You can pay on a First Bus using contactless card/device (Apple Pay/Google Pay), the First Bus app, or cash. The most recommended method is using "Tap on, Tap off" with a contactless card or device, which calculates the best fare for your journey.
Tap On Tap Off is the most convenient way to pay. There's no need to ask the driver for a ticket; just tap when you get on and off the bus and make sure you tap the same contactless card or device each time you tap.
Is it cheaper to buy a bus ticket online or on the bus?
It's almost always cheaper to buy your bus ticket online or via the operator's app before you board, with savings on single fares and significant discounts on multi-day or monthly passes, as onboard purchases often incur a premium or require exact change, making digital booking more convenient and economical.
Yes, it is generally cheaper to use First Bus's Tap On Tap Off (TOTO) system because it automatically caps your daily and weekly spending at the equivalent of a day or weekly ticket, saving you money compared to buying multiple single tickets, especially for multiple journeys, though buying mTickets on the app can sometimes be even cheaper. You must tap off with the same card to get the best value and avoid being charged a higher default fare, as TOTO calculates your fare based on your specific journeys.
Do I have to tap my T-money card when I get off the bus?
Before you exit, tap your public transportation card on the card reader installed by the back door. Be reminded to tap your card as you enter and leave the bus for a transfer discount.
To pay the right fare, always touch in on a yellow card reader at the start of your journey and touch out at the end. On a bus or tram, you only need to touch in. If you touch out at the end of your bus or tram journey, you may end up paying more than you need to.
The UK's £2 bus fare cap, originally ending in 2023, was extended multiple times and eventually transitioned to a £3 cap in England (outside London) from January 2025 to December 2025, funded by the government to help with living costs. However, some regions, like Liverpool City Region and Telford, have stepped in with local funding to keep their specific £2 caps running longer, with Liverpool aiming for 2026, while the national scheme shifted focus to the £3 cap to support bus services long-term.
We encourage all of our customers to buy tickets using the First Bus App or to pay by contactless card on board. If you are paying with cash, please try to use the exact fare.
To pay, just tap your contactless card or payment device on the driver's ticket machine & wait for the beep – no need to ask for a ticket. Visit firstbus.co.uk/payments to track your best value fares.
If you don't tap off the bus, you'll typically be charged the single fare to the very end of the route, which is usually the highest possible fare for that bus, rather than the shorter distance you actually traveled, leading to overcharging. This often means you miss out on fare capping and pay more than intended, but you can usually contact the bus company's customer service to get a refund for the overcharge.
First, you should keep in mind that you must tap your card when boarding and getting off buses or entering and exiting subway stations. Transfer discounts are available, but they are limited to four times a day, within a transfer time limit of 30 minutes (up to 1 hour from 9pm to 7am the next day).
Yes, you can tap your credit card (or debit/smart device) on most buses for quick, cashless payments, looking for the contactless symbol, but you must tap on and sometimes tap off, using the same card for fare capping, though some tickets (like child/family) might need a different method or driver purchase.
The 10p payment is to check that the card is valid and has some balance. The charge will get updated to the correct amount once the day has completed and TfL have been able to calculate where you went and how much they need to charge you.
mTickets: One of the best ways to buy tickets is to use mTickets on the First Bus App, it's quick, easy and cash free. Download the app and follow the instructions, it's that simple.
No matter how often you travel, you'll never pay more than the daily or weekly cap! Tap On, Tap Off is available in most of our service areas. So whether it's getting you to work on time, saving you from the car park shuffle, or simply giving you a moment to chill out and people-watch, the bus is still here for you.
You can now tap on and off with your credit or debit card on a PRESTO device, including those cards on your phone or watch to pay for your GO adult fare discount!
