Contactless & daily caps, explained

Tap your card or phone, get the best fare automatically — mostly. Here's how it actually works, and where the catches are.

The one rule: always tap on when you board. Tap off only if your operator asks you to — if there’s a card reader by the exit door, tap it as you leave. In London, never tap off.

London: one tap, automatic caps

Tap once when boarding — never at the exit. Every journey is £1.75, the Hopper gives free changes within an hour, and daily and weekly caps limit total spend no matter how much you ride. Cash isn't accepted at all.

Outside London: Tap & Cap

Big operators now run their own cap schemes on their networks — use the same card or phone each time, and the system charges singles until you hit the day-ticket price, then stops charging. First Bus, Stagecoach and others operate variants. Most only need you to tap on; a few charge by distance and ask you to tap off too, with a reader by the exit. Caps only count journeys with that one operator, so mixing companies can cost more than a multi-operator day ticket.

Three mistakes that cost money

Missing the exit reader on a tap-on, tap-off bus — you may be charged the maximum fare. If there’s a reader by the exit door, tap it.
Using different cards — the cap only builds on one card or device. Phone and physical card count separately.
Capping across operators — caps don't combine between companies. Three journeys on three different operators = three full singles (though each is capped at £3 in England).

Frequently asked questions

Can I pay by contactless on any UK bus?

Almost all — every major operator (Stagecoach, First, Arriva, Go-Ahead, National Express, Transdev and most independents) accepts contactless cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay. A small number of rural independents remain cash-only, so carry a backup on unfamiliar routes.

What is a daily cap?

A daily cap means the operator automatically stops charging once your taps reach the price of a day ticket — you pay singles until they add up to the day-ticket price, then travel free for the rest of the day. London caps automatically; outside London, operators with 'Tap & Cap' schemes do the same on their own buses.

Do I tap off when leaving the bus?

Only if your operator asks you to. Always tap on when you board. In London, never tap off. Outside London most buses only need the one tap too, but some operators run tap-on, tap-off schemes to charge by distance — if there is a card reader by the exit door, tap it as you leave, because missing it can mean you are charged the maximum fare.

Can I pay cash on the bus?

London buses have not accepted cash since 2014. Elsewhere most buses still take cash, but exact change is often required. Contactless is faster and never needs change.

Does the £3 fare cap work with contactless?

Yes — the England fare cap applies however you pay: contactless, cash or app ticket. The capped price is applied automatically on participating routes.

Schemes vary by operator — check your operator's page for their current tickets.