Can I pay bus fare with debit card UK?

If your bank card shows the contactless payment symbol, you can use it to pay as you go straight away. You'll pay an adult rate fare. Many contactless cards issued outside the UK can be used to pay as you go for travel (overseas transaction fees may apply):



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Tap your contactless debit/credit card on the yellow card reader when you get on the bus. You don't need to tap your card when you get off.

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Is it cheaper to use Oyster or contactless? As both cards use the same Pay As You Go system and are compatible with the TfL Oyster & Contactless app, the costs are comparable. As a tourist in London, it can be worth getting an Oyster Card as part of the London Pass.

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Why have I been charged 10p/£1? If you use a Mastercard, your bank statement may show a “pending” 10p or £1 charge for your first tap (10p for UK Mastercards, £1 for International Mastercards). This is just a temporary charge to check the card is valid – we do not collect the payment.

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Most UK buses do accept cash, London is one of the few cities to have gone cashless on all public transport. In London, you can either pay by using an approved contactless card or an Oyster Card.

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Just tap the blue card reader with your device (iPhone or Apple Watch) when boarding the bus. There is no need to wake or unlock the device, open an app or use Face ID or Touch ID, easy and quick!

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All you need to do is tap your debit or credit card on the yellow card reader at the ticket barrier or the front of the bus next to the driver, and your fee will automatically be calculated based on the journey you have made.

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London buses are card only, so you cannot buy a ticket with cash. Use a Visitor Oyster card*, an Oyster card, a Travelcard or a contactless payment card to pay your fare. Unlike the Tube zone fare system, a single London bus journey costs £1.75 no matter how far you go.

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If the time between touching in at the start and touching out at the end of your journey is more than the maximum journey time limit, you'll be charged two maximum pay as you go fares. A single maximum fare is: up to £9.40 in Zones 1-9. up to £26.00 beyond Zone 9, including on the Heathrow Express.

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You will be charged the single fare to the end of the route, so always remember to tap off in order to pay the correct fare. If you do forget to tap off please contact customer services. To find out more about Tap On Tap Off Contactless visit our FAQ section on the Contactless Portal.

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If you don't have a default set on your card and you forget to tap off at the end of your trip, you'll be charged the fare to the last stop on the train line or bus route and with your fare type and any applicable loyalty discounts applied.

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Your bank has declined a previous transaction and your card/device is blocked. Your bank hasn't approved the transaction. The card has not had a chip and PIN transaction for a period of time. You've got a new or replacement contactless card and have not yet used it for a chip and PIN transaction.

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