Access to affordable and good quality transport is reported to be important for the wellbeing of and mental health of older people, especially in rural areas, by ensuring mobility, human connections and independence. In the UK, 14 years of austerity, the long-term deregulation of public transport provision in England, and rising costs of living have affected older people’s access to transport. The links between access to transport, quality of life and mental health in the UK are under-researched and there is a dearth of population level studies. This paper presents a longitudinal statistical analysis of the relationship between access to transport and mental wellbeing and life satisfaction in England. The analysis uses longitudinal Understanding Society (UKHLS) data and distinguishes between rural village, town and urban dwellers.