Load your TAP card electronically with regional and local transit passes, Stored Value (cash amount) or transfers. Then tap your card on the TAP target each time you board a bus or train and the farebox, validator or turnstile will deduct the correct fare.

Paying for transit in Los Angeles using a TAP card has been modernized significantly for 2026. The easiest method is to use Apple Pay or Google Pay on your smartphone. You don't even need a physical card; you can add a "Virtual TAP Card" directly to your phone's digital wallet via the TAP LA app. Once added, you simply "tap" the back of your phone near the circular blue sensor on the bus or at the Metro station turnstile. If you prefer a physical card, you can purchase one at any Metro vending machine for $2. To use it, you must "load" it with stored value or a pass. A key feature of the TAP system is "Fare Capping": you never pay more than $5 a day or $18 a week, no matter how many times you ride, as long as you use the same TAP account. Just remember to tap every time you board, even when transferring, to ensure your fare is correctly calculated.