Boost ticket verification

Ticket verification for Boost tickets on our app

From 1 June 2023, you will need to verify your account on our app before being able to activate and use Boost and Young Persons tickets. This will be done by either verifying your age or student status. This will apply to all Boost tickets holders, from ages 5 to 18 (or eligible students).

This is to help ensure that only those people who are eligible for Boost discounts can use these tickets.

The verification process will apply to all Boost tickets plus the Reading All-Bus Young Person’s tickets too.

How does it work?

We will use your submitted ID to check that you are eligible for Boost. If you don't already have an account, you'll need to create one on our app. If you are 18 or under, you only have to complete the verification process once – if you are a student, you will need to reverify each academic year.

Once verified, you'll be able to buy and use Boost tickets without the need to carry your ID.

There are two ways to get verified on the app – you can select to pre-verify by submitting your information before buying a ticket, or you can buy a ticket and then verify yourself before activating it. Please note that both ways of verification can take up to 48 hours, however normally you should be verified within just a few hours.

Verification will only be able to be started from 1 June.

How to verify yourself

If you already have an account, you can either buy or try to activate a ticket (after 1 June) or select the pre-verification link before buying a ticket. (If you don’t have an account on our app, you will need to create one to buy tickets)

1.    Start the verification process
2.    Upload a selfie, or an existing head and shoulders shot from your photo library
3.    An email will be sent to your email address explaining the accepted forms of ID and how to upload.
4.    Choose which ID you will be using from the dropdown list
5.    Upload a photo of your chosen ID which can be either a driving licence, passport, birth certificate, PASS accredited card (eg. Citizencard) or valid student/university identification card. Your chosen ID should match the one you chose from the dropdown list.
6.    Sit back and wait – verification can take 24-48 hours but is usually just a few hours.

If you need any help on how to complete the verification process, click here for our step-by-step instructions

We use your photo to verify your ID and show it on your ticket so the driver can verify it is you. You won't be able to change your photo after it's been verified. If you are a student, you will re-verify each academic year and will have to upload a new photo each time.

Parents/guardians and gifting tickets

If you are an adult who is buying a Boost ticket for a child so you can “gift” it to them, you will still be able to do this in the same way as current. However, the young person whose account you have gifted it to will need to verify their account before they are able to activate the ticket.

If you currently buy tickets for your child on your own app due to their age or not having a smartphone, you will be able to use your own account to verify your child to enable you to buy both yours and your child's tickets, however, the Boost or Young Person's tickets will have your child's picture on and must match with the person using it. If you have more than one child travelling with you, please contact our customer service team to discuss options. 

local colleges and universities with Boost entitlement for students

Students of the following local colleges and universities will be able to get verified and use Boost tickets for each academic year you are verified for. If you are 18 or under, you can verify by age instead of academic status:

University of Reading (all full time students get Boost regardless of age - you will need to upload university ID)
University of West London (all full time students get Boost regardless of age - you will need to upload university ID)
Reading College
UTC Reading
READ College
Newbury College
Bracknell and Wokingham College
East Berkshire College
Uxbridge College
Windsor College
Langley College
Farnborough College of Technology
Farnborough Sixth Form College

Frequently asked questions

Please refer to our frequently asked questions section here for answers to any questions not covered on this page

data protection

For data protection info, click here.