Quick Links
- Mobile Ticketing/Token Transit
- Tap2Ride
- Tap2Ride Discount Fares
- Fare Capping
- Tap2 Ride FAQs
- Troubleshooting Issues
There are more options for paying your fare on RTA other than cash or an RTA bus pass. The Token Transit mobile ticket app, and the Tap2Ride system.
Token Transit Mobile Ticketing is your Bus Pass on your Smartphone.
To use Token Transit download the app to your smart phone from Google Play or the Apple App Store. When setting up the app, you will select RTA or South County Transit as your transit agency. You will need to enter in a payment card. Once set up you can purchase and then use bus passes on your phone.
Send a pass to another person
You can also go to the Token Transit website and select Send a Pass. Both you and your pass recipient need to have the app on your phones. Select the agency and pass you want and send a pass to any email.
Token Transit Discount Fares
Pass holders can qualify to use the Discounted fares if you have completed the Discount Eligibility Form with RTA administration. Se the Discounts webpage for details.
Tap2Ride Contactless Fare Payment Method
To use the Tap2Ride system simply match your payment card’s contactless symbol to the payment system. It will beep to let you know the charge has gone through. The device will be at the front of the bus for riders who want to simply Tap2Ride.
Tap2Ride will accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover cards and Google Wallet and Apple Pay.
Cards that have been tap-enabled have the contactless payment icon
Check with your card issuer if you are unsure if your card is contactless-enabled.
If traveling in a group, each rider must pay their fare separately. Do not use the same contactless payment for multiple riders.
Tap2Ride Discounts
Discount fares are available through the Tap2Ride system for riders who have verified their eligibility. The discounts RTA offer through Tap2Ride are:
Fare Free for 80 years old and older, Half price fares for:
- 65 years old and older
- Medicare Card Holders
- ADA Disabled and K-12 (on RTA trips) can pay the discount fare with cash as these discounts are not available on Tap2Ride yet
Please see the DISCOUNTS fare page for eligibility requirements
How to qualify for fare discounts with your contactless card:
Register your contactless payment card with at https://benefits.calitp.org/
Fare Capping
What is fare capping?
Fare capping guarantees that you won’t be charged more than the daily cap fare for any RTA bus pass, no matter how many times you ride in a day—as long as you pay with the same contactless debit/credit card or mobile wallet throughout the day.
To take advantage of fare capping, you must always use the same payment method each time you tap. For example: Don’t use your iPhone to tap on for one trip, and then tap for your next trip with your Apple Watch. Even though the same bank card may be linked via both devices, you will lose the benefit of fare capping.
If you would like more information on fare capping, please contact RTA Customer Service at 805-541-2228, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Offices are closed on weekends and observed holidays.
How does fare capping work?
Here is an example: Let’s say a single ride costs $2, so a rider who commutes to and from work 40 times in a typical month would pay $80 for the month. But with fare capping that’s not what happens. When a rider uses the same payment card, the system will stop charging their card at the cost of an RTA 31-day pass which is $47 (if they are only riding RTA buses). Or if riding continues in that same 31-days and they were riding Regional buses, it will stop charging the rider at the cost of a Regional 31-day pass which is $68. If the rider rides multiple times in a single day, it will stop charging the rider at the cost of a Regional 1-day pass which is $5.50.
How does the system keep track of my rides?
The Contactless payment system can keep track of your rides only when you use the SAME payment card/device.
Why is this a good thing?
Fare capping can make public transit more accessible and fair since riders don’t need to pay the full purchase of a pass upfront.
FAQs
Can I still ride RTA if I do not have a contactless-enabled card or a payment-enabled device?
Yes. You can still pay for your fare using cash, monthly/weekly/daily passes, or with passes purchased on the Token Transit app.
Can I still use cash?
Yes. You can still use cash when riding the bus. Just pay your fare using the farebox when you board the bus.
Tapping to Pay
How do I use my contactless-enabled bank card or payment-enabled device on RTA?
Always tap in at the start of your journey on a payment reader to pay the right fare.
Look for the contactless symbol on the RTA readers as you board the bus:
Simply tap your contactless-enabled bank card or payment-enabled device below the screen on the contactless symbol and wait for the green “GO!” screen.
What will I be charged?
When paying with a contactless bank card or mobile wallet at a contactless payment reader aboard an RTA bus, your fare will be the same as paying with any other method. $2 Regular Fare or $1 Discount Fare* when tapping to pay. *Discounted fares on Tap2Ried are available for older adults (ages 65+), Medicare cardholders on RTA trips. See our Discount page to learn how to enable these fares.
Fare capping details by bus system
Fares when paying with a contactless payment method
| RTA Routes 9, 10, 12, 14 & 15 |
Single Ride |
Daily Cap |
Weekly Cap |
RTA Monthly Cap | Regional Monthly Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Route Regular Fare | $2 | $5.50 | $16 | $47 | $68 |
| Fixed Route Discount Fare | $1 | $5.50 | $16 | $23.50 | $34 |
| RTA Routes A & B |
Single Ride |
Daily Cap |
Weekly Cap |
RTA Monthly Cap | Regional Monthly Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Route Regular Fare | $1.50 | $5.50 | $16 | $47 | $68 |
| Fixed Route Discount Fare | $0.75 | $5.50 | $16 | $23.50 | $34 |
| South County | Single Ride |
Daily Cap |
Local Monthly Cap | Regional Monthly Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Route Regular Fare | $1.50 | $3.00 | $37 | $68 |
| Fixed Route Discount Fare | $0.75 | $1.50 | $18.50 | $34 |
| Morro Bay | Single Ride |
Daily Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed Route Regular Fare | $1.50 | $4.00 |
| Fixed Route Discount Fare | $0.75 | $2.00 |
How do charges appear on my card statement?
Fare is $2 for each time you board the bus and is charged to your card’s account like a standard credit or debit card transaction with the description “RTA Tap2 Ride.” To view your recent RTA rides and see what fare you were charged, visit our Traveler Portal or check your bank card statement.
Is paying via a contactless-enabled bank card or payment-enabled device secure?
Yes. Tap2-Ride transactions are processed through the same secure networks used for all other Visa, Mastercard, and Discover transactions. Contactless cards are built on secure EMV® Chip technology, which has proven effective at reducing counterfeit fraud. Just like inserting your card, each EMV® Contactless transaction delivers a dynamic, one-time code to the payment reader that protects payment information and authorizes the transaction with a single tap.
Will my information be kept private?
Personal data is never stored, sold, or given away by RTA or any third-party agent. RTA does not have access to full credit card account numbers.
Does my card issuer see my travel history?
No. Just like your card issuer does not see what you order from a coffee shop, the issuer will only see the amount of the transaction.
Will I be charged a service fee for using my contactless payment method on RTA?
No, there are no additional fees to use contactless-enabled payment methods.
Can I pay for more than one person using one contactless payment method?
No. At this time, each rider must pay with their own contactless-enabled bank card or payment-enabled device.
Will it cost more to use contactless payments?
No. Fares paid via contactless payment will cost the same as standard Fixed Route fares and will be capped at daily, 7-day, and 31-day amounts, allowing you to pay as you go to receive bulk-ride discounts.
Do I need to tap on each bus I board?
Yes, you must tap on a contactless payment reader on each bus you board. The fare calculation software will keep track of your taps and only charge you $2 or $1 discounted fare, no matter how many times you tap.
Are discounted fares available with contactless payment?
Discounted contactless fares are now available for older adults (ages 65+), Disabled and Medicare cardholders via a simple, digitized verification program that enables riders to apply for and receive fare discounts. See our DISCOUNTS page to learn how to enable these fares.
All riders who are eligible for the discount can still pay the discount fare with cash, when boarding a bus; you’ll pay at the farebox instead of using the contactless payment reader.
Troubleshooting Issues
What can I do if my payment is not accepted by the payment reader?
If you tap your contactless card or payment-enabled device and the payment reader indicates that the payment was not accepted, you will need to use another payment method to pay for your ride. Your payment may not be accepted for a few reasons:
- It is possible that your payment method has been blocked if we have not received payment for a prior fare. Until payment is received for that fare, that payment method will remain blocked, even if you use other payment methods in the meantime
- Your payment method has been blocked by your bank
- Your card or smart device is damaged
- Your card is not contactless-enabled
- You may not have enough funds
To resolve an issue with your card, please contact your bank. In the meantime, you can use another contactless debit or credit card, including a card in your mobile wallet. If you are having trouble with your payment-enabled device, you may need to remove the card from your device and add it back in.
How can I get my blocked payment method accepted again?
Once you have resolved the issue with your payment method, please contact RTA Customer Service by calling 888-678-2871, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Once the issue is resolved, it can take up to 15 minutes before you can continue to use the same payment method at RTA payment readers.
How do I apply for a refund or dispute a charge?
If you suspect you have been charged more than once or have not been charged the correct fare, you can see all of your charges on the Traveler Portal and request a refund there as well.
What if my payment method is lost or stolen?
- If your card is lost or stolen, contact your bank first to ensure that your card is canceled and to prevent unauthorized transactions.
- If your card is subsequently found, and if your bank did not cancel it, you may continue using your card.
