Tapping on and tapping off
Tap on when you start your trip and tap off at the end to pay the right fare.
When using public transport, you need to tap on when you start your trip and tap off at the end to pay the right fare.
When you tap on and tap off correctly:
- you are charged the correct fare.
- your trip will count towards your Opal benefits.
How to tap on and tap off
Hold your Opal card, contactless card or device to the Opal card reader until it turns green. A green light and one ding means your tap was successful.
If using an Opal card, the Opal reader shows the balance when tapping on and the deducted fare amount and remaining balance when tapping off.
When you hold your Opal card against or a short distance away from an Opal reader, the machine will read the card and display one of the following messages:
- Successful tap - Green light and one ding.
- Successful tap with low balance - Flashing amber lights and 3 dings, indicating the Opal card balance is getting low.
- Unsuccessful tap - Red light and a two tone ding indicating the tap was unsuccessful.
Possible reasons for unsuccessful taps
Tips to tapping on and off
Use the same payment method
Be sure to use the same card or device for all your travel all week to receive your Opal benefits.
Tap on and tap off every time
Even when you have reached your daily or weekly travel caps, you must still tap on and tap off for every trip to travel with a valid ticket.
Exemption on F1 Manly Ferry
When travelling on the F1 Manly Ferry service, you are not required to tap off. The service has only one stop, so you are charged automatically when you tap on.
Separate your cards
Watch out for card clash. Always separate your cards when you tap on and tap off so your preferred card is charged.
Transferring between services
Tap on and tap off for each trip, including when you transfer, and our system will automatically combine your trips into a single fare. When changing from a train to another train, you only need to tap off at the end of the journey.
If you do not tap on and tap off correctly
If you forget to tap on or to tap off with the same card or device:
- you will be charged the default fare for an incomplete trip which is the maximum possible fare for that service, based on your Opal card type. You will never be charged over the Daily Travel Cap.
- you will miss out on Opal benefits
- you could be fined for travelling without a valid ticket.
Understanding the default fare (maximum charge)
If you fail to tap on or tap off correctly, we are unable to track where you have travelled from or to, resulting in an incomplete journey. In such cases, you will be charged the default fare, which is the highest fare for the specific service based on your Opal card type. This fare is determined by both the service and the mode of transport.
The default fare is automatically deducted from your card balance. Rest assured, your charges will never exceed the Daily Travel Cap.
If you have been charged incorrectly due to an Opal reader not working, preventing you from tapping on or off, you can apply for a fare adjustment.
If you decide not to travel
If you change your mind about travelling, you can reverse your tap on to avoid getting charged.
Simply tap the same card or device on a reader at the same wharf, station or stop that you tapped on.
You can reverse your tap on within 15 minutes for light rail and within 30 minutes for metro, train and ferry travel.
Please note, a tap on reversal is not possible if the bus has departed from the bus stop.
Minimum balance to travel (Opal card only)
To successfully tap on to a service, you need enough balance on your Opal card to cover the shortest trip on that mode of transport.
If you have less than the minimum balance, you are not travelling on a valid ticket and may be fined.
| Minimum balance | Adult | Child/Youth | Concession | Gold Senior/Pensioner |
| Metro/Train | $4.00 ($2.80 off-peak) | $2.00 ($1.40 off-peak) | $2.00 ($1.40 off-peak) | $2.00 ($1.40 off-peak) |
| Bus | $3.20 ($2.24 off-peak) | $1.60 ($1.12 off-peak) | $1.60 ($1.12 off-peak) | $1.60 ($1.12 off-peak) |
| Ferry | $6.79 | $3.39 | $3.39 | $2.50 |
| Light rail | $3.20 ($2.24 off-peak) | $1.60 ($1.12 off-peak) | $1.60 ($1.12 off-peak) | $1.60 ($1.12 off-peak) |
Note: Trips that include transfers between Sydney Metro, Sydney Trains and/or NSW TrainLink Intercity services are considered a continuous journey. No need to tap off and on again between services, and you’ll be charged a single fare.