Travel
Travel is a daily necessity for us all, whether we’re boarding a bus or train, paying as a taxi passenger or driving our own vehicles. Travelling and parking can also result in a range of unwelcome problems.
For problems with holidays please visit our CONSUMER section. If you would like to know more about travel insurance or car insurance visit our MANAGING YOUR MONEY section.
1. CAR
Legal obligations of drivers and riders
You must do several things before you drive a car or ride a motor bike. These include getting a driving licence, registering your vehicle and making sure it’s insured, has a tax disc and an MOT.
Find out more information here
Source: Gov.uk
Wheel clamping
To find out more about when your car can be clamped or towed away, click here
Source: Citizens Advice
Parking tickets
Find out what to do if you are issued with a parking ticket by the council, or on private land here
Source: Citizens Advice
Traffic Accidents
For more information about drivers liability and what you should do if you have been involved in an accident, click here
Source: Citizens Advice
Car Parking in Stockton-on-Tees
We can help you find a car park, and we provide season tickets, resident parking schemes and permits. We administer the blue badge parking scheme and enforces certain parking and bus lane restrictions across the Borough.
Find out more information here
Source: Stockton Borough Council
Disabled Parking in Stockton on Tees
The "blue badge" parking scheme provides a permit for people with mobility problems to park close to where they need to go.
Find out more information here.
Source: Stockton Borough Council
Driving and Parking for disabled people
This section explains the options and how you can lease a car using the Motability scheme. It also explains how the blue badge parking scheme works.
Find out more information here
Source: Citizens Advice
Advice for older drivers
Information including renewing your licence at 70, adapting your car and making the decision to stop driving can be found here
Source: AgeUK
Child Seats
For information on protecting your child in the car, click here
Source: Gov.uk
2. TAXIS
Taxi and private hire cars
Finding a taxi rank and complaining
For information about taxi ranks in Stockton Borough and information if you wish to complain, click here
Source: Stockton Borough Council
Rights of disabled passengers using taxis and minicabs
To information that explains what kind of facilities and assistance you can expect when travelling by taxi or minicab, click here
Source: Citizens Advice
3. PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY TRANSPORT
School Transport
Stockton Council is required to provide home to school transport, under certain conditions.
Find out more information here
Source: Stockton Borough Council
Concessionary Bus Passes
People living in the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees can apply for a range of concessionary travel passes. From concessionary bus passes for older people or disabled people to Pathfinder bus passes for 16 to 19 year olds.
Find out more information here
Source: Stockton Borough Council
Concessionary fares for disabled passengers
As a disabled passenger, you may be entitled to get concessionary or free travel on public transport. The link below helps you decide if you are entitled and explains how you can claim concessionary fares.
Find out more information here
Source: Citizens Advice
Complaints about Bus Services
If you’re unhappy about the quality of a bus service or something that happened on a bus journey you may want to make a complaint. How you complain will depend on where you made your bus journey.
Find out more information here
Source: Citizens Advice
Community transport
The Community Transport Service provides transport for Adults who have been assessed and qualify for assistance to travel to and from Day Care.
Find out more information here
Source: Stockton Borough Council
Rights of disabled passengers using buses and coaches
Read information about what kind of facilities and assistance you can expect, as a disabled person, when travelling by bus or coach here
Source: Citizens Advice
Passenger Focus
Looking for help and advice, or need to make a complaint? Passenger Focus can gives information and advice about bus complaints.
Find out more information here
Source: Passenger Focus
4. AIR
For information on problems like lost baggage please see our CONSUMER section.
Hand luggage restrictions
There are restrictions on what items you can take in your hand luggage and hold luggage when boarding a plane in the UK.
Find out more information here
Source: Gov.uk
Rights of disabled air travellers – before you travel
Find out more information about the help you can expect to receive before you travel here
Source: Citizens Advice
Rights of disabled passengers at the airport
Find out information about the help you can expect to receive when you arrive at the airport here
Source: Citizens Advice
Rights of disabled air travellers – on the plane
Find out more about the help you can expect when you are boarding and when you're on the plane here
Source: Citizens Advice
5. RAIL TRAVEL
Problems with Rail Travel
Claiming compensation for delayed journeys, complaining about train services, rights of disabled passengers and information on penalty fares.
Find out more information here
Source: Citizens Advice
Rights of disabled passengers using trains
Information that explains what kind of facilities and assistance you can expect when travelling by train can be found here
Source: Citizens Advice
Passenger Focus
Looking for help and advice, or need to make a complaint? Passenger Focus can gives information and advice about rail complaints.
Find out more information here
Source: Passenger Focus
Tips on how to get cheaper rail tickets
Some tips to make sure you get your tickets at the best price can be found here
Source: Passenger Focus
6. TRAVEL ABROAD
Travel abroad- what to think about
Information about some of things you need to think about before you travel (e.g. safety, vaccinations) can be found here
Source: Citizens Advice
Travelling abroad - will you need a visa?
For an explanation on how you can find the information you’ll need if you need a Visa and how to apply, click here
Source: Citizens Advice
Foreign travel advice
Find out whether there are any risks travelling to certain countries here
Source: Gov.uk
Cover your health care abroad
Whatever your reasons for going abroad, you may be entitled to medical care at reduced cost or sometimes free. Your entitlement will vary based on whether you're going to a European Economic Area country (EEA) or elsewhere in the world.
Find out more information here
Source: NHS
Applying for a passport
Information on eligibility, applying, renewing and updating can be found here
Source: Gov.uk
7. HELPFUL TOOLS
We have provided a variety of tools below to help you with your problem but if you still need help, you can click on FIND LOCAL AGENCIES WHO CAN HELP YOU for information about local agencies who may be able to assist you further.
Please click on the links below to be taken to your desired section.
FACT SHEETS
Parking fact sheets can be found here
Source: Citizens Advice
FAQS
Frequently asked questions about travel can be found here
Source: Citizens Advice
NATIONAL HELPLINES
Citizens Advice
Advice by phone is available from Citizens Advice Bureaux
Telephone: 0344 2451295
Driving licence enquiries
DVLA
Telephone: 0300 790 6801
Passenger Focus
Passenger Focus have advisors who are able to help you find the best way to go about making a complaint and can also put you in touch with the company best placed to handle it.
Telephone 0300 123 2350
WEBSITES USED IN THIS SECTION
Age UK
Age UK is the country's largest charity dedicated to helping everyone make the most of later life.
www.ageuk.org.uk
Citizens Advice
The Adviceguide website is the main public information service of Citizens Advice, providing people with round-the-clock access to CAB information on their rights - including benefits, housing and employment, and on debt, consumer and legal issues.
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england.htm
Gov.uk
The websites of all government departments and many other agencies and public bodies
www.gov.uk
NHS Choices
Passenger Focus
Passenger Focus is an independent public body set up by the Government to protect the interests of England’s bus passengers outside London, coach passengers on scheduled domestic services and tram passengers.
www.passengerfocus.org.uk