Fare capping allows customers to pay per ride using Stored Value on TAP until they reach the 1-Day or 7-Day cap, then they ride for free for the rest of the time period.  

What are the benefits of fare capping?  

• Pay the lowest fare while earning free rides 
• No upfront cost of a pass, just pay as you go! 
• Frequent riders will benefit the most. The more you ride, the more you save. 

Who is eligible for fare capping?  

Any Metro rider with a TAP card can participate in fare capping. TAP cards do not have to be registered. If you use cash to pay your fares, switch to TAP and start earning free rides.     

Do I need to sign up for fare capping?  

You do not need to sign up for fare capping. Just use your existing registered or unregistered TAP card to pay per ride using Stored Value and you will automatically receive the benefits of fare capping! 

Do I need a TAP card to benefit from fare capping? 

• Yes, to benefit from fare capping, you must pay your fare with a TAP card and use that same TAP card to pay for any subsequent rides. Once you reach the 1-Day or 7-Day fare cap, use the same TAP card to receive your unlimited free rides.  
• Customers do not have to buy a new TAP card to benefit from fare capping.   

Where can I buy and reload a TAP card? 

• On Metro bus. Tell the operator you want to purchase a TAP card and put cash on the card. 
• Online at taptogo.net. 
• On the TAP app, available in the App Store and Google Play.  
• By phone at 866.TAPTOGO (866.827.8646). 
• At almost 1,900 TAP Vendor Locations. 
• At TAP Vending Machines located at all Metro Rail stations, J Line and G Line stations. 

What is Stored Value? 

Stored Value is money that you can add to TAP card to pay per ride. Stored Value can be used to pay for transit fare and interagency transfers and is valid for all 26 TAP agencies. Stored Value never expires. TAP cards can hold up to $300 of Stored Value. To protect the money on your TAP card  (balance protection) and other benefits, register your TAP card on the TAP app or at taptogo.net.

Where can I add Stored Value (money) to a TAP card?  

• On Metro bus. Tell the operator you want to purchase a TAP card and put cash on the card. 
• Online at taptogo.net. 
• On the TAP app, available in the App Store and Google Play.  
• By phone at 866.TAPTOGO (866.827.8646). 
• At almost 1,900 TAP Vendor Locations. 
• At TAP Vending Machines located at all Metro Rail stations, G and J Line stations. 

Where can I see my progress toward the 1-Day and 7-Day fare cap? 

When you tap on the bus fareboxes or TAP validators at rail stations, the display will show how much Stored Value (money) is being deducted or whether the ride is free. More detailed information, including your fare capping status, will be available on the TVMs, the TAP app, on taptogo.net or by calling TAP Customer Service at 866.827.8646. 

What is the time frame for the 1-Day cap?

The 1-Day cap is valid for each calendar day; it begins at 12:00am and ends at 11:59pm each day. 

Can I reach both a 1-Day and 7-Day fare cap?  

Yes, you can reach both a 1-Day and 7-Day fare cap; you do not have to choose. When you reach the 1-Day cap these paid rides will count towards your 7-Day fare cap. Both work together.     

What day of the week does the 7-Day cap start? 

Like a 7-Day pass, the 7-Day cap start date is flexible and begins when you first tap.

Does Metro accept cash? 

Yes.   

I usually pay my fares in cash. How can I participate in fare capping? 

If you pay per ride with cash, you will not be eligible for the benefits of fare capping. A TAP card is required to participate in fare capping. There are many places you can purchase a TAP card, including a TAP vending machine, a Metro Customer Center, a TAP vendor or on the TAP app. For a complete list of where to buy at TAP card and load fare, visit taptogo.net. 

I’m a cash customer and I want to remain anonymous. Can I still pay fare with a TAP card and remain anonymous? 

Yes, you may purchase a TAP card and add fare onboard a bus, at a TAP vending machine, TAP Vendor or Metro Customer Care Center.  No personal information is necessary to buy or reload these cards. You will remain anonymous unless you register your TAP card. 

I have a Metro 7-Day and a Metro 30-Day pass on my TAP card. What happens to those passes after July 1, 2023? 

Any Metro passes on your TAP card will continue to be valid after July 1, 2023. Please note, all Metro passes on the TAP card will used before Stored Value is deducted, so those passes will be activated and used before you can participate in fare capping.   

Do Metro 2-hour free transfers count toward the 1-Day or 7-Day fare cap? 

No, since these transfers are free, they will not count as paid rides towards either the 1-Day or 7-Day fare cap. 

 I already have a TAP card, will the new 15-year expiration date apply to my card? 

Only new TAP cards will be valid up to 15 years. You can check your card’s expiration date at a TAP vending machine or by registering your card and signing into your TAP account on  taptogo.net or in the TAP app.  

I usually pay my fares in cash. How do I get a TAP card? 

Buying a TAP card is easy. TAP cards can be purchased at TAP vending machines at all Metro Rail and busway stations, at Metro Customer Centers, at over 500 TAP vendors in LA County, online at taptogo.net or by phoning TAP Customer Service at 866.TAPTOGO (866.827.8646). The TAP app allows you to turn your smartphone into a virtual TAP card. For more info on getting a TAP card, click here.  TAP cards can be reloaded with Stored Value at the above locations.  

Where can I buy and reload a TAP card? 

• On Metro bus. Tell the operator that you want to purchase a TAP card and put cash on the card. 
• Online at taptogo.net. 

• On the TAP app, available in the App Store and Google Play. 
• By phone at 866.TAPTOGO (866.827.8646). 
• At almost 1,900 TAP Vendor Locations. 
• At TAP Vending Machines located at all Metro Rail, J Line and G Line stations. 

Do I have to register my TAP card to benefit from fare capping? 

No, customers do not have to register their TAP card to participate in fare capping. 

Do I need to buy a new TAP card to benefit from fare capping?   

Your current TAP card will work just fine and can be used to earn free rides with fare capping.   

How much is a TAP card? 

A regular full fare TAP card is $2 and can be used for up to 15 years. 

How do I get a free TAP card? 

Free TAP cards are available to all riders in the Reduced Fare Programs for Students, Seniors, and Persons with Disabilities. To find out if you are eligible and more about Metro’s Reduced Fare programs, visit metro.net/fares. Digital TAP cards in the TAP app and Apple Wallet are also free. 

How much Stored Value can my TAP card hold? 

A TAP card can hold a maximum of $300 in Stored Value. Stored Value does not expire. There are many places you can purchase a TAP card including a TAP vending machine, a Metro Customer Center, a TAP vendor or on the TAP app. For a complete list of where to buy at TAP card and load fare, visit taptogo.net. 

Can I load my TAP card on a bus? 

Yes, the bus operator will load up to $20 of Stored Value onto your TAP card when you board the bus.  

How do I use the TAP app to pay for my fare? 

Once you download the TAP app from the App Store or Google Play store (search: TAP LA), sign into your TAP account or create a new one. You can add fare to your plastic TAP card or download a free virtual TAP card directly to your phone. From the TAP app, you can add Stored Value to pay per ride on Metro buses and trains or purchase fares for 25 transit agencies in LA County.  

Are digital TAP cards free? 

Digital TAP cards through the TAP mobile app or Apple Wallet will continue to be free of charge. Reduced Fare TAP cards will also remain free. 

My TAP card was lost, stolen or damaged. Will my fare capping progress transfer to my new card? 

No. If you purchase or use a new TAP card, your fare capping progress restarts on that new card. The fare capping status is specific to a certain card and cannot be transferred. 

I want to convert my plastic TAP card to a digital card on the TAP app. Will my fare capping progress transfer to the digital card? 

No, when you convert a plastic card to a digital card in the TAP app, it creates a new card, and your fare cap progress will start over on that new card. Fare capping progress cannot be transferred from one card to another. Please wait to convert your plastic card to a virtual card after your 7-day fare cap has ended and before you start your new 7-day fare cap. 

As a LIFE rider, how do I benefit from fare capping?  

To benefit from fare capping on Metro, LIFE participants will choose the 20-free regional ride option at the beginning of every month. Once all 20 rides have been taken, LIFE riders will participate in fare capping, where they will use Stored Value to pay for each ride until they reach the 1-Day or 7-Day fare cap. The most a rider will pay is $5 in a day and $18 in a seven-day period.  

As a LIFE rider, what happens when I am in the middle of my 7-Day cap and the new month starts?  

At the start of the new month, you have the option of choosing the 20 free regional rides to use on Metro. Once you add the 20-rides option to your card, those rides will begin to be deducted each time you tap to board a bus or train. If you would like to continue fare capping (you are close to the 7-Day cap, for example), do not add the 20 free regional rides until you have reached the cap and received your free rides. 

Who is eligible for the Reduced Fare base fare of $0.75 on Metro? 

Seniors (age 62+), Persons with Disabilities, College/Vocational and K-12 students are eligible for $.75 fares (peak). Seniors and Persons with Disabilities are still eligible for $.35 fares (off-peak). 

I’m a GoPass rider. Am I affected by fare capping? 

No. Students from participating school districts will still be eligible for free fares with a registered GoPass TAP card. Please contact your school administrator to get your GoPass TAP card to ride for free. 

What programs are NOT be affected by fare capping?

Customers in the following programs are not affected by fare capping:

• GoPass (FSI) 

• EZ transit pass 
• Metro Bike Share 
• B-TAP/Small Employer Program 
• U-Pass/ITAP 
• E-Pass 

• Access Services  
• Youth on the Move (YOTM) 
• Jury Pass 
• Metro Micro 
• “Metro 4-ride” for social services/unhoused 

• County Buy Down Program

I’m a Metro Micro rider. Will I be affected by fare capping?

No.

I’m a Metro Bike Share rider. Will I be affected by fare capping?

No.