Most scheduled bus operators outside London do not simply wave a mobility scooter on board. They follow an industry code that requires a permit, a short assessment and a ramp-training session first. First Bus and Stagecoach both say they follow that code, published by the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK (CPT), the bus and coach industry body. This guide summarises what the code and the two operators’ own pages say, as read in September 2026. The code describes itself as the industry standard for scheduled services outside London; London’s buses are covered separately in the site’s guide to TfL’s conditions of carriage. Northern Ireland’s Translink scheme is also separate. This is general information, and the operator’s local disability helpline has the final word on any particular scooter.
Carriage is at the operator’s discretion
Both First Bus and the copy of the CPT code that Stagecoach publishes state that there is no legal requirement to carry mobility scooters and that carriage is at each operator’s individual discretion. The code says it was developed jointly by the CPT and the Department for Transport to reduce on-the-bus disagreements. It applies to low-floor buses adapted to carry wheelchairs, and Stagecoach says it can carry wheelchairs, disabled buggies and approved mobility scooters on suitable low-floor buses only. It adds that it tries to run low-floor buses on all advertised journeys but reserves the right to substitute a vehicle that is not low-floor.
Which scooters the code accepts
Under the code, Class 2 scooters with three or four wheels are accepted provided they are no more than 600mm wide and 1000mm long, with a turning radius not exceeding 1200mm, and subject to the code’s other criteria. The weight of the scooter plus its occupant must be within the safe working limit of the ramp fitted to the bus. The code says vehicle ramps generally have a safe working limit of 300kg, marked on the bulkhead or the ramp itself, and gives an example of a Class 2 scooter weighing about 65kg, leaving roughly 235kg for the rider. The driver is expected to use discretion where the combined weight looks excessive.
Class 3 scooters are treated differently. The code describes them as larger, capable of 6 to 8mph and not designed to be carried by bus, and says they should be refused. The difference between the classes, and the legal requirements for a Class 3 machine, are set out in the site’s guide to the Class 2 and Class 3 rules.
The permit and the training session
The code says every prospective passenger must get the operator’s prior approval and a standard permit for travel before a scooter is carried on any bus. The scooter and the rider are both assessed: approval covers the design of the scooter and the user’s ability to control and manoeuvre it safely. Users receive on-bus training from the operator before first travelling, covering how to use the ramp and move within the vehicle. The ramp must be approached head on when boarding and leaving the bus.
The permit is meant to be a credit-card-sized photographic card issued for a fixed period of not more than five years, because a user’s health and abilities may change. It also lists the conditions of use. The code says a permit issued by one operator should be accepted by all operators that have signed up to the code. Stagecoach’s published copy says the same, and First Bus’s code page confirms that the permit is required before any bus carries the scooter. Operators can withdraw a permit where misuse of the scooter causes damage or injury.
Riding on the bus
Once aboard, the code says the scooter goes in the designated wheelchair space, reversed up to the backrest, with the motor switched off and the scooter parked in gear. The rider must stay on the scooter in that space and use the handrails for stability. If a wheelchair user already occupies the space, the code says the scooter user cannot travel on that bus. If the operator has put a step-entrance vehicle in service, the scooter cannot be carried at all.
The scooter must be in good working order, with no exposed battery or electrical parts and no leaking fluids, must not be modified in a way that creates an obstruction, and must not be overloaded with items such as shopping bags that could make it unstable. For general points on buses and scooters see the site’s guide to what is allowed on the bus.
Practical steps before the first journey
- Contact the operator first: Stagecoach’s FAQ says detailed guidance on travelling with an approved mobility scooter is available by phoning the company.
- Bring the scooter to the assessment: the code assesses both machine and rider, so the exact scooter to be used is the one that should be presented.
- Check the dimensions and weight: compare the scooter’s width, length, turning radius and combined weight with the code’s figures.
Frequently asked questions
Does a bus have to take my mobility scooter? No. First Bus and the CPT code both say there is no legal requirement to carry scooters and that it is at each operator’s discretion.
Can I use one operator’s permit on another operator’s buses? The code says a permit from one operator should be accepted by other signatories to the code, and First Bus’s own page says its code follows the CPT code. Confirm with the second operator before travelling.
The bottom line
Under the CPT code that First Bus and Stagecoach follow, a Class 2 scooter within 600mm by 1000mm, a 1200mm turning radius and the ramp’s weight limit can be carried on a low-floor bus once the rider has an operator permit and has completed ramp training. Class 3 scooters are not carried, the wheelchair space takes priority, and the operator retains discretion. Arranging the assessment before the first journey avoids being turned away at the stop.
Sources
- First Bus, "Mobility Scooters Code" (firstbus.co.uk)
- Stagecoach, "Requirements for Users of Mobility Scooters" (CPT Code for the use and acceptance of Mobility Scooters on low floor buses) (stagecoachbus.com)
- Stagecoach, "Can I take my mobility scooter or wheelchair on the bus?" (stagecoachbus.com)