Contactless Payment
Contactless Payment is here! With the new contactless payment option riders are able to tap-to-pay and ride away!
With a contactless payment option riders on MTS and NCTD are able to pay their fare with the direct tap of a debit or credit card or other contactless payment options such as a smartphone or smartwatch.
Most debit or credit cards, smartphones, and wearables like Apple Watches, FitBits, and Samsung Watches are equipped with contactless payment options and are accepted on system fare validators to pay.
By tapping any of these payment methods on bus or station validators your fare can be processed in seconds. Just look for the fare validator when entering a rail platform or boarding the bus.
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Contactless Payment: Frequently Asked Questions
Contactless Payment offers an easy way to pay for transit fares on MTS buses and Trolleys, and NCTD COASTER, SPRINTER, FLEX and BREEZE services.
Just tap your contactless credit/debit card or mobile wallet on the fare validator to purchase a one-way transit pass.
No PRONTO card or app is needed.
It’s great for riders on-the-go who want to bypass lines at the ticket vending machine or who don’t have a PRONTO account.
Most debit or credit cards, smartphones, and wearables like Apple Watches, FitBits, and Samsung Watches are equipped with contactless pay options and can be used on system fare validators to pay.
Most services cost $2.50 for a one-way fare. Your fare will be valid for two (2) hours. During that time you can board any combination of MTS buses and the Trolley, or NCTD BREEZE buses and SPRINTER trains. Premium services like Rapid 280 or 290, or rural routes may include an additional charge.
On NCTD COASTER Commuter Rail, tap on with your contactless credit card or virtual card on your payment enabled smartphones then tap off using the same card to pay the one-way adult fare based on the number of zones you travel. One zone is $5.00, two zones is $5.75, and three zones is $6.50. Customers that do not tap off will be charged the Zone 3 fare. COASTER one-way fares include free transfers to BREEZE bus, FLEX, COASTER Connection, and SPRINTER rail within two (2) hours of purchase. Transfers to MTS Trolley or bus are not included for COASTER trips. Tap the same card for valid transfer.
Just look for the contactless symbol when you board the bus or on validators on rail station platforms.
You must tap on the fare validators before boarding – every time, every ride (even when you transfer).
On the COASTER, you need to tap on AND tap off every time, every ride with the exact same credit card or any payment enabled mobile device (phone, watch, etc.).
Keep in mind there is no fare capping with Contactless Payment at this time. Meaning, you will continue to be charged for a one-way adult fare for every trip you take throughout the day.
Not yet. While we see fare capping being added at some point, it is not part of this initial rollout of Contactless Payment. If you don’t want to be charged more than the cost of a Day Pass in a single day or a Month Pass in a single month, it’s worth considering using a PRONTO card or the PRONTO app.
Yes.
No. Each person will need a different credit card, as Contactless Payment can only be used for one rider at a time.
Riders 18 and under ride free with the Youth Opportunity Pass.
Riders 5 and under ride free – no pass is required.
No. For Contactless Payment you must tap on the fare validator located at each end of the platform before boarding the Trolley, SPRINTER and COASTER. You can purchase a fare through the PRONTO fare collection system at the ticket vending machine with credit cards, but the contactless payment option with credit cards or enabled smartphones will only work on bus and station validators.
No. Contactless Payment is only able to charge Adult one-way fares.
Transfer rules are the same for Contactless Payment as PRONTO stored value, however there is currently no fare capping with Contactless Payment. Depending on where you board first, the following transfers are free within two (2) hours of the first tap. Tap the same card at each stop on your trip.
Click here to see the transfer rules for Contactless Payment.
No. There is no transferring of funds from a PRONTO account to a credit card account.
Depending on your credit card issuer, you may see an authorization ranging from immediately to a day later. The temporary authorization will be replaced by the total charges for the day based on your taps, and should post to your account within 2-5 business days. In cases where your credit card was not able to be charged on the day of travel, the bank will attempt to recover the debt over the next several days.
Fare inspections will take place the same way as it does with a PRONTO card or app. Code Compliance Inspectors and Train Conductors will use a handheld device to tap your credit card or enabled smartphone. Inspectors will not be able to charge your credit card.
Please call the PRONTO Support Center for any questions related to using Contactless Payment:
(619) 595-5636
- Monday – Friday: 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- Sunday: Closed
Check your Previous Payments/Trips
You can view your trip history using the buttons below.
If you think you have been overcharged, compare your tap history below to your credit card statement.
- Due to varying timeframes credit card companies have for finalizing charges, please allow five (5) days for actual charges to show. You may see more ‘pending charges’ on your statement than the final amount charged to your card.
- Please be aware that the date your payment appears on your bank statement will not be the same as the date you travelled, it will usually be a few days later.
- If you have additional questions, please call the PRONTO Support Team at 619-595-5636.
Transfer Chart
The column on the left represents the side you will be boarding from originally. The column across the top is where you will be transferring to.
| TRANSFER CHART | |||||||||
| Bus Service (Transferring To) | Rail Service (Transferring To) | ||||||||
| MTS Regional or Rapid | MTS Rapid Express | MTS Rural | NCTD BREEZE | NCTD FLEX | COASTER Connection | Trolley | SPRINTER | COASTER | |
| Bus Service (Transferring From - First Tap) | |||||||||
| MTS Regional or Rapid | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| MTS Rapid Express (280/290)/Premium | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| MTS Rural | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| NCTD BREEZE | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| NCTD FLEX | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| COASTER Connection | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| Rail Service (Tranferring From - First Tap) | |||||||||
| Trolley | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| SPRINTER | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| COASTER | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
Regional: standard MTS bus service (most MTS bus routes qualify under Regional)
BREEZE: NCTD standard bus service (most NCTD bus routes qualify under BREEZE)
Premium: MTS Bus Routes 280, 290
FLEX: Fixed-route buses that can deviate a certain distance from the route for flexible pick-ups and drop-offs
Rural: Primarily routes that operate in the rural areas of San Diego County (i.e. Routes 888, 891, 892, 894)
COASTER: NCTD commuter rail service
COASTER Connection: Weekday-only bus connections from the Sorrento Valley COASTER Station
Trolley: MTS light rail service
SPRINTER: NCTD light rail service