Disability discounts for UK travel

For disabled people, getting out and about can be an expensive business. We often need to get taxis more frequently than our non-disabled friends and family, and we may need to go further on buses, trains and trams because we struggle to walk or go long distances. Fortunately, there are discounts available for disabled people who travel by coach, tube, taxi, bus, train or tram. They may vary from region to region, and it is always worth checking with your local council or disability organisation, but we have rounded up some of the best available discount cards and schemes for you.

Disabled Person's Railcard

The Disabled Person's Railcard entitles its holder to 1/3 off train journeys and, if they have a carer or assistant travelling with them, that person can also claim 1/3 off the total of their journey. When your Disabled Person's Railcard is registered with your Oyster card, it will also give you a discount on Pay As You Go single fares. The card will cost you £20 for a year or £54 for three years but, if you make journeys on the train, chances are this will quickly pay for itself. People who receive certain benefits or who have certain health conditions are eligible for the card. Find out more here and, if you match the criteria, apply here.

National Express Disabled Coachcard

With a National Express Disabled Coachcard, you will be entitled to save 1/3 on Standard and Fully Flexible fares to hundreds of UK towns, cities and airports. While often a little slower than getting the train, it can also be less hectic and a great money-saver to catch a coach, and this discount makes it even cheaper. 95% of National Express coaches are wheelchair accessible (contact them in advance of your journey to check), and most have a passenger lift. The Coachcard costs £12.50 a year.

Bus and tram travel across the UK

Every local council has a different scheme, but disabled people are entitled to free or discounted local travel. For many councils, this is only at off-peak times but some, such as Sheffield, still offer free travel at peak times as well. Your local council or transport authority will be able to advise you about this details for your area. You can find out more about bus and tram travel in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Freedom Pass: London travel discounts for disabled people

The Freedom Pass allows Londoners to travel on buses, trams, underground, Overground and DLR services for free, and offers half price fares on river services and cable cars. Users can travel in Standard Class across London on the train between 9.30am and 4.30am for free. Find out if you are eligible and, if so, apply for your Freedom Pass here.

Disabled Person's Taxi Card

In most regions, disabled people have to pay full fare for taxi rides but in London, a Taxi Card offers users a discount on taxi services.