- a recent head and shoulders digital photo
- your National Insurance number (if you have one)
To prove your identity, you must provide a copy of one of the following:
- birth or adoption certificate
- passport
- driving licence
- marriage or civil partnership certificate
- divorce or dissolution certificate
To prove your address, you must provide documents dated within the last 12 months.
You can provide a copy of either:
- a recent council tax bill
- a recent letter from a government department such as Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
- a recent prescription or medical letter
- a recent letter from a school (if you are under 16)
After you have completed your application, you should receive your pass in the post within 10 working days. Passes are not available for collection from our Customer Services Centres because they are produced by an external provider.
Your bus pass is not transferable and it is against the law for anyone to give their pass to friends or relatives to use. Bus drivers will seize any pass presented by anyone other than the pass holder and cases of fraud will be reported the police.
Companion passes for disabled bus pass holders
The companion pass has been introduced to help the disabled pass holder with their journey at no extra cost.
If you already have a disabled bus pass, you can apply to travel with a companion.
All disabled bus pass holders will be assessed by our medical team to confirm they qualify for the companion element.
If you are eligible, you will be issued with a new companion disabled bus pass that looks the same but has a C+ in the corner.
Companion passes must be applied for by the disabled bus pass holder or on their behalf.
If you cannot apply online, please call Customer Services on 01642 528499.
Renewing a Concessionary Bus Pass
You can renew your Concessionary Bus Pass 28 days before your current pass expires.
You will no longer be sent a reminder when your pass is due to expire.
Renew an older person's bus pass
Renew an older person's bus pass
Renew a disabled person's bus pass
If you cannot renew your pass online, please call Customer Services on 01642 528499.
Lost or Stolen Concessionary Bus Passes
Phone 01642 528499 to apply for a replacement pass.
There is a replacement charge of £10 for lost passes and payment can be taken over the phone with a debit or credit card. If your pass has been stolen, provide a crime reference number and it will be replaced free of charge.
English National Concessionary Travel Scheme Notice 2025 to 2026
View the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme Notice 2025 to 2026. (PDF, 136 KB)