Paper tickets are a thing of the past for BART. Riders must pay through Clipper, either with a card or through their phone or smartwatch.
How to get Clipper
Where to buy a plastic card: There are vending machines at all BART stations; you’ll be charged $3 for the card in addition to the cost of your fare. You can also order a Clipper card online or buy it at certain retail stores listed at the Clipper site.
How to get a digital card: Find Clipper in Apple Wallet’s transit section or Google Pay’s Discover > Ride Transit.
Getting a discounted fare: To get a Clipper card that honors fares for youth (ages 5-18) or senior (65+), you need to submit proof of your eligibility either at a staffed location — certain transit agency offices or station kiosks — or by uploading documents online. Youth fare is half-off, senior fare is two-thirds discount.
How to use it
Ride: At the BART fare gate, tap your card (or phone or watch) on the scanner circle. At the other end of your ride, tap again before leaving the station.
Reload value: Create an account at Clippercard.com to register your card and set up auto-reload. Expect to wait a few days for this card value to be usable. If you need it immediately, you can reload at a self-service machine or a staffed location where cards are sold.
Other questions
Can multiple users share a Clipper card? — If you’re all riding at once, each person needs a card. (The exception is children under 4, who ride free.) But you can load multiple digital cards on the same phone.
If I buy a Clipper card at a BART station, can I use it for other transit agencies? — Yes. Most of the trains and buses in the Bay Area take Clipper payment.
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What if I forget to tap off? — Your account will be charged as if you rode to the end of the line. You can call Clipper and ask for an erroneous charge to be removed; be warned, that line perpetually has long hold times.
Can I pay with the Clipper mobile app instead of Apple Pay or Google Pay? — No. The app lets you manage your account, including topping up a card, but it can’t be used for payment.
I have an old paper BART ticket. Can I get its valued transferred to a Clipper card? — No, but BART has a procedure by which you can request a refund.
I read that BART was going to let people pay by tapping a credit or debit card at the fare gate. — That was the announcement made around the time BART discontinued paper tickets, in 2023. But in 2024 the agency said the plan was delayed indefinitely.
