Touching in and out
Use the same card or device
Whether you use contactless or Oyster, be sure to use the same card or device to touch in and out. For example, don't touch in with your iPhone and touch out with your Apple Watch, contactless card or Oyster card.
Why touch in and touch out
Because where you touch in and out tells us where you've travelled from and to, so we can charge you the right fare for your journey.
This is for all Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line, National Rail, River Bus and IFS Cloud Cable Car journeys.
Automatic completion of journeys
When there are major sporting or entertainment events, we may open gates at stations to help with congestion.
On these occasions, you might not be able to touch out, so we'll try to automatically complete your journey for you so you're not charged a maximum fare.
If you're due a refund when we automatically complete a journey, it'll load on to your Oyster card when you next touch in on a yellow card reader. If you used contactless, we'll refund your bank account automatically.
What happens if you don't touch in and out
If you don't touch in and out, we cannot tell where you've travelled from or to, so your journey will be incomplete.
As we cannot work out the right fare for your journey, we'll charge you a maximum fare. If you only touch in, or only touch out, you'll be charged two maximum fares and we won't be able to work out your daily cap.
Maximum fares
| Area | Peak | Off-peak |
| All stations in Zones 1-9 (except Heathrow Express) | Up to £9.90 | Up to £6.70 |
| Broxbourne, Rye House, St Margarets, Ware and Hertford East | £10.10 | £7.60 |
| Chafford Hundred, Grays, Ockenden and Purfleet | £10.10 | £9 |
| Dartford and Swanley | £9.90 | £6.70 |
| Epsom | £10.70 | £7.90 |
| Shenfield | £11.60 | £8.70 |
| Watford Junction | £11.40 | £7.70 |
| Merstham | £14.70 | £9.90 |
| Cuffley | £11.80 | £8.80 |
| Bayford and Hertford North | £12.80 | £9.90 |
| Redhill, Earlswood | £16.10 | £10.40 |
| Salfords, Horley | £16.40 | £10.60 |
| Gatwick Airport | £21.20 | £12.80 |
| Heathrow Express (from Paddington to Heathrow) | £25 | £25 |
| St Pancras International (East Midlands platforms) | £15.90 | £11.70 |
| London Victoria (Gatwick Express platforms) | £22.90 | £22.90 |
| Brookmans Park and Welham Green | £11.90 | £8.60 |
| Welwyn Garden City | £13.90 | £10.70 |
| Luton Airport Parkway | £18.70 | £14.40 |
| Reading | £29 | £12.60 |
Maximum fares don't count towards capping.
If you don't touch in or out at the start and end of your journey, you may be charged a penalty fare or may be prosecuted.
Apply for a refund
If you were charged a maximum fare because you couldn't touch in or out for reasons beyond your control, you may be eligible for a refund.
How to touch in and out
Buses and trams
Touch your contactless card, device, or Oyster card on the yellow card reader at the start of your journey.
You don't need to touch out at the end of your journey. If you do, you may pay more than you need to.
Tram journeys to and from Wimbledon
If you're travelling to Wimbledon, touch in on a yellow card reader on the tram platform at the start of your journey. When leaving Wimbledon station, touch out on the gates, even if they are open.
If you've arrived at Wimbledon station by train or Tube and you're changing to make a tram journey, you must first touch out on a National Rail or Tube yellow card reader and touch in again on a yellow card reader on the tram platform.
If you're travelling from Wimbledon, touch in on the gates when you enter Wimbledon station and again on a yellow card reader on the tram platform before getting on.
Tram journeys to and from Elmers End and Mitcham Junction
If you've arrived at Elmers End or Mitcham Junction station by train and you're changing to make a tram journey, you must first touch out on a National Rail yellow card reader and touch in again on a tram yellow card reader before getting on the tram.
If you're travelling from Elmers End or Mitcham Junction, touch in on a yellow card reader on the tram platform before getting on.
Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line, National Rail, River Bus and IFS Cloud Cable Car
Touch in on a yellow card reader at the start of your journey and touch out at the end.
To pay the right fare:
- Always use the same contactless card, device or Oyster card to touch in and out. For example, don't touch in with an iPhone and touch out with an Apple Watch or contactless card
- Always touch out even if the gates are open. If there are no gates, use a freestanding yellow card reader next to entrances, exits or on platforms
Touch pink card readers when changing trains
Touch a pink card reader when changing trains to pay the right fare when you don't go through Zone 1.
Same station exits
If you touch in when you enter a station, and then touch out to exit it within a short period of time, you'll be charged a same station exit charge. These are:
- Between 0 - 2 minutes: a maximum fare. If you re-enter the same or a different station within 45 minutes, you'll be refunded. This doesn't apply if you take a bus or tram before re-entering a station
- Between 2 - 30 minutes: the minimum pay-as-you-go fare from that station
- More than 30 minutes: two maximum fares. We'll assume two separate journeys have been made and both will be incomplete
We apply these charges to discourage fare evasion.
You may be able to get a refund if you touched in and out at the same station.
Check your journey or get a refund
See if you've made an incomplete journey or apply for a refund in your contactless and Oyster account.