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Get help with your transport costs

If you’re in further education, your local authority may be able to help with the cost of getting to and from your place of learning.

Whether you could qualify for help depends on your age and where you’re studying.

Your age

To qualify for help from your local authority, you must be

• aged 16 to 18, or
• continuing on a course that you started before your 19th birthday

Where you’re studying

As well as being the right age, you must go to one of the following:

• a school sixth form
• a sixth form college
• a college of further education

What help is available?

The type of help you can get depends on where in England you live - each local authority decides what’s suitable for the local area.

Local authorities may look at your family income, how far you live from the nearest college where your course is available and a range of other factors. However, they have to ensure that students aren't prevented from attending college or sixth form because there’s no transport service available, or because they can’t afford the fares.

Local authorities must also ensure that college students are treated no less favourably than those studying at school sixth forms.

Find help in your local area

Each year, your local authority will publish a statement to show the support you could receive. The statement will have information on the services, discounts and concessions available in your area.

To find out what’s available from your local authority, follow the link below and enter details of where you live.

• Find out about transport for 16-19 year olds in your area Opens new window

If you live in London

If you’re under 19 and in full-time education or work-based learning, you could qualify for free transport on London buses and trams.

• Free transport for under 19s in London: find out more Opens new window

Useful contacts

• 14-19 contacts