BART Finally Goes Contactless: Pay With Your Credit Card Starting Aug. 20

After nearly two years in the making, BART commuters will finally be able to ditch the Clipper card and tap a credit or debit card directly at the gate starting Wednesday, August 20, 2025.

BART is the first Bay Area transit agency to offer this long-awaited convenience, with other Clipper-using systems expected to follow eventually.

Pay by credit card is a long-time option for both NYC subway and the London Underground and finally is coming to the Bay.

The rollout was delayed as officials worked out technical issues, including integration with bank accounts and compatibility with chip-enabled cards. Riders should tap one card at a time to avoid “card clash” issues, and mobile wallets with stored cards also work.

This new option doesn’t include discounts for seniors, youth, low-income riders, or transfers from other systems, but it’s still a big upgrade for tourists to make travel less confusing and anyone tired of buying and loading a Clipper card.

BART’s open payment system joins other updates, including schedule tweaks across BART, Muni, Caltrain, and more, designed to reduce transfer wait times – potentially saving riders up to 20 minutes per trip.

Sources: SF Chronicle and SFist