Do I need to tap my card when I get off the bus in London?
Always touch in on a yellow card reader at the start of your journey and touch out at the end to pay the right fare. (On a bus or tram you only need to touch in.)
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Missed Tap Off CostIf 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.
You do not need to tap out on London buses or trams, as it is a fixed fare. If you try, the system will either just ignore it (The correct response) or charge you another fare.
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.
Pay your fare on cash-free London busesLondon 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.
You must use an alternative method of payment if you forget your Oyster photocard. We also have the right to charge you a penalty fare if you travelled without your Oyster photocard, and didn't pay for your journey.
Missed Tap Off CostIf 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.
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.
Typically, passengers get on through the front door and get off through the back door. This makes getting on and off easier and smoother for everyone. Be sure to head to the back door once the bus has stopped at your stop.
You tap in and the machine immediately deducts the flat fare. The driver will see you do this and challenge you if you don't. It's a flat fare for a trip of any length and this makes tapping out unnecessary. Indeed flat fares were introduced to make this work.
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.
Tap On, Tap Off for return journeysIn addition, if you decide to make several journeys in that day your fare will be capped at the daily rate. Using Tap On, Tap off means you only pay for the journeys you have made and gives you more flexibility should your travel needs change.
However, if you plan on using public transport regularly in The London area, then an Oyster Card should be the better option for you. This is because you'll be eligible to get a Railcard (which can only be connected to Oyster cards, not contactless cards) and get consistent discounts off travel in the city.
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.