Oyster pay as you go

Oyster cards

An Oyster card is a smart card that you add money to, so you can pay as you go.

You can pay as you go to travel on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground, most Elizabeth line, IFS Cloud Cable Car and Thames Clippers River Bus services.

You can also travel on most National Rail services in London and some outside London.

You can also add:

Oyster cards aren't accepted at Elizabeth line stations between Reading and Iver.

How to use

Touch your Oyster card in at the start of your journey and touch out at the end on yellow card readers to pay the right fare. Only touch in on buses and trams. Find out more about touching in and out.

Oyster card over a yellow card reader

If you only have pay as you go credit on your Oyster card, you can lend it to someone else. Two people can't use the same contactless or Oyster card for a journey.

If you have a Travelcard, Bus & Tram Pass or discount added to your Oyster card, you can't lend it to someone else.

Where to buy

Find out where to buy an Oyster card.

Create an account

Create a contactless and Oyster account and add your Oyster card to:

  • Check your pay as you go credit and top up
  • Check your payment and journey history
  • Register your card to apply for refunds or replacements
  • Report your card if it's lost or stolen so no one else can use it
  • Pay unpaid fares

Download the app

Our free TfL Oyster and contactless app lets you manage your Oyster card on the go.

Register your Oyster card

You need to register your Oyster card if you want to apply for refunds or replacements, or if you've added credit or a discount to it.

If you don't register your card and you lose it, your pay as you go credit, Travelcard or Bus & Tram Pass won't be refunded.

To register your card, create a contactless and Oyster account.

Visitor Oyster cards can't be registered.

If you're transferring your credit or discount to a new Oyster card, make at least one journey with it first, wait 24 hours, and then sign in to your contactless and Oyster account. You need to use the password you gave when you added the discount to your old card.

Pay as you go fares

You can check your fare on our single fare finder.

Travel as much as you like in one day or in one week and we'll cap your fare so you don't pay more.

Auto top-up

Using Auto top-up means you'll never run out of pay as you go credit. When your balance goes below £20, we'll automatically top up your Oyster card with either £10, £20 or £40 from your bank account.

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