Skip to main content
N I Direct government services

Main navigation

  • Home
  • News
  • Contacts
  • Help
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • RSS

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. People with disabilities
  3. Motoring, travel and transport for people with disabilities

Your rights - motoring and transport

Disability discrimination law gives people with disabilities rights of access for motoring, transport and travel infrastructure, such as railway stations, airports and travel agents.

Public transport

Transport vehicles are covered by separate terms under disability discrimination law.

Accessibility regulations have also been introduced to improve the accessibility of buses and coaches and trains. A similar package for taxis is being developed.

This also means that you have a right to information about transport, for example timetables, in a format that is accessible to you where it is reasonable for the transport provider to give it in that format.

  • Accessible public transport
  • Your rights if you have a disability

Legal protection against transport discrimination

Regulations make it unlawful for transport providers (who run trains, buses, coaches, taxis, rental vehicles and breakdown recovery vehicles) to treat people with disabilities less favourably than those without a disability.

Transport providers need to make reasonable adjustments to their policies, procedures and practices to make sure people with disabilities do not find it impossible or unreasonably difficult to access their services. 

The extent to which the duties apply depends on the type of vehicle used.

  • The Disability Discrimination (Transport Vehicles) Regulations (NI) 2009
  • Explanatory Memorandum about the regulations

The Equality Commission of Northern Ireland has developed a code of practice and short guides for transport providers about rights and responsibilities under the regulations. These are available from the following link:.

  • Disability Discrimination Transport Regulations

Buses and coaches

Since December 2000, new buses and coaches that are used on local and scheduled services and can transport more than 22 passengers have had to meet Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations.

In Northern Ireland there are various Translink Smartpasses for people with disabilities.

  • Public Service Vehicles (Amendment) Regulations Northern Ireland

Trains

Since December 1998, all new rail vehicles have to meet Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations.

  • The Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998

Motoring

Learning to drive

The usual minimum age for driving cars is 17. For anyone who is getting Disability Living Allowance at the higher rate (mobility part), the minimum age for driving is 16.

Insurance

Insurers can only charge people with disabilities higher premiums if the extra charge is based on factual or statistical data. Or, if there are other relevant factors which suggest that a person with disabilities is a higher risk.

  • Learning to drive

Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee

The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) was set up as an independent body to advise Government on the transport needs of all people with disabilities across the UK.  

DPTAC also advises on the barriers faced by people with disabilities created by the design management and running of buildings, streets and open space and how these might be overcome.

  • Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee

Help and advice from the Equality Commission

The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland  is a good source of advice if you feel you may have been discriminated against by a service provider.

  • Contacting 08 and 03 numbers
Share this page Share on Facebook (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share on Twitter (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share by email (external link opens in a new window / tab)

Motoring, travel and transport for people with disabilities

  • Accessible parking bays
  • Adapting your vehicle if you have a disability
  • Air travel and disability
  • Blue Badge scheme
  • Bus and train travel with a disability
  • Community transport and shopmobility schemes
  • Disability Action Transport Scheme (DATS)
  • Driving and disability
  • Ferry travel and disability
  • Free bus travel and concessions
  • Learning to drive with a disability
  • Planning a trip if you have a disability
  • Shopmobility Northern Ireland
  • The Motability Scheme
  • Travel accommodation and disability
  • Travel Safe – a guide for people with learning disabilities
  • Travelling by taxi with a disability
  • Vehicle tax for people with disabilities
  • Your rights - motoring and transport

Translation help

How to translate this page

Help improve this page - send your feedback

What do you want to do?
Report a problem
Which problem did you find on this page? (Tick all that apply)

Messages

You will not receive a reply. We will consider your feedback to help improve the site.

Don't include any personal or financial information, for example National Insurance, credit card numbers, or phone numbers.

What is your question about?

What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk 

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Carer's Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912
Email 
dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Call 0800 587 2750 
Email 
customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

Disability Living Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912 
Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

  • Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
  • Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme,  email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

  • Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
    contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
     
  • Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
    contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

 

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about  60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly.  We don't have access to information about you.

Related sites

  • gov.uk
  • nibusinessinfo.co.uk

Links to supporting information

  • Accessibility statement
  • Crown copyright
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy
  • Cookies
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • RSS