National Bus Pass
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National Bus Pass is going Smart
Since 2008, in Devon, all National Bus Passes have been accepted as flash cards; the driver of the bus looks at the card and checks the expiry date and photograph to allow free travel at valid times issuing a paper ticket manually from the bus ticket machine.
Certain bus operators are now reequipping their buses to read the information coded in the chip within the bus pass to allow free travel. Drivers will now direct you to hold your pass against the reader. Drivers will still check that the pass presented belongs to the holder but the ticket machine will read the pass electronically. Since journeys will be automatically recorded there will be no need for tickets to be issued.
Current pass holders can still use their existing National Bus Pass. No replacement cards will be issued unless the pass has been physically damaged or if there is a problem with the coding on the card.
What will happen if your card doesn’t register on the card reader:
If it is not within the valid time (from 9:30am to the end of service on weekdays and all day at weekends and on bank holidays), the driver will charge the normal fare for the journey
If the card is visibly damaged the driver will record a free journey manually on the ticket machine and a ticket will be issued to you. You will be advised to contact our office if you are a resident in Devon, to arrange for a replacement pass.
If the card is not visibly damaged and a valid card the driver will record a free journey manually on the ticket machine and a ticket will be issued to you. Again you will be advised to contact our office if a resident in Devon, so we can investigate why the card isn't working correctly and arrange a replacement pass if necessary.
If your pass has been issued by another authority and your pass does not register on the card readers then please contact your pass provider.
Companions or carers travelling with National Bus Pass holders
Devon County Council will provide on application a supplementary companion pass to severely disabled residents of Devon who are only able to access local bus services with the assistance of a travelling companion.
The Devon companion pass can only be issued to Devon resident National Bus Pass holders. The companion pass can be used alongside your National Bus Pass on journeys starting within the Devon County Council area. It is not valid for use on journeys starting in any other council areas, including Plymouth, Torbay, Cornwall, Dorset or Somerset.
If you are travelling into Plymouth, Torbay or across the other boundaries to Cornwall, Somerset or Dorset from the Devon County Council area you will be able to use the companion pass for free travel on the outward journey but not for the return journey. If you are visiting elsewhere in England and using your National Bus Pass for free travel your companion pass will not be valid.
You can download the application form here 
(30KB - pdf help) or contact the Devon concessionary bus travel team and a form will be posted to you.
Other news
- Times of use
The National Bus Pass can be used all day on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Bank Holidays and from 9.30am to the end of service on week days
Pass holders making any bus journey before 9.30am on a weekday mornings will have to pay for their journey except in the following circumstance:
Valid passes can be used on eligible bus services where there is a service before 9:30am but no further service until after 11:00am. A current list of bus services where this applies is available from the Concessionary Bus Travel Office or click on the following link: When to use a National Bus Pass in this area.
