Can I use TfL with no money?

Unpaid fares Sometimes your card may be accepted by our card readers, but the payment is declined by your card issuer. If this happens: You've made a journey that you've not paid for. You won't be able to use your card again to travel until the unpaid fare has been paid.



People Also Ask

Travel free on bus, tram, Tube, DLR, London Overground and Elizabeth line. You can travel free on TfL services with your Older Person's Freedom Pass from 09:00 weekdays and anytime at weekends and on bank holidays. If you have a Disabled Person's Freedom Pass, you can still travel at any time on our services.

MORE DETAILS

Will contactless payments work if you have no money in your account? Contactless transactions could still go through even if you have run out of money. Retailers do not have to check how much money is in your account before accepting your card payment, meaning you could be charged interest if you go into an overdraft.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

It is significantly cheaper to travel in London using an Oyster card than it is to purchase individual tickets for each trip. The only reason you would want to just buy individual tickets is if you are only using public transportation once or twice during your stay.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

If you still feel you've been incorrectly charged, you'll then need to contact TfL to resolve this for you. If you've been charged a maximum fare because you've touched in with one card and touched out with another, we're only able to refund the charge that applied to your Barclays debit card or Barclaycard.

MORE DETAILS

In addition, it does not affect your credit rating in any way. You have the right to challenge the registration of the debt by making an application to file (dependant on the type of contravention), either a Statutory Declaration or Witness statement, Out of Time.

MORE DETAILS

You can pay in advance, on the day of travel or by midnight of the third day after travel.

MORE DETAILS

You can pay as you go using contactless (card or device), an Oyster card or a Visitor Oyster card. It also offers great value as pay as you go is cheaper than buying single tickets and you get daily and weekly capping.

MORE DETAILS

1. Get an Oyster card. As you move around London you will spot locals tapping something against a yellow card reader at the underground turnstiles, on buses, trams, and even on the Thames Clipper Uber boat. This is an Oyster card, and it is an incredible 50% cheaper than buying single tickets or a paper travelcard.

MORE DETAILS

In most cases, paying by card is more convenient than cash, though we do recommend carrying a small amount of cash for parking, taxis, small purchases and tips. Ideally, take a Wise Mastercard and a Visa debit or credit card with you – plus a small amount of cash.

MORE DETAILS

If your card was issued in the UK on Visa, MasterCard, Maestro or American Express and displays the contactless payment symbol, you should be able to use it to travel on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and most National Rail services in London.

MORE DETAILS

“Pre-pandemic, the Tube required the least subsidy of almost any city. From a day-to-day operations point of view, it was covering its own costs. That is quite unusual for a European or North American metro. “But when the pandemic hit, the percentage increase in subsidy went through the roof.

MORE DETAILS

The Congestion Charge is a £15 daily charge if you drive within the Congestion Charge zone 7:00-18:00 Monday-Friday and 12:00-18:00 Sat-Sun and bank holidays. No charge between Christmas Day and New Year's Day bank holiday (inclusive). The easiest way to pay is by setting up Auto Pay.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

Supports cash: If you want to pay for your transport in London using cash, you can buy and top up an Oyster card with cash. This is normally a lot more cost effective than paying for a cash ticket, with the rare exception of a one-off single journey as you have to consider the cost of the Oyster card.

MORE DETAILS