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Help with travel costs – information for young people

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Who does it help?

In London, everyone under 16 can travel free on buses and trams. Children aged 14-15 need an Oyster photocard. Also 16-17 year olds (and some 18 year olds) in full-time education or on a work-based learning scheme who live within a London borough can travel for free on buses. They need a valid Oyster photocard.

If you are aged 16 to 25, you can buy a Young Person's Railcard (link opens in a new window) which gives you a third discount on rail fares in England, Wales and Scotland.

In Scotland, all 16-18 year olds and young full-time volunteers up to the age of 25 get concessionary travel on buses, rail and ferries throughout Scotland. You get a third off the price of bus and rail travel throughout Scotland. If you live on a Scottish Island, you are entitled to two free return ferry journeys to the mainland each year. You can get more information about the scheme from their website (link opens in a new window).

In Northern Ireland, you might have the right to a travel discount card, for example, as a fulltime student or a young person aged 16–21.  This will give you discounts on rail travel.

Other young people might get free or reduced travel, for example, if you are looking for work, you might get free or reduced travel to get to a job interview. If you are still at school, you may get help with the travel costs to get to school.  It is worth contacting your local council, benefits office or Connexions office for more information.

Is it means-tested?

Travel concessions for young people are not generally based on your income and savings, but on other personal circumstances, for example, your age and whether you are studying. However, to get money to travel to a job interview, you must be getting certain benefits.  

How much does it pay?

In some cases, you get a card that gives you the right to a discount on fares.  In other cases, you get free fares.

How to claim

Contact your local council (link opens in a new window) or transport authority.

Further help

Connexions Direct (link opens in a new window) has lots of information for young people and can advise on travel.  Call their helpline on: 080 800 13 2 19. 

The Citizens Advice website (link opens in a new window) can give you more information about help with travel costs.

The Directgov website has more information on the travel to interview scheme (link opens in a new window)

Find an adviser tool.

This information has been produced by Citizens Advice. 

Date of publication: 25 March 2010