Use Google Wallet for transportation

How to add a transit pass to Google Wallet

You can purchase, store and use digital copies of transport passes for participating public transport systems.

For some public transport systems, you can use Google Wallet to pay for transportation at the fare terminal with a supported credit or debit card saved to your phone. For others, you can purchase or save a transport pass to Google Wallet and use it at the point of entry.

Google Wallet doesn't work with all public transport systems. For more info, check your public transport system's website.

Select travel cards can also be added to WearOS smartwatches:

  • Clipper (San Francisco)
  • WMATA (Washington, DC)
  • PRESTO (Toronto, ON)
  • ORCA (Seattle)

Pay for transportation

Tip: Public transportation systems vary. For more detailed instructions, go to your public transport system's website.

Step 1: Check ways to pay for your public transport system

  1. To find info on the different ways that you can pay to travel, go to your public transport system's website.
  2. If your public transport system accepts contactless payments or mobile payment apps:
    1. If you haven't already, add a debit or credit card to Google Wallet.
    2. When you get to the public transport entrance, wake up your phone.
    3. Hold it to the card reader.
    4. Wait until you see a blue tick.
  3. If you need a transport pass to travel on your public transport system, follow the rest of the steps below.

Step 2: Buy a transport pass

Through the Google Wallet app

  1. Open the Google Wallet app .
  2. Tap Add to Wallet .
  3. Tap Transport pass.
  4. Choose your public transport system. Recommended or nearby transport options are at the top. Scroll to find all supported transport options.
    • If you can't find your public transport system, follow the instructions in 'Through your public transport system'.
  5. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Through your public transport system

  1. Use your public transport system's website or mobile app to buy a transport pass.
  2. Save the transport pass to Google Wallet.
    • If you can't find 'Save to Google Wallet', you can't use your transport pass with Google Wallet. For more info, contact your public transport system administrators.
    • If you don't already have Google Wallet, you must download the Google Wallet app.

Step 3: Activate your transport pass

  1. Open the Google Wallet app .
  2. Find your transport pass. You may need to scroll to find it.
  3. Tap the transport pass that you want to use.
  4. Tap Activate.

Step 4: Use your transport pass

  1. When you get to the public transport entrance, wake up your phone.
    • For some public transport systems, you may need to unlock your phone and choose your transport pass.
  2. Hold your phone to the card reader.
  3. Wait until you see a blue tick.
    • For some transport systems, you may have to show your pass to an attendant.

For added security, you can set up your phone so that it must be unlocked to complete an NFC transaction.

To turn on this setting:

  1. Go to Settings Settings gear.
  2. Tap Connected devices and then Connection preferences and then NFC.
  3. Turn on Require device unlock for NFC.

If you can't find this option, you may need to update your phone to the latest version of Android.

Add money to a transport pass

For supported transport systems, you can add a reusable pass to Google Wallet. You can add money to the transport pass and may be able to set up low-balance notifications and auto-topup.

Convert an existing physical card to a digital transport pass

Important: This feature is only available for Seattle ORCA for now. In the future, this feature will also be available to global partners that use Mifare closed-loop cards.

  1. On your phone, open the Google Wallet app .
  2. Tap Add to Wallet and thenTransport pass
  3. Choose your public transport system. Recommended or nearby transport options are at the top. Scroll to find all supported transport options.
    • If you can't find a public transport system, please visit their website to find information on the different ways that you can pay.
  4. Read the activation terms.
  5. Tap Continue.
  6. Tap Transfer card.
  7. On the 'Transfer card to Google Wallet?' pop-up window, tap Transfer.
  8. Enter your card details.
  9. Tap Confirm.

Tip: You may be asked to verify that it's you. To verify that it's you, enter the code sent to the email address that you registered on your Google Wallet.

Use your transport pass across Google products

Once your transport pass is added to Google Wallet, you can check your balance and status in Google Maps, Assistant and more. To view your transport pass across Google products:

  1. On your phone, open the Google Wallet app .
  2. In the top right, tap your Profile picture or Account and then Your data in Wallet and then Manage passes data.
  3. Enable Use passes across Google.

Tip: You can always turn off this setting by following the steps above and unticking Use passes across Google. Learn more in Manage passes data.

Use a public transport loyalty card (UK only)

Learn how to use a public transport loyalty card in Google Wallet.

Find, change or delete your transport pass

Find or show your transport pass on your phone or smartwatch

  1. Open the Google Wallet app .
  2. Find your transport pass. You may need to scroll to find it.
  3. Tap your transport pass to display it.

Find where you used your transport pass

  1. Open the Google Wallet app .
  2. Find your transport pass. You may need to scroll to find it.
  3. Find and tap the transport pass. You can find the station names, and dates and times of travel.

Switch to a different transport pass

Some public transport systems let you switch transport passes. If you don't want to use the currently activated transport pass, go to the transport pass that you want to use and tap Activate. Your other transport pass will be deactivated.

Tip: If you used the transport pass once, deactivating it doesn't extend the expiry period.

Transfer a transport pass to another device

A travel card can be on one phone at a time. To use a travel card on another phone, you must remove it from the current phone. Once it's removed, you can activate it on a different phone that is signed in to your Google Account.

Delete a transport pass

Important: If you delete a transport pass, you can't get it back. You can delete expired transport passes to remove them from your list.

  1. Open the Google Wallet app .
  2. Find your transport pass. You may need to scroll to find it.
  3. Tap the transport pass.
  4. Tap More More and then Delete card.

Fix a problem

Transport pass disappeared

If you remove your Google Wallet app or clear your app data, you lose stored public transport passes. This can happen even if you reinstall the app. Contact your public transport system's administrators with your transport pass number.

To find your transport pass number:

  1. Open the Google Wallet app .
  2. At the bottom of your list of passes, tap Expired passes. You may need to scroll to find it.
  3. Tap the transport pass.
  4. In the top right, tap More More.
  5. Select the first option, usually your public transport system info.
  6. Find the 'Ticket number' section.

Can't activate transport pass

If you have issues when you activate or deactivate your transport pass:

  1. Check that the transport pass hasn't already been activated or deactivated.
  2. Try to activate or deactivate again.
  3. Make sure that your device is online.
  4. Check if your device is rooted. Google Wallet doesn't work on rooted devices.
  5. If nothing works, contact your public transport system for help.

Can't tap again after I've tapped once

If you have a multi-use transport pass and have tapped it once already, you can tap again after 10 minutes. You can only tap single-use transport passes once.

CVC error when you try to purchase a transport pass

Contact your bank.

Can't buy a transport pass or add money with Google Maps

For certain public transport systems, a banner in Google Maps lets you know that you can use Google Wallet. To learn how to board that public transport system with Google Wallet, click the banner.

If you can't buy a transport pass or add money from the Google Maps app:

  1. Open the Google Wallet app.
  2. Purchase a transport pass or top up from there.

Dispute a public transport charge

Contact the public transport system's customer service. Google does not issue refunds.

When users add a travel card, they receive an email with their card number. With this card number, the transport operator can help users retrieve their funds on the card.

Can't find public transport payments in the Google Wallet app

When public transport systems charge your credit or debit card, it usually takes one day for the charge to appear in your app. For some cards, like Mastercard, charges may not appear for up to five days. For a current breakdown of your fares, check your transport system's app or website.

 

Still need help?

If you still have issues or any questions, you can ask the community or contact us.

 

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