TAP App FAQs

There are three ways to add a TAP card to your iPhone:

• In the TAP app, sign in or create a TAP account.
• In the Cards section, press “Add a TAP Card to Apple Wallet” or press    (“add card” icon) in the top left.
• Follow the prompts to add Stored Value or a pass to your card. Once your purchase is complete, press “Add to Apple Wallet.” Choose which Apple device (iPhone or Apple Watch) will use your new card.
• Once added, your card will display in the Cards section of the TAP app as well as in Apple Wallet. If you don’t see your card displayed, press    (“refresh” icon) in the top right of your screen.

• Open the Wallet app on your iPhone and press + (“add card” icon.)
• Press “Transit Card.”
• Select “TAP - Greater Los Angeles”    and press “Continue” to follow the prompts to add it to Wallet.
• The first card that you add will automatically be enabled as your Express Transit TAP card and will be ready for use without having to wake or unlock your iPhone.
• You may add Stored Value to your TAP card in Apple Wallet. If you wish to add a pass or enjoy other benefits of a TAP account, download the TAP app.

NOTE: Protect the balance for TAP cards added via the Apple wallet. It's best to register any TAP cards added via Apple wallet in your TAP account to ensure access to the card if your phone is lost or reset.

• In the TAP app, sign in or create a TAP account.
• If your plastic card is not already registered, press “Register a TAP Card” and enter the card information.
• In the Cards section, select the card to transfer and press “Transfer Card to Apple Wallet.”
• Read the guidelines and press “Yes, Transfer my Card.”
• Your plastic TAP card will be deactivated and you will be issued a new TAP card number.

NOTE: TAP cards with Stored Value only will be transferred to Apple Wallet. Please use all passes on the card before transferring it to Apple Wallet.

NOTE: To ensure proper delivery or your TAP card balance, please wait 15 minutes after purchasing fare to allow all pending stored value purchases to be loaded to your card before transferring your card to Apple Wallet.

Yes, Reduced Fare TAP cards can be added to your iPhone via the TAP app.

• Sign in to the TAP app.
  • NOTE: As a Reduced Fare cardholder, your TAP account has already been created and your TAP card has been registered. To sign in, press “Login,” then press “Reset Password” and follow the instructions that will be sent via email.
• In the Cards section, select your Reduced Fare TAP card and press “Transfer Card to Apple Wallet.”
• Read the guidelines and press “Yes, Transfer my Card.”
• Your plastic TAP card will be deactivated and you will be issued a new TAP card number.
• Please keep your plastic Reduced Fare TAP card with you when you travel to confirm your Reduced Fare status to a fare enforcement officer.
• Once your card has been transferred, you may add Stored Value and Reduced Fare passes via the TAP app and Stored Value via Apple Wallet.

On your iPhone

• On your iPhone, open the Watch app and press the “My Watch” tab.
• Press “Wallet & Apple Pay,” then press “Add Card.”
• Press “Transit Card.”
• Choose “TAP - Greater Los Angeles”    and press “Continue” to follow the prompts to add it to Wallet.
• Confirm Express Transit settings for your TAP card on Apple Watch to enable quick validation upon boarding.

On your Apple Watch

• On your Apple Watch open the Wallet app and press “Add Card.”
• Press “Transit Card.”
• Choose “TAP - Greater Los Angeles”    and press “Continue” to follow the prompts to add it to Wallet.
• Confirm Express Transit settings for your TAP card on Apple Watch to enable quick validation upon boarding.

In order to add a TAP card in your Apple Wallet, you must:

• Be signed into iCloud on your iPhone or Apple Watch
• Have a supported device
  • iPhone 8 and above (running iOS 13.6 and above)
  • Apple Watch Series 3 and above (running watchOS 6.2.8 and above)
• Have a Wi-Fi connection or cellular data
• Have a valid payment method in Apple Wallet or in the TAP app.
• If transferring a plastic TAP card to Apple Wallet, ensure that all passes on the plastic TAP card have been used before transferring it to Apple Wallet.

• On your iPhone, open the Watch app and press the “My Watch tab.”
• Press “Wallet & Apple Pay.”
• Under “Other Cards on your Phone,” press “Add” next to the card you would like to transfer from your iPhone to your Watch.
• Select Next, then Done to successfully transfer your TAP card to your Apple Watch
• On your Watch, go to the Wallet app on your homescreen to view your TAP card.

• On your iPhone, open the Watch app and press the “My Watch” tab.
• In Apple Wallet, select the TAP card you wish to transfer to another watch.
• Scroll down and press “Remove This Card.”
• Register your new Apple Watch.
• On your iPhone, open the Watch app and press the “My Watch” tab.
• Press “Wallet & Apple Pay,” then press “Add Card.”
• Press “Transit Card.”
• Select “TAP - Greater Los Angeles”    and press “Continue” to follow the prompts to add it to Wallet.
• Follow the prompts to add a new TAP card. Your existing balance will be restored automatically.
• Confirm Express Transit settings for your TAP card on Apple Watch to enable quick validation upon boarding.
• Find out what to do before you sell or transfer your Apple device.

• On your old iPhone, go to Apple Wallet and select the TAP card you wish to transfer to another phone.
• Press  …  (“more” icon), scroll down and press “Remove This Card.”
• On your new phone, open Apple Wallet and select the  +  (“add card” icon), in the top right corner of your screen.
• Select “Previous Cards” to view your previously added TAP cards
  NOTE: It may take up to 30 seconds for all of your cards to appear
• Select the TAP card you would like to transfer
• Select “Next” to add your TAP card to your new iPhone and follow the prompts to set it up in Wallet

• TAP cards loaded with Stored Value only will be transferred to Apple Wallet. Please use all passes on the plastic TAP card before transferring it to Apple Wallet.
• Note: If you have automatic reloading set up for your pass, you may want to temporarily turn it off until your current pass expires. Once you transfer your TAP card to Apple Wallet, don’t forget to set up automatic reloading again.

Yes, however only one TAP card can be enabled as your Express Transit card at a time. By default, the first TAP card you add to Wallet is enabled as your Express Transit card. You may enable a different TAP card in Express Transit Settings.

• Select any TAP card in Wallet.
• Press  …  (“more” icon), then press “Express Transit Settings.”
• From your list of transit cards, switch the toggle to enable for the desired TAP card.

• In Apple Wallet, press  …  (“more” icon) and then press “Express Transit Settings.”
• From your list of transit cards, switch the toggle off to disable Express Transit.
• When boarding a bus or train, double-click the side button or home button of your iPhone or Watch, select the TAP card and authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode each time you tap.

• If you only have one TAP card in Apple Wallet, it will be designated as your Express Transit TAP card.
• If you have multiple TAP cards in Apple Wallet, check which TAP card is your Express Transit TAP card by selecting Wallet & Apple Pay in your Settings app and selecting “Express Transit.”

• Hold the top of your iPhone within a few inches of the TAP dial.
• You will feel a vibration and see “Done” and a checkmark on the display to confirm your fare has been accepted.

• When boarding, double-click the side or home button with your iPhone while on the Lock screen.
• Authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode.
• Hold the top of your iPhone near the TAP dial
• When it's complete, you will see “Done” and a checkmark on the display.

• Hold the top of your iPhone within a few inches of the TAP dial.
• You will feel a vibration and see “Done” and a checkmark on the display to confirm your fare has been accepted.

• When boarding, double-click the side button.
• Hold the top of your iPhone near the TAP dial
• Wait until you feel a gentle tap.

You can pay for yourself and others as long as you have a separate TAP cards added to Apple Wallet for each rider.

At the TAP dial upon boarding, follow these steps to pay for each rider:

• Double-click the side button with your iPhone on the Lock screen.
• Select the TAP card you want to use.
• Authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode.
• When boarding, double-click the side button.
• Hold the top of your iPhone near the TAP dial.
• When it's complete, you will see “Done” and a checkmark on the display.

It is best to plan ahead to ensure your iPhone is charged. However, iPhone XS, XR, and newer iPhones have Power Reserve mode, which allows you to make a transaction with your Express Transit TAP card for up to five hours when your iPhone battery is depleted.

Note: While in Power Reserve mode, your transaction history may not be available if requested by a fare enforcement officer to validate the paid fare. We strongly encourage customers to plan ahead and ensure your device is sufficiently charged before you ride.

A network connection is not required to tap and pay. However, your iPhone or Apple Watch must be turned on and your TAP card must have sufficient Stored Value or a pass for use.

Note: A network connection is required to add a TAP card or reload your card in Apple Wallet.

• Select any TAP card in Apple Wallet.
• Press  …  (“more” icon.)
• In the menu, select “Card Number.” The 20-digit TAP card number is displayed, labeled as the “Service ID.”

Creating a TAP account offers many benefits, including:

• Purchase all TAP fare products–buy or reload Stored Value and agency passes and take advantage of discounts and promo codes.
• Balance Protection – transfer your remaining Stored Value balance and passes to a new TAP card if you lose your device.
• Flexible payment options – credit/debit cards, and account cash are accepted.
• Autoload – automatically load passes or Stored Value to your TAP card when it’s convenient for you. You’ll never worry about reloading your card again. Call TAP Customer Service at (866) 827-8646 for more information or to set up Autoload.

TAP cards in Apple Wallet are supported on:

• iPhone 8 and above (running iOS 13.6 and above)
• Apple Watch Series 3 and above (running watchOS 6.2.8 and above)

You must have a credit or debit card in Apple Pay* to add Stored Value to your TAP card in Apple Wallet.

• In Apple Wallet, select your TAP card.
• Press “Add Money.”
• Enter the amount of Stored Value you wish to add ($1 minimum).
• Confirm the payment
• View your updated balance (Your updated balance may take a few seconds to display).

* Apple Pay is a service provided by Apple Payments Services LLC, a subsidiary of Apple Inc. Neither Apple Inc. nor Apple Payments Services LLC is a bank. Any card used in Apple Pay is offered by the card issuer.

No, you can only buy passes in the TAP app. Once you buy a pass in the TAP app, you will see it on the appropriate TAP card in Apple Wallet shortly after purchase.

The TAP card in Apple Wallet only displays active passes. You may have ordered passes that will be active at some point in the future. For instance, you may have purchased two day passes. If you are still using the first day pass, you will not see the second day pass in Apple Wallet until the first day pass expires. For more information, contact TAP Customer Service at (866) 827-8646.

Yes, use any passes you may have on your TAP card before transferring to your iPhone or Apple Watch. Or, you can add a new TAP card to your Apple Wallet and use the pass on your plastic TAP card separately.

There are two ways to add a TAP card to your phone:

• In the TAP app, sign in or create a TAP account.
• In the Cards section, press    (“add card” icon) in the top left.
• Press “Add a TAP Card on Your Phone.”
• Follow the prompts to add Stored Value or a pass to your card and complete payment
• Once your “virtual” card is added, it will be displayed in the Cards section of the app.

• In the TAP app, sign in or create a TAP account.
• You must first register your plastic card to your TAP account. Go to the Cards section and press    (“add card” icon) in the top left.
• Select “Register a TAP Card” and enter the card information.
• Press “Register.”
• View the details of the registered card. Ensure there are no active passes on the card. Only TAP cards with Stored Value will be transferred. Please wait 15 minutes after purchasing Stored Value to transfer the plastic card to the phone. This will ensure the Stored Value will transfer with the card to the phone.
• Press “Transfer Card to Phone.”
• Read the guidelines and press “Yes, Transfer my Card.”
• Hold the TAP card to the back of your phone to start the transfer. Avoid moving the card during the transfer process. This may take up to one minute.
• If the transfer is not successful, be sure to hold the card near the NFC chip on your phone. The NFC chip may be located in different areas depending on your phone's manufacturer.
• Once the transfer is complete, your plastic TAP card will be deactivated and replaced with a new “virtual” TAP card (with a new card number) in your TAP account. Any Stored Value amount on your plastic TAP card will be transferred to the virtual card. One TAP card per Android phone may be used at a time. TAP cards cannot be transferred to another TAP account.

Yes, Reduced Fare TAP cards can be added to your phone via the TAP app.

• Sign into the TAP app.
  • NOTE: As a Reduced Fare cardholder, your TAP account has already been created and your Reduced Fare TAP card has been registered to your account.
  • If you don’t know your Login, press “Login,” then press "Reset Password."
  • Enter the email address associated with your Reduced Fare application. You'll receive an email with instructions to reset your password.
• In the Cards section, view your Reduced Fare TAP card details. Ensure there are no active passes on the card.
• Press “Transfer Card to Phone.”
• Read the guidelines and press “Yes, Transfer my Card.”
• Hold the TAP card to the back of your phone to start the transfer. Avoid moving the card during the transfer process. This may take up to one minute.
• Once the transfer is complete, your plastic TAP card will be deactivated and replaced with a new “virtual” Reduced Fare TAP card (with a new card number) in your TAP account. Any Stored Value amount on your plastic TAP card will be transferred to the virtual TAP card.
• Please keep your plastic Reduced Fare TAP card with you when you travel to confirm your Reduced Fare status to a fare enforcement officer.

You can use only one “virtual” TAP card at a time to tap and pay. However, you may manage several plastic TAP cards in the TAP app.

There is currently no fee to add a TAP card to your Android phone. This policy is subject to change per the Terms of Service.

Below are some troubleshooting tips:

• Ensure media permissions were granted.
• Remove the phone case from your phone.
• Use all passes on your plastic TAP card before transferring to your phone.
• Make sure you don't already have a virtual TAP card on your phone.
• Ensure you are using a phone that is supported by the TAP app.
• Confirm your Android phone is running on software version 11 or above.
• Check that you have a Wi-Fi or cellular connection.
• Confirm that you have NFC capabilities on your phone and that NFC is turned on.

• Hold your phone, screen up, near the TAP dial.
• You will see a message confirming your fare has been accepted.

• You may have only one active virtual TAP card on your phone at a time.
• In the TAP app in the Cards section, select the virtual TAP card you are currently using to tap and pay.
• Scroll down and press “Remove From Phone.”
• Confirm by pressing “Yes, Remove It.”
  • NOTE: Once your TAP card is removed, it will still appear in the Cards section as unavailable. You can download the TAP card and its balance at a later time.
• Select the TAP card in your account that you wish to use to tap and pay. Ensure there are no active passes on the card before you attempt to transfer.
• Press “Transfer Card to Phone.”
• Once your card has been transferred, you may add fare to it and use it to tap and pay.

No, you do not have to unlock your phone to tap and pay.

No. Be sure to plan ahead to ensure your Android phone is charged. A transit enforcement officer may issue you a citation if your fare payment cannot be validated.

A transit enforcement officer may issue you a citation if your fare payment cannot be validated. Plan ahead to ensure your device is charged.

No, a network connection is not required to tap and pay. However, your phone must be turned on and your TAP card must have sufficient Stored Value or a pass for use.

Go to the Cards section and select a TAP card. Press “Card Info” and view the expiration date of the card. As a reminder, you will receive an email notification when your TAP card’s expiration is near.

Your Android phone must have NFC capability and be running Android version 11 or above. Most Android phones with these characteristics will be able to accept a “virtual” TAP card.

• On your old Android phone, go to the Cards section and select the “virtual” TAP card you wish to transfer to another phone.
• Scroll down and press “Remove From Phone.”
• Confirm by pressing “Yes, Remove It.”
• On your new Android phone, sign into the TAP app and go the Cards section.
• Select the TAP card and press, “Download to Phone.”

Yes, a plastic card with Stored Value can be transferred. However, any passes on the plastic TAP card must be used before transferring it to your phone.

Yes, the pass was added to your card. When fare is added to a plastic card, it is in a "pending" state until the card is tapped at a gate or bus validator. Once you tap your plastic card, the fare is reflected in the card details in the TAP app. You must wait at least 1 hour from the time you add fare to a plastic card and tap at a gate or bus validator for your product to appear.

To recover your TAP card, immediately contact TAP Customer Service at (866) 827-8646 to report your TAP card as lost. The service agent will deactivate your card and the unused balance can be transferred to a new virtual TAP card that is registered to your TAP account. If you wish, you can transfer the balance to a new plastic TAP card instead ($5 card replacement fee applies). Your new TAP card will then be mailed to you. To add the new TAP card to another phone, follow the steps outlined in question 1.2. Then TAP Customer Service can transfer the balance to the new virtual card.

Currently, Android smart watches are not supported.

No, the card on your phone can only be used to pay for you. Fare policy states that each rider must have a separate TAP card with proof of payment.

You must have a credit or debit card, account cash or a credit card associated with your Google Pay account in order to add Stored Value or a pass to your TAP card.

• In the Cards section of the TAP app, select the TAP card you wish to reload.
• Press “Add Stored Value or Pass.”
• Select your fare and complete the steps for your purchase.

You may park your virtual card while you uninstall/reinstall the TAP app on your phone by following the steps below. If you do not follow these steps, the result will be the loss of your virtual card.

• Sign in to the TAP app on your phone. In the Cards section, select your virtual TAP card.
• Press “Remove From Phone” (You may have to scroll down to see this option.)
• Read the guidelines and press “Yes, Remove It.” to confirm.
• Quit the TAP app and uninstall it.
• In the Play store, download and install the TAP app.
• Sign into the TAP app.
• In the Cards section, select your virtual TAP card. (Your virtual card should display with a message that it is not available.)
• Press “Download to Phone.”
• Your virtual card should display with a message that it is on your device.