Free travel vouchers

Some customers are eligible for free travel vouchers each year. Eligible customers need to register to receive free travel vouchers.

We’re going paperless from late 2022! For more information, see Changes from late 2022.

Eligibility

You’re eligible* for free travel vouchers if you’re a Victorian resident and a:

• Pensioner Concession Card holder issued by Centrelink or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (all codes, including Disability Support Pension or Carer Payment recipients)
• Victorian Seniors Card holder
• Victorian Carer Card (‘We Care’) holder

Victorian Senior Business Discount card holders are not eligible.

If eligible, you’ll receive two off-peak travel vouchers each year if you live in metropolitan Melbourne and four if you live in regional Victoria.

*Customers are entitled to vouchers under one category only. Only the cardholder is entitled to receive and use free travel vouchers. You’ll need to present your valid proof of eligibility card upon redemption and also if asked by public transport staff whilst travelling.

Registering

If you’re eligible, you must register by 31 July to receive your allocation of free travel vouchers by the end of November of that year. If you register after 31 July, you will receive your vouchers in the following year’s mail-out.

You only need to register once and vouchers will be mailed to you each year, provided you remain eligible (your eligibility may be cross-checked with relevant government departments). PTV reserves the right to not issue vouchers if information is missing or incomplete, e.g. address not provided or reference number incorrect.

You can register:

• ONLINE
• In person at a PTV Hub – you’ll need to bring your proof of eligibility card with you.
• By calling us on 1800 800 007.

If your details change after you have registered, you’ll need to let us know by re-registering online with your new details or by calling 1800 800 007.

How to travel

Each travel voucher can be exchanged for:

• a Zone 1 + 2 daily ticket (for metro travel in zones 1+2); or
• an Off-Peak Economy class V/Line return ticket; or
• two Off-Peak Economy class V/Line single tickets (to return on a different day)

Vouchers can be exchanged for a Zone 1 + 2 daily ticket at metropolitan premium stations and the Southern Cross Station PTV Hub. You’ll need to bring your proof of eligibility card with you.

For V/Line-ticketed services where reservations are required, you must go to a staffed V/Line station, selected premium station, or V/Line agent in advance of travelling. Bring your proof of eligibility card with you.

Off-peak travel vouchers cannot be redeemed as part of an interstate journey (except for travel to Albury, Mount Gambier and Deniliquin).

You must redeem and use your vouchers on or before the expiry date.

For more information on voucher redemption, see the Victorian Fares and Ticketing Conditions.

Changes from late 2022

Travel vouchers are going paperless from late 2022

We’re making redeeming travel vouchers even easier. In 2022 we’ll move to digital vouchers and introduce more booking options for passengers eligible for free travel.

Soon you’ll be able to redeem your allocation over the phone by calling the PTV Call Centre, online or at a staffed station just by providing the customer reference number you registered with.

If you’ve already registered, you do not need to register again.

We’ll find your voucher entitlement and mark off the use of your vouchers as you redeem them.

The vouchers posted in 2021 will be the last printed vouchers recipients will receive.

Remember, you have until the end of the year to use up your allocation of vouchers. Any unused vouchers cannot be carried over to the next calendar year.

At the start of each calendar year, you’ll have a new allocation of vouchers to use.

More information about changes to Free Travel Vouchers and the new booking process will be provided throughout 2022, and registered recipients will receive further instructions by post in mid-2022.