Clipper and Tickets
Paying Your Fare
Children 4 and under ride free but everyone else must have a Clipper card or BART paper ticket (no longer sold at stations) with funds loaded. Proof of payment is required. To find the cost of a particular BART trip, use the BART Fare Calculator. Vending machines accept all U.S. coins and dollar bills (excluding $50 and $100 bills). Select machines accept credit and debit cards. Some purchasing limits apply as outlined on our sales page.
Clipper Cards and Pay By Phone
Riders pay for BART with a Clipper card, which also has an app and works with Apple and Andriod phones. While Clipper is used to pay for BART, it is not a BART product. Clipper is the Bay Area’s all-in-one transit card administered by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. Clipper is reusable, reloadable, and regionally accepted on other transit systems.
Clipper account access including checking your balance can be found on the Clipper website.
There is a one-time $3 fee to purchase a Clipper card from a BART station vending machine.
Clipper App and Mobile Wallet
Starting April 2021, Clipper has an app to add a new or existing Clipper card and is supported on iPhone and Apple Watch and Android phones to give riders another contactless way to pay and ride BART. BART fare gate readers now support Clipper payment via iPhone, Apple Watch and Android phones. Hold your iPhone, Apple Watch or Android phone near the round Clipper reader on our fare gates to tag in or out. You need an iPhone 8 or newer, Apple Watch Series 3 or newer, the latest versions of iOS and watch OS respectively to use Clipper in Apple Wallet. For Google Pay, you need a Android phone running Android 5 or later.
Paper Tickets
In December 2020, BART completed the transition of machines at all stations to offer Clipper as the only fare product available for purchase.
While paper tickets will no longer be available for purchase at stations, riders are still able to use the paper tickets they already have to enter and exit through fare gates. Riders are also able to add enough fare to a paper ticket to exit the station using add fare machines located inside the paid area.
There is a 50 cent surcharge per trip for Blue tickets. The surcharge will be prorated for discount paper ticket users so that seniors and people with disabilities pay a 19 cent surcharge and youth pay a 25 cent surcharge. Riders are encouraged to get a Clipper Card to avoid the surcharge.
Excursion Fare
The excursion fare set on January 1, 2020 is $6.20 for Clipper and $6.70 for paper tickets. It is charged for those who enter a station, ride a train, and then exit the same station. If you enter a station and change your mind, see a station agent before exiting to avoid the excursion fare.
How to Use Clipper/Paper Tickets
If you are using a Clipper card (both with plastic card or on your iOS or Android smart device): When you get to the fare gate, you simply need to “tag and go” to pay for your ride. The correct fare will be automatically deducted.
If you are using a BART paper ticket: When you get to the fare gate, insert your ticket and it will be returned to you. Use the same ticket when you exit. The correct fare will be automatically deducted and tickets with remaining value will be returned.
Exiting the Station
If you ride BART but lack enough stored fare to exit the station, the fare gate will read “UNDERPAID: GO TO ADDFARE.” Addfare machines are located inside the paid area. Some stations have machines that are cash only, while other stations offer add value machines that accept credit cards. If you don’t have enough cash to add the minimum balance to exit the station, please speak with the Station Agent for access to the free area to add value. BART is working to install Add Value machines that accept credit cards at all stations systemwide.
Clipper Discounts
BART fares are set with a mileage-based formula, therefore time-based passes (e.g., weekly or monthly) are not available.
Proof of eligibility is required for discount Clipper cards and tickets and therefore are not available at station vending machines.
Both discount and regular Clipper cards can be ordered and managed online.
- Sign up for Clipper
- Access Clipper Account
- Clipper Customer Service
Youth & Senior Discount
Youth 5-18 years old get 50% off with a youth Clipper card. Seniors age 65 and over get 62.5% off with a Senior Clipper card.
Youth and Senior Clipper cards can be obtained by mail or there are multiple locations across the Bay Area where you can apply and immediately recieve a Youth or Senior card. Applicants will need to bring documentation verifying age eligibility (for example: driver’s license, photo ID card or birth certificate).
Low-Income Discount
BART is participating in the new Clipper START means-based fare pilot program, which is administered by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. The program gives qualifying adult riders a 20% discount on BART trips. Learn more about Clipper START and how to apply here.
Persons with Disabilities
The RTC Clipper card is a version of Clipper created for passengers under 65 with qualifying disabilities to provide 62.5% off. The RTC Clipper card is a photo identification card. You must apply for an RTC Clipper card in person at a participating transit agency.
High-value Discount (HVD)
For single rides, adult Clipper cards get a 6.25% discount on cash value rides by buying $48 worth of value for $45 or $64 worth of value for $60. HVD applies only to BART rides. You can only purchase an HVD ticket online by setting up Autoload or through a transit benefit program.
BART/Muni Adult "A" Fast Pass®
The "A" Fast Pass is available on the Clipper card and is valid for a calendar month and lets you take unlimited rides on SFMTA/Muni vehicles and BART between the Embarcadero station to Balboa Park station in San Francisco. BART trips outside Embarcadero station to Balboa Park station in San Francisco are charged full fare.
Group Sales
Visit our Ticket Sales page for information about purchasing Group Tickets or School Sponsored Field Trip tickets.
Need help?
BART Customer Service is available to help riders with inquiries over the phone at (510)464-7133 or in person at Lake Merritt Station (concourse level).