Accessible transport
Getting around is one of the biggest barriers disabled people in the UK report. This hub brings together guidance on taxis, community transport, Shopmobility, rail, buses and coaches, air travel, ferries, the Blue Badge scheme and accessible parking, plus a structured directory of accessible transport providers.
Transport providers also appear in our local services directory, and every guide here explains which rules apply in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Start here
Guides by type of transport
Rail Passenger Assist
Free assistance at stations and on trains across Great Britain and Northern Ireland, including help boarding, ramps, and someone to meet you.
Applies to: UK-wide. Last reviewed 1 August 2026.
Accessible buses and coaches
Your rights on local buses and long-distance coaches, wheelchair spaces, priority seating, audio-visual announcements and free travel passes.
Applies to: UK-wide. Last reviewed 1 August 2026.
Airport and airline assistance
Free special assistance at UK airports, how to book it, and how wheelchairs and mobility equipment are handled.
Applies to: UK-wide. Last reviewed 1 August 2026.
Ferries and water transport
Assistance on ferries to the islands, Northern Ireland and Europe, including notice periods and what to check about the vessel and terminal.
Applies to: UK-wide. Last reviewed 1 August 2026.
Blue Badge
Who can get a Blue Badge, how eligibility differs across the four nations, how to apply and how to use it.
Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland. Last reviewed 1 August 2026.
Accessible parking
Where you can park with a Blue Badge, disabled bays in car parks, dropped kerbs, and what to do about misuse or a penalty notice.
Applies to: UK-wide. Last reviewed 1 August 2026.
Community transport schemes
Dial-a-ride, volunteer car schemes, group minibus hire and door-through-door transport for people who cannot use ordinary public transport.
Applies to: UK-wide. Last reviewed 1 August 2026.
Shopmobility
Free or low-cost loan of wheelchairs, powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters in town centres, shopping centres and some transport hubs.
Applies to: UK-wide. Last reviewed 1 August 2026.
Wheelchair accessible taxis and private hire
How taxi licensing works, your rights as a wheelchair user or assistance dog owner, and what to confirm before you book.
Applies to: UK-wide. Last reviewed 1 August 2026.
Mobility support organisations
National organisations that help with vehicles, driving, mobility equipment and accessible journey planning.
Applies to: UK-wide. Last reviewed 1 August 2026.
The Motability Scheme
How to lease a car, wheelchair accessible vehicle, scooter or powered wheelchair using the mobility part of a disability benefit.
Applies to: UK-wide. Last reviewed 1 August 2026.
Travelling with an assistance dog
Your legal rights to travel with a registered assistance dog on public transport, in taxis and at airports, and what to do if you are refused.
Applies to: UK-wide. Last reviewed 1 August 2026.
Mobility scooters: rules and taking them on transport
The difference between Class 2 and Class 3 scooters, where you can use them, registration rules, and which transport services will carry them.
Applies to: UK-wide. Last reviewed 1 August 2026.
Powered wheelchairs: getting one and taking it on transport
How powered wheelchairs are provided through the NHS or bought privately, and what to check before taking one on a bus, train, coach or flight.
Applies to: UK-wide. Last reviewed 1 August 2026.
How to choose an accessible transport provider
Start with what your journey actually needs
Write down the door-to-door journey, not just the middle of it. Getting from your front door to the vehicle, and from the vehicle to the entrance you need, is where most journeys fail.
Measure your equipment once, and keep the numbers with you
Note the width, length, height and weight of your wheelchair or scooter, with you in it. Operators can only tell you whether their vehicle fits if you can give them these figures.
Check who licenses or funds the service
Taxis and private hire are licensed by the council, community transport is usually run by a charity, and Shopmobility is often run by a town centre partnership. That tells you who to ask for standards and who to complain to.
Get the important answers in writing
Ask for confirmation of the booking by text or email, including the vehicle type and the assistance agreed. It is much easier to put things right afterwards when you have the details recorded.
Have a fallback
Know one alternative for each journey: a second operator, a community transport scheme or a train with Passenger Assist booked. Accessible provision is thin in many areas, especially at night.
Questions to ask before you book
- Is the vehicle a designated wheelchair accessible vehicle, and does it use a ramp or a powered lift?
- Can I stay in my own wheelchair, and how will it be secured?
- What are the internal height, the door width and the maximum ramp or lift weight?
- Is the vehicle suitable for a powered wheelchair or a mobility scooter?
- How much notice do you need, and is an accessible vehicle available at the time I need it?
- Will my companion, personal assistant or assistance dog travel with me, and is there any extra charge?
- How can I book and pay if phoning is difficult for me?
- What happens if the accessible vehicle breaks down or the driver does not arrive?
About the provider data
We do not publish claims about an operator unless the operator or a licensing authority has stated them. The directory currently holds 17 records, of which 17 are clearly labelled demonstration records. They exist so the record structure can be reviewed and so the directory can accept verified local authority or operator information as it becomes available.
Where an operator has not stated something, we show "Not stated — ask when you book" rather than guessing. If you run or use a service and can point us at published details, please tell us.
Modes covered: Wheelchair accessible taxis and private hire; Community transport schemes; Shopmobility; Rail; Buses and coaches; Air travel and airport assistance; Ferries; Blue Badge; Accessible parking; Mobility support organisations.