Tap on Tap Off FAQ's Wales

How do I see what I've been charged?
You can access you journey and payment history here 

Can I use Tap on/Tap off for 1BWS tickets?
Yes, you can now use Tap on Tap Off across North Wales when using the 1 Bws Day ticket. If you need any help with a Tap on-Tap off transaction please contact TfW on [email protected] or phone 029 2294 1035

What happens if I forget to tap off?
You will be charged the single fare from the point you boarded to the end of the route you were travelling on. Please remember to tap off. However, if you forget, please contact our customer services team who will be happy to help. 

Will I still be capped if I forget to tap off?
You will be charged to the end of the route. If that service travels outside of the zones the journey will not be included in the cap. However, if you forget, please contact our customer services team who will be happy to help.

Will I still be capped if I travel outside of a zone?
Tap on/Tap off is available in Bangor City, Chester Plus, Menai, Wales and Wrexham Zones. Any journey made within the zones will be capped*.  Journeys outside of the zone will not be capped.

*In the Chester plus zone the following services are excluded in their entirety of the Tap on Tap off scheme at this stage:

  • X30 Chester – Warrington
  • 1/1A Chester to Blacon
  • 15 Chester - Saughall

Do I have to use the same card/device?
Yes, your payment history is linked to your card or device so make sure you use the same one each time you travel. If you have your payment method set up on your mobile through Apple Pay or Google Pay, make sure you stick to one method - if you switch to your card, it will be treated as a new payment method and you might not benefit from the price caps.

Why was my card declined?
If you've made a purchase on board that was subsequently declined by your bank, your card will, unfortunately, be automatically blocked by our system. Once any outstanding amounts are settled by your bank, your card will be automatically unblocked. Until this happens, you'll need to pay with an alternative method.

Is the Arriva Bus app still available?
The Arriva Bus App is still available, there are some great features in the app such as the live map, journey planning and you can also purchase tickets to use on bus.

Can I use Tap on/Tap off for myself and also pay for someone else's travel (e.g. a child)?
Tap on/Tap off only works for one passenger travelling on a card. If you have two cards this would be counted as two separate passengers and Tap on/Tap off could be used. If you wish to purchase multiple tickets, for example, an adult and two children travelling together, then tickets should be purchased from the driver or through the Arriva UK Bus app in the normal way. No cap is applied to these transactions.

However, it would be possible to purchase the child tickets first using a card with the driver and then tap on using the same card for the adult to travel with Tap on/Tap off and potentially receive a price cap.

Do I need to tap off if I am a concessionary pass holder?
No, there is no change to the concessionary pass scheme and holders just need to tap on as normal when boarding the bus.

Please ensure you only present your concessionary pass when tapping on, as presenting your pass within a purse/wallet along with other contactless payment cards may result in an inadvertent contactless purchase being made.

Are the prices for Tap on/Tap off different to other on bus prices?
No, the fare you pay is the same as if you bought a standard adult single ticket from the driver. A benefit of using Tap on/Tap off is that you can access price caps which are the same as our Arriva ticket fares.

Does Tap on/Tap off work for other ticket types?
The system is only designed for adult tickets. If you want to purchase other products, please ask the driver or download the Arriva Bus app.

Will I get a receipt?
No, one of the benefits is that the system is paperless. To see your transaction history please visit our Littlepay portal here 

What area is covered by Tap on/Tap off?
Tap on/Tap off is available on all routes* but capping will only apply for journeys in the following zones Bangor City, Chester Plus, Menai, Wales and Wrexham. Journeys made outside of these zones will not be part of day or weekly capping.

*The following routes are excluded in their entirety of the Tap on Tap off scheme at this stage:

  • X30 Chester – Warrington
  • 1/1A Chester to Blacon
  • 15 Chester - Saughall

What are the price cap levels?
Prices are capped at the Day or Week rate for the zone(s) that you travel within.

What about if I travel outside the zones?
All journeys within the zones will be capped* at the zone rate, all travel outside of the zone will not be capped.

Please click here to view all ticket options and prices.

*In the Chester plus zone the following services are excluded in their entirety of the Tap on Tap off scheme at this stage:

  • X30 Chester – Warrington
  • 1/1A Chester to Blacon
  • 15 Chester - Saughall

How are fares calculated?
Fares are calculated when you tap on and tap off. This allows the fare to be calculated between those two points on the service.

Can I use Apple Pay or Google Pay?
Yes, both Apple Pay and Google Pay can be used. However, please ensure you do not switch the method of which you tap on and off.

Do I need to tell the driver where I am going when I board the bus?
A benefit of Tap on/Tap off is to improve boarding times so you do not need to confirm the destination to the driver just tap on when you board the bus.

Will the money come out of my account straight away?
A payment will be taken for each journey made until a cap is reached.

You can check what you’ve been charged for each journey on our customer portal here.