Paying Your Fare
Riders pay for BART with Clipper, the Bay Area’s all-in-one transit card that is also accepted on other transit systems in the region. Tag Clipper at the fare gate when entering and exiting a station.
If you need a new Clipper card, save $3 dollars and use Clipper with Apple Pay and Google Pay on your phone or Apple Watch.
Children 4 and under ride free but everyone else must have a Clipper card (a plastic card or in your digital wallet).
Proof of payment is required.
Fares are based on distance traveled. Weekly and monthly passes are not available. To find the cost of a particular BART trip, use the BART Fare Calculator. You need a cash value balance of at least $2.10 on a regular Clipper card, $1.05 on a Youth Clipper card, and 75 cents on a Senior or RTC Clipper card to enter a station.
We offer a variety of discounts as outlined here. There are no discounts available at the BART vending machines. All discounts are set up in advance through Clipper. A little work up front helps you save money.
Pay By Phone
Clipper is now available through Apple Pay and Google Pay. For limited time, riders can get a new Clipper card on their phones for free (normally $3). Funds added using Apple Pay and Google Pay are immediately available for use.
Set up is easy and can be done on the spot or in advance while you are at home. Every rider needs their own digital card (multiple cards can be added to a phone's digital wallet, if you need to use multiple cards, turn off express mode).
Apple Pay
Requires iPhone 8/Apple Watch Series 3 or later.
- Open the Wallet app and press the plus “+” icon
- Select Transit Card
- Select “Clipper card” from the list
- Add funds
Google Pay
Requires Android 5 or later.
- Open the Google Pay app, scroll down until you see the “Discover” section
- Click the “Ride Transit” link
- Click on “San Francisco, CA – Clipper”
- Add funds
Hold your iPhone, Apple Watch, or Android phone near the round Clipper reader on our fare gates until you get an "OK" message on the fare gate. This might take a few seconds.
For Android phones, you may need to move your phone around.
For iPhones, the antenna is in the top third of the phone.
For more detailed step-by-step instructions on how to add a new Clipper card to your phone, please go to Clipper's Apple Pay page or Google Pay page for more information.
Clipper Vending Machines
All stations have Clipper vending machines. Funds are immediately available when added using a vending machine at BART.
There is a one-time $3 fee to purchase a plastic Clipper card from a BART station vending machine.
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 Customer Support
While Clipper is used to pay for BART, it is not a BART product. Clipper is administered by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
Clipper account access including checking your balance can be found on the Clipper website.
Contact Clipper Customer Services, not BART, with questions or issues with your Clipper card.
Excursion Fare
The excursion fare is $7.10. 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. If an agent isn't available and you didn't ride BART because of a service delay, contact Clipper Customer Services for a refund. BART has asked the Clipper vendor to implement a grace period. This will become available with the next generation of Clipper.
How to Use Clipper
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.
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 and take cash, credit, and debit. You can add any value to your Clipper card at these machines or though your phone's wallet if you use Clipper on your phone. 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.
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 receive a Youth or Senior card (on the Clipper discounts website select "Staffed Locations" under "Location Type" for Youth and Senior card services).
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 50% 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. In your Clipper account, select "Add Value" and select “Transit Pass” then “BART” and then the amount of HVD you want.
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 Sales page for information about purchasing Travel Authorization Letters for groups traveling together.
Paper Tickets No Longer Sold or Accepted at Fare Gates
BART stopped accepting paper tickets on November 30, 2023 to make way for new state of the art fare gates which will not accept paper tickets and as Clipper prepares for the launch of the next generation of Clipper.
Paper tickets balances cannot be transferred onto a Clipper card. BART offers paper ticket refunds for tickets with a remaining value greater than $1.00. Click here for directions to request a refund.
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).