Tap and Pay
Adelaide Metro Tap and Pay is an easy way to pay with your Visa, Mastercard or American Express (credit/debit card or an enabled smart phone or device) using our new smart validators.
Using Adelaide Metro Tap and Pay is:
- an easy option if you don’t have a metroCARD or Seniors Card,
- great if you don't use public transport often,
- convenient if you use a smart device to pay for things,
- charged as a regular fare, but can cost more than a concession or student fare,
- valid for 2 hours from the time you first tap.
Adelaide Metro Tap and Pay is available on all buses, trains and trams.
If you are entitled to a concession or student fare, Adelaide Metro Tap and Pay may not be your best option. You may be interested in the Adelaide Metro Buy & Go app.
Use our fare finder to learn more about Adelaide Metro fares or call the Adelaide Metro InfoLine on 1300 311 108 (open 7:00 am to 8:00 pm daily) for more information.
Common questions
To Tap and Pay, tap or hold your credit/debit card or smart device on the lower part of a smart validator. Once you hear a ‘beep’ noise and see a confirmation message on the screen, your Tap and Pay ticket has been validated.
You do not need to Tap and Pay again when leaving a bus, train or tram.
You will find smart validators on all buses, trains and trams.
It is very unlikely that your credit card will be accidentally charged for a fare if you are simply standing near, or walking past, a smart validator.
However, to avoid an accidental charge:
- Don’t lean against a smart validator if you have your credit/debit card or phone in your pocket or you’re wearing a smart watch.
- Separate your credit/debit cards and devices before you tap, then only tap the card or device you want to pay with. For example, remove your metroCARD or Seniors Card from your wallet, rather than tapping your whole wallet on the smart validator. If you present more than one card or smart device at the validator, it will only validate one card or device, but it could be a card or device you didn’t want to use.
- Remember to use the same card or smart device again if you transfer to another vehicle.
If you think you have been accidentally charged, please contact us for help.
Yes, you can transfer with your Adelaide Metro Tap and Pay ticket to all buses, trains and trams.
When you transfer, you must use the same credit/debit card or smart device you first used to Tap and Pay, within the two hours that your ticket is valid. If you use a different card or device (even if they are linked to the same bank account), you may be charged for a new Tap and Pay ticket. This is because each card and device has a different number and new numbers are recognised as new Tap and Pay tickets.
Yes, you can access discounted parking at the Tea Tree Plaza Park ‘n’ Ride with your valid ticket on a metroCARD, SA Seniors Card or Tap and Pay ticket. This discount is not available with Buy & Go tickets.
You can only buy one Adelaide Metro Tap and Pay ticket at a time per credit/debit card or smart device. This is because your Tap and Pay ticket is valid for two hours from the first time you tap. This enables you to tap again at no further cost to transfer to other services.
If you wish to buy more than one Adelaide Metro Tap and Pay ticket, you will need a different debit/credit card or smart device for each ticket. Alternatively, you may like to use the Buy & Go app, which allows you to use up to 5 tickets at a time.
Inspectors carry a secure reader device that can read your card, phone or smart device to check that you have a valid Adelaide Metro Tap and Pay ticket. Your privacy is protected, as the reader cannot access your account or personal details and cannot take payments/make charges.
You must present the same card or device you tapped on the smart validator to buy your Tap and Pay ticket.
Your bank account will be charged one total amount per day for each day's Tap and Pay ticket – instead of several smaller amounts per trip. The charge will be listed in your bank statement as ‘Adelaide Metro Tap’.
Please note:
- The date the charge appears on your statement is the date the bank processes the transaction. This may be different to the date you actually travelled.
- You will not be charged for transfers within the two hours that your Adelaide Metro Tap and Pay ticket is valid, if you use the same card or smart device you used when you first tapped to buy your ticket.
Occasionally you may see a charge entitled ‘Adelaide Metro Pay’. This happens when a previous trip’s Tap and Pay payment was unsuccessful, and the system successfully tried again later to recover the funds.
If you are confused or concerned about your Adelaide Metro Tap and Pay charges, it is best to speak with your bank. With your permission, your bank can legally access your account, see all your transaction details and discuss them with you.
As a vendor, we do not have access to your personal banking details. However, if you think you were incorrectly charged, please contact us for help.
Adelaide Metro Tap and Pay let’s you travel first, then takes your payment later. If your payment has failed, you owe a debt for a previous trip taken. The system will try to clear the debt for up to 7 days, but while you still owe money, the next tap will show a ‘DENY’ message.
Your tap will also prompt the system to try again to clear the debt and:
- if the debt is successfully cleared, you will be able to Tap and Pay in approximately an hour
OR - if it has not cleared, please contact us for help.
Alternative payment options are:
- a different credit/debit card or smart device,
- a metroCARD,
- the Adelaide Metro Buy & Go app.
When using Tap and Pay you may notice that there is a $1 charge in your account. Some credit card issuers will load a $1 pending transaction to your card to ensure you have money in your account and that it is valid.
This is a pending transaction, meaning it is deducted from your available funds, but the amount will not leave your account. Once your Tap and Pay payment is cleared, the $1 will return to your available balance.
