Use Google Wallet for transportation

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

Go to your public transport system's website to find out if Google Wallet works with your public transport system and whether you can pay to travel via contactless payments or a transport pass.

Use contactless payment for public transport

Important:

• You must use the same device and payment method to pay contactless when you enter and exit the public transport systems. If you don't use the same device and payment card for contactless payments:
  • The public transport system records two incomplete journeys.
  • You may be charged the maximum fare for each incomplete trip.
• For public transport, your phone and smartwatch are treated as separate payment methods, even if they're linked to the same card in your Google Wallet.

If your public transport system accepts contactless payments or mobile payment apps, you can pay through your debit or credit card:

1. Make sure that you have a payment card added in Google Wallet. Learn how to add a debit or credit card to Google Wallet.
2. When you get to the public transport entrance, you can pay through one of these methods:
   • Phone: Hold your phone to the card reader.
     • You don't need to wake up your phone. However, you'll still be prompted to unlock the phone to verify the purchase.
     • Tip: For faster public transport payments, you can turn off verification before paying for public transport with your debit or credit card. Learn how to turn off the verification setting for public transport.
   • Smartwatch: Wake up your smartwatch and hold it to the card reader.
     • Make sure that your smartwatch is unlocked.
     • For convenience, you can pay contactless without opening your Wallet. Learn how to turn on this setting.
3. Wait until you see a blue tick.

Buy and activate a transport pass

You can save digital copies of transport passes to Google Wallet for use with participating public transport systems. 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)

How to add a transit pass to Google Wallet

For this same video with audio descriptions: How to add a transport pass to Google Wallet.

Through the Google Wallet app

1. Open the Google Wallet app .
2. Tap Add to Wallet .
3. Tap Transport pass.
4. Select your public transport system. Recommended or nearby transport options are at the top.
   • To find all supported public transport options, scroll.
   • If you can't find your public transport system, follow the instructions in 'Through your public transport system'.
5. To buy, follow the on-screen instructions.
6. After you buy a transport pass, open the Google Wallet app.
7. Scroll to find your transport pass.
8. Tap the transport pass that you want to use.
9. Tap Activate.
   • Tip: If you have more than one transport pass, when you activate the new one, your other transport pass will be deactivated.

Through your public transport system

1. To buy a transport pass, use your public transport system's website or mobile app.
2. Save the transport pass to Google Wallet.
   • If you don'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 have Google Wallet, you must install the Google Wallet app.
3. After you save a transport pass, open the Google Wallet app .
4. Scroll to find your transport pass.
5. Tap the transport pass that you want to use.
6. Tap Activate.
   • Tip: If you have more than one transport pass, when you activate the new one, your other transport pass will be deactivated.

Use your transport pass

With your watch

1. When you get to the public transport entrance, hold your smartwatch to the card reader.
   • You don't need to open the Wallet app on your smartwatch.
   • If you haven't unlocked your watch in the last 24 hours, you may be prompted to unlock it before you use the transport pass.
   • For Clipper (San Francisco) transport passes, you'll still need to open the Wallet app before holding it to the card reader.
2. Wait until you see a blue tick.
   • For some public transport systems, you have to show your pass to an attendant.

With your phone

1. When you get to the public transport entrance, hold your phone to the card reader.
   • You don't need to wake up your phone.
   • For some public transport systems, you need to unlock your phone and choose your transport pass.
2. Wait until you see a blue tick.
   • For some public transport systems, you have to show your pass to an attendant.

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 and more.

To view your transport pass across Google products:

1. On your phone, open the Google Wallet app .
2. At the top right, tap your profile picture or account Your data in Wallet Manage passes data.
3. Enable Use passes across Google.

Tip: You can turn off this setting through the steps above and untick Use passes across Google. Learn more in Manage passes data.

Convert an existing physical card to a digital transport pass

Important: This feature is only available for Seattle ORCA transport passes.

1. On your phone, open the Google Wallet app .
2. Tap Add to Wallet Transport pass
3. Select your public transport system. Recommended or nearby transport options are at the top.
   • To find all supported public transport options, scroll.
   • If you can't find a public transport system, to find information on the different ways that you can pay, check their website.
4. Read the activation terms.
5. Tap Continue.
6. Tap Transfer card.
7. In 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 if it's you. To verify, enter the code sent to your Google Wallet's registered email address.

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.

Transfer a transport pass

Important: Transport passes can only be saved to one device at a time.

To manually transfer your transport pass to a different device through the Google Wallet app:

1. On your current device, open the Google Wallet app .
2. Find and tap your transport pass.
3. Tap Menu .
4. Tap Move card to another device.
5. On the new device, open the Google Wallet app .
6. On the transport pass, tap Activate.

Tip: For other methods to transfer or restore your transport pass, learn how to transfer a pass or card on Google Wallet.

Use a public transport insights card

Use the Transit Insights feature to view your progress towards fare discounts and fare capping, savings over time and recent trips and activity. Learn how to use Transit Insights 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 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 .
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, tap 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.

Related resources

• Use Transit Insights in Google Wallet
• Take public transport without opening Wallet on your smartwatch

 

Still need help?

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