How do I get a busID?

To qualify for a free busID card the young person must have a permanent address within a reasonable distance of one of our services and be aged between 5-18. The busID will be available up until 31st August following a young person’s 18th birthday, continuing to support those in further education and through the summer holidays.

There are two ways to get a busID:

Visit us in person
You can pop into Brighton Travel Hub at 27 North Street, Brighton, BN1 1EB or our Travel Desk at 43 Conway Street, Hove, BN3 3LT. A photo is needed for the card. If the young person comes along, we can take the photo on site. If not, a passport-sized photo must be brought to the travel hub/desk. You’ll also need proof of the young person's date of birth, either a Birth Certificate or a UK Passport. Cards are printed whilst you wait and all documents along with the photo will be returned to you on the spot.

Apply by post
Alternatively, an application form can be downloaded from here. Simply send the completed form along with a passport-sized photo and proof of age (copies are accepted) to: 43 Conway Street, Hove, BN3 3LT. Postal applications submitted may take up to five working days to be processed and returned, and any original documents will be sent back too.

Renewals

busID's expire on the young person's 10th and 15th birthdays, when the photo will need to be updated. This can be done by visiting us in person or by completing a new application form. The card may also be renewed at any time if the young person's appearance changes significantly. After the renewal on the young persons 15th birthday, the busID remains valid until 31 August following their 18th birthday.

Please note that all tickets purchased on your busID must be completely used before the card expires or they will cease to be valid. Additional charges will be applied if a busID is used beyond its expiry date. The expiry date of your busID can be found on the reverse side of your card as well as within your online account.

How do I get a replacement busID?

If your busID has become lost, stolen or damaged you will need to pop into one of our travel shops to get a replacement for a £5 administrative charge.

Accessing your online account

To access your account please use this link - www.smartbuses.co.uk . To top up online you will need to provide us with an email address so we can activate your account. This can be done by phone our customer services team on 01273 886200 or in person at Brighton Travel Shop or our Travel Desk at 43 Conway Street.

Using your busID with our mobile app

Some busID tickets can be purchased via our handy app. Our app is free and can be downloaded from either the Google Play Store or iPhone App Store. Once downloaded, simply buy your ticket on the app and scan your ticket on the ticket machine when boarding. Please ensure that your account name is the same as the name on your ID keycard and that you carry your busID with you to show the driver and/or inspector when requested.