Can you tap to pay on BART?

A simple tap of a credit card will soon carry you everywhere within the BART or Muni system that a Clipper card currently does. With just the tap of a contactless debit or credit card, riders will be able to breeze through barriers on the two transit systems by the summer of next year.



Yes, as of late 2025 and throughout 2026, you can tap to pay on BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) using a contactless credit/debit card or a mobile wallet like Apple Pay and Google Pay. This system, part of the "Next Generation Clipper" rollout, allows riders to bypass the need for a physical Clipper card. You simply tap your card or device at the circular blue reader on any fare gate when entering and exiting. The system automatically calculates the correct fare based on the distance traveled. However, there is a catch: if you are eligible for discounted fares (Senior, Youth, or RTC), you must still use a dedicated Clipper card or a digital Clipper card in your mobile wallet to receive those reduced rates. Standard "Tap to Pay" with a bank card will always charge the full adult fare. This upgrade has significantly reduced congestion at station vending machines, especially for tourists and infrequent riders in the San Francisco Bay Area.

People Also Ask

All BART Stations have Clipper vending machines which accept cash, credit cards and debit cards as payment. You can add cash value to Clipper cards at all BART ticket machines. Clipper cards can be ordered online at www.clippercard.com. Many retail outlets throughout the region also sell Clipper cards.

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BART makes it extremely easy to get a ticket from the San Francisco airport to downtown San Francisco. All you need to do is use one of the ticket vending machines to buy a one-way ticket for each passenger, which costs about $10.15 per person for a one-way ticket and $20.30 for a round trip.

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Taking the train has long been less expensive than driving when considering bridge tolls and parking — and now it's an even more affordable option when you consider most Bay Area gas stations are charging more than $6 a gallon.

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The BART Board of Directors passed the proof of payment requirement on October 26, 2017, to deter fare evasion. The new ordinance took effect January 1, 2018. Any person inside the paid area of BART must be prepared to show a magnetic stripe ticket or Clipper card with valid fare.

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Using Clipper® on your mobile device is fast and easy – and you avoid the $3 fee for new plastic Clipper cards.

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Beginning November 30, 2023, paper tickets will no longer be accepted at BART. This change is occurring as BART begins to roll out new state of the art fare gates which will not accept paper tickets and as Clipper prepares for the launch of the next generation of Clipper.

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Safety is BART's top priority. To help keep passengers and our employees safe, BART has more than 4,000 working cameras throughout our system and we are working very hard to increase both sworn officers and ambassador presence.

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In celebration of BART's upcoming 50th anniversary on September 11, BART is offering a 50% discount for the entire month of September 2022. The reduced fare will be automatically deducted when using Clipper at the fare gates.

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Pros of taking BART or public transportation when visiting San Francisco: Cost-effective: Using public transportation is generally cheaper than driving and paying for parking in the city.

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Q: Why doesn't BART run 24/7 or at least later on Friday and Saturday nights? A: The short window of time when BART isn't in operation is used for essential nightly track maintenance to help keep BART safe and reliable.

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Hours of operation are generally from 4 am to midnight on weekdays, 6 am to midnight on Saturdays and 8 am to midnight on Sundays and major holidays. Individual station closing times are coordinated with the schedule for the last train beginning at around midnight.

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A: Yes. BART Officers may take enforcement action off of BART jurisdiction, anywhere within the state of California. If there is immediate danger to persons or property, BART Officers may arrest, cite and release, or warn the perpetrators.

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The fare for a taxi ride from SFO airport to downtown San Francisco typically falls within the range of $55 to $65. This estimate does not include gratuities. The travel duration is approximately 30 to 45 minutes.

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Luggage may be stowed under your seat or held in your lap.

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