Before you board, it helps to know how payment and validation work. Here’s what to expect when riding BC Transit. You can pay for a Single Ride when you board or purchase fare products ahead of time.
Accepted payment methods, fare prices, products and policies vary by transit system. Please take a moment to review how to pay before travelling.
Paying on board the bus
Paying with Cash
- Make sure you have exact change to pay the Single Ride or DayPASS fare.
- Insert coins or bills into the farebox upon boarding.
Paying with a contactless payment method
- We accept Interac, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express cards. Cards linked to Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay mobile wallets are also accepted.
- Tap your card to the digital reader upon boarding.
Paying with a fare product
If you travel frequently, we recommend that you consider purchasing a fare product to save money. Fare products are available for purchase through the following channels.
- In the Umo Mobility app
- In-person at a BC Transit retail vendor. Visit the Where to Buy page for a list of retail vendors.
- Online at ca.umopass.com
- By calling Umo customer service at 877-380-8181
Fare products can be loaded in the Umo Mobility app or onto a reloadable Umo card unless otherwise stated.
Best practices for validating your fare product
Using a Contactless payment method
- Physical cards and the same card linked to mobile wallets are recognized as two different payment methods and cannot be used interchangeably to receive a DayPASS.
- Avoid card clash and remove your card from your wallet or separate your phone from an attached wallet before you tap. If multiple cards are tapped at the same time, the system will charge the first one it detects, and you could be charged more than once.
Using the Umo Mobility app
- Open the app and select Show Code to display your QR code
- Display your QR code to the front of the digital validator. Slowly pull it back until the validator’s scanner is activated
- Confirm acceptance by referencing the validator’s response screen and listening for an auditory signal
Using a reloadable Umo Card
- Tap your card on the base of the digital validator
- Confirm acceptance by referencing the validator’s response screen and listening for the auditory signal
Validation: What the Display Means
When you use a digital payment method, the fare reader displays a response screen to let you know what’s happening.
- Green check mark: Your fare has been accepted.
- Amber check mark: Your fare has been accepted. This will show if a Umo Cash Balance is running low or if a fare product is close to expiring. Some third-party Umo products will display an amber check mark to confirm the fare is accepted.
- Red X: Your fare wasn’t accepted. This may happen if there’s no valid fare product or not enough Umo Cash Balance.
To confirm a fare product or balance, you can check in the Umo app, at ca.umopass.com, or by calling Umo customer service at 877-380-8181.
For information on handyDART fares, visit the handyDART contact section in Rider Info.
