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Can your scooter go on public transport?
Taking a mobility scooter on buses, trains and public transport
A mobility scooter can make it possible to get to the bus stop or station – but can you take it on board? The short answer is often yes, as long as your scooter is the right type and size, and you plan ahead. There is no legal requirement for bus or train companies to carry mobility scooters, so each operator sets its own rules, and many ask you to get a free permit first.
This guide explains how it works on buses, trains and around London, and what to check before you set off.
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At a glance: will my scooter fit?
Buses
Usually only class 2 (4mph) scooters, no more than 1000mm long and 600mm wide, with a turning circle of no more than 1200mm. The combined weight of you and your scooter must be within the ramp’s safe working load, normally 300kg. You’ll normally need a permit.
Trains
Rules vary by train company, but many accept scooters up to around 1200mm long and 700mm wide, with a combined weight of up to 300kg. Some companies require a permit, and some only carry scooters that can be folded and stowed as luggage.
Class 3 scooters
Class 3 (8mph, road-going) scooters are not accepted on buses, whatever their size, and are refused on many trains. Some folding class 3 models can travel folded, as luggage.
Buses: the CPT permit scheme
All buses are now required to be wheelchair accessible under the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations, but that doesn’t give scooters the same right to travel. Instead, most bus companies follow a voluntary Code of Practice drawn up by the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), the bus industry body, with the Department for Transport.
Under the Code, you can’t simply turn up at a bus stop on your scooter. You need to contact the bus company first, so they can check that your scooter is suitable and that you can drive it on and off the bus and into the wheelchair space safely. This usually involves a short practical session, often at a bus depot, where you’ll be shown how to use the access ramp.
Once you’ve been approved, you’ll get a photo permit to show the driver when you board. It lasts for a fixed period set by the operator (typically two to five years), and it is free with all the companies we have come across.
A permit issued by one bus company should be accepted by every other operator that follows the CPT Code – so you only need to be assessed once. Not every company has signed up, and some smaller or community buses can’t take scooters at all, so check with the bus company that runs your local routes. Most list their scooter policy on their website, often in their conditions of carriage.
Rules once you’re on board the bus
• Park in the wheelchair space, reversing up to the backrest.
• Switch the motor off and leave the scooter in gear so it can’t move.
• Stay seated on your scooter for the whole journey.
• If the wheelchair space is already taken by a wheelchair user, you won’t be able to travel on that bus – wheelchair users have priority.
• Keep your scooter in good working order, and don’t overload it with shopping or bags, which can make it unstable.
• If your scooter damages the bus or injures another passenger, your permit can be withdrawn.
The same permit is often accepted on trams – Sheffield’s Supertram, for example, only carries scooters with a CPT permit.
Train travel with a mobility scooter
As with buses, it isn’t a good idea to simply arrive at a station and assume you can travel. Every train company has its own policy on scooters, based on the size of its trains, the ramps it uses and the space in its wheelchair areas.
The main safety concerns are weight and manoeuvrability: scooters tipping backwards on ramps, being heavier than the ramp’s safe working load, or being too large to turn safely inside the carriage. Because of this, some companies only carry scooters that can be folded and stowed as luggage, while others need you to apply for a permit in advance.
Scooter-friendly policies are improving. In September 2026, for example, Northern announced that passengers with a suitable scooter can now travel on every type of train in its fleet with a free permit, after reviewing its rules for its Class 158 trains. More than 3,000 people have already got a Northern scooter permit.
Before you travel by train
• Check the train company’s scooter policy on its website, and apply for a permit if one is needed.
• Check that every station you plan to use has step-free access, including where you change trains.
• Book help through Passenger Assist, online, by phone or with the free Passenger Assist app. You can book up to two hours before you travel, though booking the day before gives more certainty. You can also turn up and ask for help without booking.
• If you use more than one train company on a journey, check each company’s policy, as the rules may differ.
• Consider a Disabled Persons Railcard, which gives a third off most rail fares for you and a companion.
Find out more about Passenger Assist on the National Rail website (external link will open in a new browser tab or window)
Travelling around London with a mobility scooter
London’s transport network is run mainly by Transport for London (TfL), which has its own arrangements for scooter users. Accessibility has improved a great deal in recent years, and with a bit of planning, scooter users can get around much of the capital.
London buses: the Mobility Aid Recognition Scheme
All London bus routes use low-floor buses with a wheelchair space and a ramp, which on almost every bus is at the middle (exit) door. Only certain models of scooter fit into the wheelchair space, so TfL runs its own scheme, the Mobility Aid Recognition Scheme.
To join, contact TfL’s Travel Mentoring Service, who will ask a few questions about your scooter. You’ll then be offered an accompanied journey to check that it fits and that you’re confident getting on and off. If it’s suitable, you’ll get a Mobility Aid Card to show the driver. The scheme also covers powered and manual wheelchairs, mobility walkers and shopping trolleys used as mobility aids. London bus drivers should also accept CPT permits from other bus companies.
To join, email travelmentor@tfl.gov.uk or call 020 3054 4361.
Tube, Overground, DLR and the Elizabeth line
Scooters can be used on the Tube, Overground, DLR, Elizabeth line and trams, but step-free access varies a lot. All DLR stations, all tram stops and all Elizabeth line stations are step-free from street to platform, but only around a quarter of Tube stations are. Some step-free stations still have a gap and step between the platform and the train, so check the step-free symbols on the Tube map.
A few practical points from scooter users who have tested the network:
• TfL’s Turn Up and Go service means you don’t need to book help. Staff will put out a boarding ramp and radio ahead so someone meets you at the other end.
• If a lift is out of service and there’s no reasonable alternative route, TfL will book you a taxi, at its own cost, to your destination or the nearest step-free station.
• Some station lifts are narrow and need to be reversed out of, so a compact scooter and confident reversing skills help. Stations with several lifts in a row can take extra time.
• Centre grab poles on some trains can make it awkward to get in and out of the wheelchair space, especially in a busy carriage.
• The Elizabeth line is the easiest to use, with spacious stations and level boarding at many central London stations.
• Avoid rush hour if you can – buses and trains can be too crowded to board with a scooter.
River boats and taxis
Many Thames piers are step-free and Uber Boat by Thames Clippers runs its own scooter scheme, but not every boat is step-free or has an accessible toilet, so check with the operator before you go. Staff can sometimes confuse mobility scooters with e-scooters, which are banned across TfL’s network – so carrying your Mobility Aid Card can help.
All London black cabs have a wheelchair ramp, but TfL says mobility scooters can’t be taken in some taxis. A scooter that folds can usually be stowed in a black cab or private hire car – otherwise, check with the taxi firm when you book.
Plan your London journey
• Use TfL’s Journey Planner, and select the step-free options under accessibility and other travel options.
• The free TfL Go app has a step-free mode, live lift status and information on toilets and quieter times to travel.
• TfL’s travel mentors can help you plan a route, and can accompany you on your first few journeys to build your confidence.
• A Disabled Persons Railcard can be linked to an Oyster card for a third off pay-as-you-go fares.
See TfL’s guide to wheelchair access and avoiding stairs (external link will open in a new browser tab or window)
Article ends – click to return to top or check out related resources below
Further reading and resources
Mobility scooters – class 2 and class 3 explained
Buying a mobility scooter? Why a trained retailer makes all the difference
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44 Replies to “Can your scooter go on public transport?”
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Hello.
I wanted to ask if someone could tell me where I do the processing for the permit to travel by bus with a class 2 scooter.
I search on the internet and there is no page that helps me.
If anyone has the link and can give it to me. Please.
Thank you so much.
There aren’t any links on the page, because each bus company has their own system and you have to contact them directly.
If your scooter is no more than 600mm wide and 1000mm long with a turning circle of no more than 1200mm, you should get in touch with the bus operator and ask them about a permit. They will assess your competence, and if they are happy that you can manoeuvre safely, they will give you the pass that you need.
It’s a case of trawling through google regarding your transport provider’s depending on where you live.
My wife recently obtained a permit in the West Midlands with West Midlands travel, the test was simpler than finding out how to obtain it.
It entitles her to travel on West Midlands travel but we have two other providers Diamond buses and a small independent company neither allows a class 2 scooter on their vehicles, it’s a complex system to explore for something as basic as wanting to get a bus to go somewhere unfortunately.
Regards
Ed
I use a mobility scooter and have a rail pass for the scooter for Northern Trains. How come there has not been a scheme where one card can be used by all operstors. Both buses and Trains. The class 2 scooters even if 3 or 4 wheeled fall under the same specification for size.
Having permits for all different travel operators is not having a get on and go system. Instead you need to apply for permits for each company. So if I wanted to use my scooter on holiday I would need to apply for a permit. Then may not use that permit ever again.
Where as a national permit scheme, could be used by all operators on both busses and trains.
I feel like I’m being discriminated against due to needing a mobility scooter to get around. Coach companies are no longer insuring their vehicles to take the scooters on their day trips/holidays. They accept wheelchairs which I then need a companion to push me. This has taken my independence away. Specific disability holidays the cost more than doubles which I then cannot afford.
How do you charge a scooter in public? Let’s say that, you left the house without realising how long you were going to be out so you didn’t double check the charge; where would you be able to charge the scooter?
Hi, I have an electric 2 wheeled scooter, it folds down to make it compact. Will stagecoach allow this on please?
Hello Den
I’m afraid I don’t know what the bus companies do about carrying two wheeled scooters. You should get in touch with them directly, and ask what their rules are – they vary between the different companies, at least as far as mobility scooters are concerned.
Best wishes,
Frances
I need to attend Coventry hospital appointments,and want to use my 4 wheel scooter ,
How do I obtain a permit,from Knowle Solihull
Thank you
Hello Esther
If your scooter is class 2 (not road-going) and no more than 600mm wide and 1000mm long, with a turning circle of no more than 1200mm, you can get in touch with the bus operator and ask for a permit. They will make sure that you can manoeuvre it safely, and train you in using the access ramp and moving safely in the bus, before issuing a permit.
Best wishes,
Frances
Transpennine trains (Before the recent franchise change) told me a I didnt need a pass as i woudnt be using the ramp.
Can anyone tell me what exactly is the difference between a scooter and a wheelchair?
They all seem to have different rules about what they will transport, and usually treat scooters and wheelchairs differently, despite the fact that they are both mobility aids.
I hope you are still able to travel conveniently with the new franchisee.
Best wishes,
Frances
I suffer with chronic nerve and Back pain. Have done for tenish years.
Since the pandemic i can barely go to the cotner shop without walking like Bambi when shes first born in the movie.
I had been using a walker for about a year. But I was totally fed up. Journeys that used to take 5 or 10 minutes could take hours now.
I recently had new neighbours and they had a scooter for sale that they priced reasonably.
Its a class 2. Oi love it. Journey times to my mums has dropped rightdown to about the same as when i was fully fit and without pain.
Now i totally understand Class 3 Mobility scooters/chairs arent allowed on the bus. To befair if I understand that.
But also i have noticed that the area sectioned off for mobility scooters, or wheel chairs is ver tight in my area. It used to be all open with an arm you could pull doen. A wheel chair could get into the space reasonably easily.
However i believe scooters would be harder, especially the bigger class 2s.
If it was nationalised and it all came under one umbrella it would be a lot easier especially if all the buses were all uniform. But some companies use older buses some use electric some use bio-gas. The trains would be even worse. That ramp they use could easily tip you.
I’m disabled? With a pass. But I’ve had to go to a scootor.but I’m refused. How do I apply for a permit. Thanks Mr hallows
Hi you have to phone ur bus company in your area and ask to apply for a scooter premit it’s easy to do u have to have a test to to get one you have to drive ur scooter on and off the bus in a safe manner u will need a passport phont the pass is free I have one and I can use it all over the county its not just for your area ur scooter much be class 2 4mph only hope ti’s helps
Hello – you need to contact the operator of buses in the area where you want to travel. As long as your scooter meets the size and weight limits, they will assess your ability to manoeuvre it safely and provide you with a permit. Slightly different system in London – the Mobility Aid Recognition Scheme – has its own card and covers powered wheelchairs and mobility walkers as well as scooters. London bus drivers should recognise permits issued by other bus operators in the scheme as well.
I wish to have a permit to travel on a train with my mobility scooter.
Disabled being Penalised yet again.
Hi I am in a powered wheelchair I have at the moment a quickie
Salsa M2 next week the updated one quickie Q300. Now some bus areas class this as a scooter so need permit like First Bristol refused me some years back so I now have a permit. I didn’t know this when visiting as I live in Stoke-on-Trent and never been asked there so when updated the potteries first came and updated and they were confused as I should never be challenged but they did it for me.So now a independent bus company D&G bus have had someone in a bariatric power chair has broken a ramp as it was over the 300kg my chair with me in is about 225kg
so a blanket ban on any power chairs until you have letter. This came into force about 4 months ago so rang company and said about it they told me what I had to do so did still no letter. But I have subsequently carried on using that company without a challenge until yesterday and the driver was not even interested in talking but then 20 minutes later used same company home. This driver knew nothing about it so basically it’s the driver most of the time that is the issue and there needs to been training of drivers around these issues.
Recently i had a motor home trip around the UK and Scotland with my wife who has terminal ill with cancer and we got her a Go Go Elite which i believe is a class 2 so when visiting she could get around .Being very new to this concept of travel by electric chair and entering the unknown world of disabled travel by bus we were left stranded in York City Centre as this permit for buses had never been mentioned or read about before . The same happened in Edinburgh . On both occasions we were driven into town without a question but on return journeys were refused entry as no permit . I am very confused and i am of the opinion so are the bus drivers as some will and some wont . It is very difficult as a disabled person to get assessed at every City to travel and why cannot a simple 1 permit fits all approach be adopted when a disabled badge is granted .The treatment of the bus company drivers that refused will be etched on my mind for life as they were very uncaring and to be honest i do not think they knew what the proper protocol was . As it happens i am fully fit ,so i was able to dismantle the chair and carry it on as hand luggage ,which took up all the available space for chairs anyway but in pieces . No bus time tables or bus information tables mention permits , no buses have the information on them about permits , the small print on bus web sites do have a bit of information but certainly not highlighted . With all the emphasis on holiday in Britain and use buses to cut down on emissions i find it ridiculous that disabled are treated in such a way .
I also have a Go Go lite but as yet not been on a bus with it. I want to as I live alone & have nobody to help me. Why are disabled people being discriminated again yet again
How and where can I get a mobility scooter permit from?
Hello Albert
You need to contact the bus operator for the line you are interested in travelling on. They will assess your competence and make sure your scooter meets their limits on weight and size, then issue you with a permit.
Best wishes,
Frances
Permit
How do I get a permit for my mobile 4 wheel scooter for the bus company finding this is very confused manly because of my CV stroke
Regards Stephen Rix
Hello Stephen
If your scooter is a class two (pavement) model, you can apply to the bus operator, who will assess your ability to manoeuvre your scooter, and train you to use the access ramp and to move around inside the bus safely.
They will also advise about which routes and buses you can travel on (not all buses are currently accessible).
Once the company is happy that you can carry out the necessary moves safely and within a reasonable amount of time, they will provide a photo permit, which is the size of the credit card and has a time limit of no more than five years. If you have a permit from one operator, it should be accepted by any other bus company taking part in the scheme.
Best wishes,
Frances
Which model make can be taken on all buses? Mobility scooter, the cheapest, give examples.
Hello Susan
It isn’t really that straightforward, unfortunately. There isn’t a legal obligation for buses to take mobility scooters, though there is a Code which most operators follow, which includes some specifications for the scooter. It can’t be more than 600mm wide and 1000mm long, with a turning circle of no more than 1200mm. And the combined weight of the scooter and the rider must not exceed the safe working load of the ramp used to board the bus, which is normally 300kg.
I came across one scooter that meets these requirements when someone else asked for information, the ST1 from Drive DeVilbiss, which is available from Manage At Home – https://www.manageathome.co.uk/pd/st1-scooter_12018 (external link will open in a new browser window) It is probably also available from other suppliers. The size restrictions are quite limiting, so you need to look around quite carefully to find suitable models.
Good luck and best wishes,
Frances
I have a small mobility scooter and am trying to get a permit to travel by bus and train to be able to travel to my daughters and need train and bus to get to her. Can you help me get a permit to be able to travel.
Hello Catherine
I can tell you what you need to do, in order to get a permit. You should get in touch with the bus company and train operator on the routes you want to travel, and explain your situation.
If your scooter meets their size parameters, they will be able to guide you through their own procedures.
Good luck and best wishes,
Frances
What are the 86 models of mobility scooters allowed on buses as I can t find it anywhere and nobody seems to know as you can’t buy a scooter that is only 1000cms long they are not made only foldable only and you so t need to drive one of those on please help
Hello Sandra
I have no idea how many models there might be, but I was asked about this by somebody else recently, and did a quick look around. Manage at Home have one that is 1000 mm long (not foldable) – you can read more about it here:
https://www.manageathome.co.uk/pd/st1-scooter_12018 (external link will open in a new browser window)
It is a good idea to contact your local bus company and get advice beforehand – they will arrange a simple assessment and issue a permit.
Best wishes,
Frances
I have a mobbie solox scooter it’s one that folds away there two one is remote control founding u press a button and it closes up and and opens on its own I have no problem getting on bus or trains or taxis and have a bus permit try looking on the Internet and you will find one like mine hope that helps
I am looking for a mobility scooter which I can take on local buses. Can anyone tell me which makes/models will be suitable.
Hi Geoff,
Your best bet is to pop in to your local Care Co store as they have the full range of lightweight, road and car friendly mobility scooters. They can give you a full demo on how the scooters come apart and also which would be best suited to your needs, I hope this was of some help 🙂
Try a mobbing solar you find one on monarch mobility Web site
Looking at the detailed terms and conditions by all regular rail and bus travel services it is obvious that no real design consideration has been given when trains and buses are being planned for all classes of passenger, and on a close historical review that has always been the case and the same design limitations are still pursued today. We see many cars, with some larger cars or people carrier, adapted to carry the larger scooter. Many disabled people are not permitted to drive a road vehicle under the Blue Badge scheme or any other, due to physical and or mental aberrations/ disease, epilepsy or say type 1 diabetes with a risk of a low blood sugar-induced coma, there will be others too. Many in this limited travel opportunity are being further penalised due to being DISABLED who are offered by the ABLED BODIED less than a second-best solution or nothing, no matter which way you which to look at this situation, with all the terms and conditions, red tape and procedural hurdles put in place to minimise the risk and inconvenience of accommodating disabled people travel needs AMOUNTS TO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THE DISABLED, WHO ARE TREATED LIKE SECOND RATE CITIZENS, NOTHING MORE, AND IT IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE.
Can I take my lighweight scooter from London to Nottingham. My brother and I are trvelling please God in late January 2020 to a Concert. Plus he will book us Firsg Class so do I pay for my disabled scooter?
Hello Fatima
The different train operators have different rules about carrying scooters, so you should get in touch with the one you are travelling with and find out.
As a very broad guide, where train companies are able to accommodate passengers on mobility scooters, the overall length and width limits tend to be 1200 mm (3′ 11″) and 700 mm (2′ 3″) respectively. A maximum combined weight (passenger and scooter) of 300 kg is standard.
Best wishes,
Frances
i am a recent amputee and i have a class 3 mobility scooter i wish to travel from wolverhampton to berkhamsted in hertfordshire via milton keynes is this journey possible many thanks
Hello Debbie
Unfortunately, according to the Code of Practice for public transport operators, class III scooters can’t be accommodated, as they are too big.
If you have a class II scooter, you can apply in advance to your local bus company for a permit.
Best wishes, Frances
I use a mobilty scooter and I new nothing about it I live in Liverpool I now have a scooter permint and have no problem .I had to phone bus company up and ment a bus bye my home and have a driven test to see how I was getting on and off the buses with out help on my scooter it went well and given my pass there and then free of change I also needed one for trains to go to Skegness not all trains alow scooter I went to Blackpool by train and was told I had to fold it up and site in a wheel chair so that could put me on the train and the same when I got off I can use my scooter bus passe everywhere I go in the county not just Liverpool I find when I go to Skegness to see family I am asked there if have a scooter pass not so much in Liverpool
Hi I’m needing a mobility scooter pass as need to travel to doctors and hospatal appointments some drivers are reluctant to let me on the busses and have a bad attitude and disrespectful. I have been in contact many times to bus companies but no one has got back to me .just pass the buck..
Passes are issued by the relevant bus company. I’m afraid there isn’t a centralised system. Your scooter needs to be class two and no more than 600mm wide and 1000mm long with a turning circle of no more than 1200mm.
If it meets these criteria, you should get in touch with the bus operator and arrange for them to assess your competence at manoeuvring it and provide you with a pass.