Ferry passengers can use contactless bank cards—plastic or mobile Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover cards—to pay adult fares

The Next-Generation Clipper system is rolling out on Wednesday, December 10th, 2025 with new features that offer a more convenient, accessible and affordable experience for Bay Area transit riders.

Contactless Bank Card Payments

There are now more ways to pay, as ferry passengers can pay adult fares using plastic or mobile contactless bank cards—credit or debit—Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover. Tap-and-ride users also receive typical Clipper transfer discounts when riding with other transit agencies.

As riders start using this new way to pay, here are some tips to keep in mind when paying with a contactless bank card:

• Each rider must pay with their own card or mobile device.
• Contactless bank card payments are only good for adult fares. Youth, Senior, Clipper Access (formerly RTC) and Clipper START customers should continue to pay fares with their plastic or mobile Clipper cards—they will not receive a discount with contactless bank cards.
• To ensure that the correct card gets charged, riders should remove their card from their wallet before tapping. To reduce the risk of improper or multiple charges to your cards, use the same card to tap on and off the ferry. Riders paying with a mobile device should select their preferred payment in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.

Want to learn more? The Clipper website has everything you need to know about the key features of the Next-Generation Clipper system. Find an overview of additional features, including contactless bank card payments, at clippercard.com/enhanced-features.