Fare FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
AC Transit offers riders many way to pay their fare, so catching the bus is easier than ever. We know that it may be difficult to choose which option is best for you. Review the FAQs below for help with specific topics by clicking the topic below.
If you don’t find the help you are looking for, Contact Us.
Clipper
Q: How do I get a Clipper card?
A: Visit the AC Transit Customer Service Center to get a Clipper card and other AC Transit passes. Adult Clipper cards and most AC Transit passes are also available at Walgreens, Whole Foods, and other participating retailers. Cards can also be ordered online or by phone. Riders can now add Clipper cards to their mobile devices using the Clipper app or Apple Pay and Google Pay.
For information on how to obtain a discounted Youth, Senior, or Disabled (RTC) Clipper card, click here or visit the AC Transit Customer Service Center. Once you have your card, cash value can be added at the AC Transit Customer Service Center, retail locations, all BART stations, and online.
Q: How do I use Clipper on my phone to pay fare?
A: Clipper users can now manage their account with the Clipper app and add Clipper to their mobile wallet to pay fares. Click here to learn about using Clipper on your phone.
Q: Why are Clipper fares lower than cash fares?
A: Clipper fare collection is more efficient and greatly reduces bus boarding times. These lower fares help incentivize riders to get a Clipper card for the best value.
AC Transit Mobile Fare Payment
Q: How do I pay my fare using the AC Transit Official app?
A: The app is free to download on the AppStore or Google Play by searching for "AC Transit Official". Open the app, select Pay Fares, then follow the prompts to create a Token Transit account with a credit or debit card. Select your fare type, activate the ticket/pass on your mobile device and show the pulsating screen to the operator as you board. Learn more about AC Transit’s app.
Q: What is AC Transit’s Mobile Payment Platform?
A: AC Transit’s mobile payment platform enables riders to purchase fares using their favorite trip planning apps on their mobile devices. These apps include AC Transit Official app, Token Transit, Transit, Moovit, and Google Maps.
Q: What fare types are available on AC Transit’s mobile payment platform?
A: Riders can purchase local and Transbay single ride fares, and prepaid Day Passes and 7-Day Passes. Riders can also upgrade to a Pay-as-you-go Day Pass, 7-day Pass, 31-day Pass, 31-day Transbay pass or Monthly Pass. Discount fares for youth, seniors, and riders with disabilities are also available. Riders can also purchase multiple tickets at once, or store tickets and passes for future use.
Pay-As-You-Go Fares
Q: What are Pay-as-you-go fares?
A: Pay-as-you-go is commonly known as fare capping. Through the mobile payment platform, Pay-as-you-go fares apply to the Day Pass, 7-Day Pass, 31-day Pass, 31-day Transbay pass and Monthly Pass. Riders who use AC Transit frequently can take advantage of these fares to get passes without paying the full cost of the pass upfront.
Riders using mobile payments who purchase and activate enough bus fares by the day, week or month get upgraded to a higher value pass automatically when they have spent the equivalent of the pass. We keep track of your fare purchases and upgrade you to the equivalent value pass immediately, and refund the difference if necessary. Riders can combine fare types on consecutively activated fares and passes to accumulate to a higher value pass, but can’t accumulate using concurrent activated passes.
See how Pay-as-you-go fares work in the chart below:
| Pre-pay for your: | Try Pay-as-you-go | Automatic Upgrade |
| Day Pass - $5 | 3 single ride tickets = | Day Pass + $1.75 refund |
| 7-day Pass - $22.50 | 5 Day Passes = | 7-day Pass + $2.50 refund |
| 31-day Pass - $81.00 | (4) 7-day Passes = | 31-day Pass + $5.40 refund |
Day Pass
Q: What is a Day Pass and when does it expire?
A: A Day Pass is available as a prepaid or pay-as-you-go fare for unlimited local rides from the time issued until 3:00 am the next day. Riders paying with Clipper or mobile device don’t need to pre-pay for a Day Pass. Clipper or mobile device users who purchase enough single ride fares are upgraded to a Day Pass automatically.
Q: Should buy a Day Pass or not?
A: If you are paying cash and only taking two single ride trips during the day, you don’t need a Day Pass. Just pay the Single Ride fare on each trip. If you plan to take three or more trips, you will save money if you buy a Day Pass. Riders paying with Clipper or mobile device don’t need to pre-pay for a Day Pass. Clipper or mobile payment users who purchase enough single ride fares are upgraded to a Day Pass automatically.
Q: Where can I buy a Day Pass?
A: You can buy a paper Day Pass when boarding if you are paying with cash at the farebox. Riders can also buy a Day Pass on Clipper or using AC Transit’s mobile payment platform. On Clipper or mobile a Day Pass will automatically activate on the third ride, when the cost of the Pass has been reached.
Q: I work the night shift (11:00 pm to 7:00 am). How can I ensure my Day Pass covers my daily commute?
A: Buy your Day Pass when boarding the bus at 7:00 am, and use the same Pass to get to work at 11:00 pm the next day.
Q: What if the cash I have for the Day Pass does not total $5.50?
A: The bus operator deducts a Single Ride fare and issues a Refund Voucher for the remainder. You will need to send the voucher, along with a Claim Form, to the AC Transit Treasury Department, 1600 Franklin St., Oakland CA 94612 to receive your refund within two weeks. Learn more about refunds.
7-Day Pass
Q: What is a 7-Day Pass?
A: Only available via mobile fare payment as a prepaid or Pay-as-you-go fare, a 7-day Pass is valid for unlimited local rides for 7 consecutive days. Riders who purchase enough single ride fares or Day Passes in a 7-day period get upgraded to a 7-day Pass automatically. This pass functions similarly to a Day Pass, but is valid for 7-days.
Transbay
Q: If my trip requires a local bus and a Transbay bus, what is the total cost?
A: Transbay Single Ride fare is $6.00 for Adults and $3.00 for Youth/Senior/Disabled riders. If you purchase a Single Ride fare when boarding a local bus, you will need to pay the Local to Transbay upgrade when you transfer to the Transbay line. A local single ride plus Local to Transbay upgrade will not exceed the Transbay single ride fare. If paying with your mobile device, purchase a Transbay single ride fare and use that to transfer from local to Transbay lines free for 2 hours.
Q: Can I use a Pass other than a 31-day Transbay pass for Transbay trips?
A: Yes, you can use all paper and Clipper Passes, including Day Pass, 7-day Pass, and 31-day local pass. Just pay the Local to Transbay upgrade fare upon boarding. If using Clipper the upgrade fare will be deducted automatically.
Q: Can I use AC Transit tickets and passes to ride the Dumbarton Express?
A: Yes, you can use all paper and Clipper Passes, including Day Pass, 7-day Pass, and 31-day local pass. Just pay the Local to Transbay upgrade fare upon boarding. If using Clipper the upgrade fare will be deducted automatically.
Q: Can I use Clipper for one ride, and then use cash to pay the upgrade fare for Transbay?
A: No, cash and Clipper payments cannot be combined.
Q: Does the Transbay Clipper fare apply toward the Day Pass?
A: Only local fares apply toward the Day Pass. Riders using the Day Pass need to purchase the Local to Transbay upgrade fare.
Q: Can I use a Transbay bus for a local trip?
A: Local riders are allowed on Transbay lines F, NL, O and 800, but not on others. You must inform your driver before paying your fare – the driver will change the farebox or Clipper reader to deduct the proper local fare amount.
AC Transit Customer Service representatives are ready to answer fare questions and provide additional assistance by phone at (510) 891-4777, Monday through Friday, 6:00 am to 7:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.