First-generation Oyster cards

Check your card

Look on the back of your Oyster card. If it doesn't have a 'D' in the bottom left hand corner, it's a first-generation Oyster card.

back of oyster cards

If you have a contactless and Oyster account and you've added your Oyster card to it, you'll see a message confirming you have a first-generation Oyster card when you sign in.

Get a new Oyster card

You can get a new Oyster card online and at many locations across London.

You need to pay £7 and add a minimum amount of pay as you go credit, or a season ticket to your new card to use it straight away.

Where to get an Oyster card Minimum pay as you go credit 
Online  £5
Visitor Centres £5
Oyster ticket stops £1.50
All Tube, London Overground and Elizabeth line stations £5
Some DLR stations £5
The Tramlink Shop, Croydon £1.50

Once you've got your new Oyster card, you can use our TfL Oyster and contactless app.

What to do with your first-generation Oyster card

Transfer credit and/or season tickets

You can transfer any pay as you go credit and/or season tickets from your first-generation Oyster card to your new Oyster card, on your contactless and Oyster account.

It will take 30 minutes to transfer once you've touched in or out of your first journey with your new Oyster card.

Your first-generation Oyster card will then be stopped so no one can use it.

If you paid a deposit for your first-generation Oyster card, it will be refunded to your contactless and Oyster account.

If you set up Auto top-up on your first-generation Oyster card, it will be set up automatically on your new card.

Get a refund for your first-generation Oyster card

You can get a refund for your pay as you go credit and any deposit at Tube, London Overground and Elizabeth line ticket machines or offices.

You can get a refund for your pay as you go credit, Travelcard, Bus & Tram Pass and any deposit on your contactless and Oyster account.

You'll receive your credit refund in two days. Travelcard refunds are calculated on a pro-rata basis so you can keep using your Travelcard, on your first-generation Oyster card, until it expires and then swap to your new card.

Once you've received your refund, your first-generation Oyster card will be stopped so no one can use it.

Discounted season tickets

If you have a discounted season ticket on your first-generation Oyster card, it can't be transferred to a new Oyster card.

You can either wait until your current ticket expires and then get a new Oyster card. Or you can get a refund before getting your new card by contacting us on 0343 222 1234 (call charges may apply).