Eligibility categories for a disabled person's bus pass

A person is eligible for a concessionary bus pass if they are not eligible for a driving licence on medical grounds.

Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 you may be refused a driving licence on the grounds of your medical fitness. Those currently barred from holding a licence include people with:

• Epilepsy (unless it is of a type which does not pose a danger)
• Severe mental disorder
• Liability to sudden attacks of giddiness or fainting
• Inability to read a registration plate in good light 20.5 metres (with lenses if worn)
• Other disabilities which are likely to cause the driving of vehicles by them to be a source of danger to the public

You will be eligible if:

• You have had an epileptic attack within the last 12 months
• You have a history of epileptic attacks when asleep and have had one while awake within the last three years
• You are diabetic and have suffered a hypoglycaemic attack requiring the assistance of another person within the last 12 months
• You have a severe mental disorder which means that you would be a danger to the public if you were to drive
• You cannot read a registration plate in good light at 20.5 metres (with lenses)
• You are liable to sudden attacks of giddiness or fainting, or
• You have another medical condition which means that you would be a danger to the public if you were to drive

You will not be eligible if:

• You are refused a driving licence as a result of the misuse of drugs or alcohol
• You are advised not to drive for medical reasons, or for the sake of your health, but are allowed to keep your driving licence (for example if you are recovering from surgery or because driving would make a medical condition worse), the reason you cannot drive is short term (less than 12 months) and you are not required to surrender your licence
• The reason you cannot drive is because of the side effects of medication that you are taking (unless your driving licence is revoked or refused because of it)
• You suffer from mental health issues (such as anxiety or depression) which would not cause you to be a danger to others if driving, or
• You have a life-limiting condition or serious illness, you are at risk of seizures as a result

If you are in possession of a current driving licence you cannot apply under this category.

Proving that you are eligible

You need to show that one of the following applies:

• Your driving licence has been revoked on medical grounds
• You have been refused a driving licence on medical grounds
• You would be ineligible for a driving licence on medical grounds

If you have voluntarily surrendered your driving licence on medical grounds, or if you have been refused a driving licence, you will need to provide evidence which shows why you are ineligible to drive.

You will also need to show whether the refusal of driving licence is permanent (for example because of a lifelong condition) or temporary (for example, because of an isolated epileptic attack).

The expiry date on a bus pass will be tied to the length of time over which you would be prevented from holding a driving licence.

You can demonstrate your eligibility by providing one of the following:

• Letter from DVLA revoking a driving licence on medical grounds
• Letter from consultant or other medical professional (for example a qualified mental health practitioner) confirming that you have a disability or medical condition which is likely to cause the driving of vehicles by you to be a source of danger to the public
• Documents which demonstrate that you have one of the disabilities or medical conditions which would be covered by Section 92 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (as listed above). These may include appointment letters, where these describe the condition being treated, or letters from your consultant or GP which you may already have in your possession
• Letter from DVLA refusing the issue of a driving licence. This would need to be supported by something confirming the existence of the relevant medical condition, for example a consultant appointment letter relating to epilepsy
• Letter from DVLA confirming that a licence has been surrendered voluntarily on medical grounds. This would need to be supported by something confirming the existence of the relevant medical condition, for example a consultant appointment letter relating to epilepsy
• You may ask your GP to provide a letter, but this is not an NHS service. The doctor is not obliged to provide one. As this is a private service you would be charged for a letter. We do not deal directly with GPs and we cannot contact them on your behalf

Any letter provided as evidence should make it clear why you would be ineligible to drive. It should also say whether this is permanent or temporary and, if temporary, it should state the expected duration.

We cannot accept the following as evidence:

• Advice not to drive because of medication (unless it explicitly states that you must hand back your driving licence or that a driving licence would be refused)
• Letter from the DVLA indicating you have voluntarily surrendered your driving licence, unless there is separate evidence of the medical condition which is the reason for giving it up
• A letter which states you would be unable to drive without giving a reason