Can you use contactless on 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.



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If you can't pay an unpaid fare on your card through TfL, they'll try to take the payment the next time you touch in to make a journey or touch your card on a revenue inspector's device.

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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.

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Provided you have some balance on your card (and have your card with you), you can board a bus and receive an emergency fare advice slip, reminding you to top-up. The cost of the fare will be deducted from your Oyster card, taking it into a negative balance, which will be cleared the next time you top-up.

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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.

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You can use a contactless card or mobile device, such as a phone or watch, to pay as you go on all our services. Overseas transaction fees or charges may apply for non-UK cards.

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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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Some banks and credit unions might let you sign up for “overdraft protection.” That means you can use your debit card even when you do not have enough money to pay for the things you are buying. But you might have to pay a fee to the bank.

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You may be able to complete your journey, but your card will then be temporarily stopped and you won't be able to use it to make any further journeys until the outstanding amount is paid to TfL. However, you should still be able to use your card with other retailers.

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Pay as you go You don't have to work out the cost of your journey in advance. 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.

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Anyone with a contactless debit or credit card can use it to pay for travel in London. It's ideal if you don't have or want an Oyster card. Or if you run out of pay as you go credit on your Oyster card.

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London buses are all cashless, so you need an Oyster card, Travelcard or contactless payment card to ride. Bus fare is £1.75, and a day of bus-only travel will cost a maximum of £5.25. You can transfer to other buses or trams for free an unlimited number of times within one hour of touching in for your first journey.

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