New convenient payment options available on Yolobus include contactless-enabled credit card or debit card, Google Pay, and Apple Pay, and wearable devices such as smartwatches.
Tap-to-Pay devices are now installed on all Yolobus fixed route buses. In addition to the new Tap-to-Pay options, you can also pay your fare with cash, Connect Card, or the Transit Connect mobile app.
For more detailed information, see the Frequently Asked Questions below or call us at (530) 666-2877.
To celebrate the launch of Tap-to-Pay, Yolobus is offering free transfers for all riders through the end of 2026! To request a transfer, simply ask the operator for a paper slip at no cost.
Currently, discounts are available for the following passengers using the contactless payment system:
Yolobus has partnered with the California Integrated Travel Project (Cal-ITP), an initiative of the State of California, to offer a way to quickly verify your eligibility for a discount and then link that discount to your contactless-enabled Visa, Mastercard or Discover card. You’ll get your discount every time you pay with that same contactless card.
Disabled and senior (65+) riders can ensure their discount is applied by securely linking their contactless payment card through the California Integrated Travel Project (Cal-ITP) web tool. Make sure to select Yolo Transportation District as the transit provider.
*Note: Although seniors age 62 and over are eligible to receive discounted fare under Yolobus’s approved fare structure, the age qualification for senior in the State of California is 65. The Tap-to-Pay system links into the federal Social Security Administration database to confirm eligibility. Seniors age 62-64 can still access discounted fare on Yolobus, just not through the Tap-to-Pay contactless payment system.
| Q: How do I know if my card is “contactless?”
A: Cards that are contactless-enabled have the universal contactless icon which resembles a Wi-Fi symbol on its side. Many banks and financial institutions have switched to contactless cards to make payments safer, faster, and more secure for their customers. Check with your card issuer if you are unsure whether your card is contactless-enabled.
  If you do not have a contactless card, you can:
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| Q: Can I still ride Yolobus if I do not have a contactless-enabled card or mobile wallet?
A: Yes. You can still pay for your fare using cash, Connect Card, or the Transit Connect mobile app.
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| Q: How do I use my contactless-enabled bank card or payment-enabled device on Yolobus?
A: Always tap-to-pay at the start of your journey on a payment reader. Look for the contactless symbol on the Yolobus readers as you board the bus. Simply tap your contactless-enabled bank card or payment-enabled device below the screen on the contactless symbol.
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| Q: Do I need to tap off when exiting the bus?
A: No.
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| Q: Is paying via a contactless-enabled bank card or payment-enabled device secure?
A: Yes. Tap-to-Pay transactions are processed through the same secure networks used for all other Visa, Mastercard, and Discover transactions. Contactless cards are built on secure EMV® Chip technology, which has proven effective at reducing counterfeit fraud. Just like inserting your card, each EMV® Contactless transaction delivers a dynamic, one-time code to the payment reader that protects payment information and authorizes the transaction with a single tap.
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| Q: What will I be charged?
A: Contactless fares will be based on the route or service you choose. See fares here. When you board, you don’t need to select the type of fare as the system will be set to the correct fare for the route.
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| Q: Is there a weekly or monthly payment option?
A: Not currently. However, there is a monthly cap on fares purchased on an individual credit card. Because of this, riders who usually use Yolobus monthly passes can pay for individual rides with their contactless payment device and once the monthly pass amount has been reached, their card will no longer be charged during that calendar month. To take advantage of fare capping, you must use the same payment method each time you tap.
Riders can still choose to purchase monthly passes on Transit Connect or Connect Card.
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| Q: Will I be charged a service fee for using my contactless payment method on Yolobus?
A: No, there are no additional fees to use contactless-enabled payment methods.
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| Q: Can I pay for more than one person using one contactless payment method?
A: At this time, each rider must pay with their own contactless-enabled card or device.
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| Q: Can I use Tap-to-Pay on paratransit and BeeLine as well?
A: Not at this time. We are working on adding paratransit and BeeLine, and hope to have these options available by mid-2027.
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| Q: How do I pay for Yolobus transfers?
A: To celebrate the launch of Tap-to-Pay, Yolobus is offering free transfers for all riders through the end of 2026! To request a transfer, simply ask the operator for a paper slip at no cost.
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| Q: Are SacRT and Yolobus shared passes included in the monthly fare cap?
A: No, Yolobus and SacRT monthly passes are separate for contactless payment.
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| Q: Who qualifies for a discounted contactless fare?
A: Discounted contactless fares are available for Seniors (ages 65+) or Medicare Card Holders via a simple, digitized verification program that enables riders to apply for and receive fare discounts.
Note: Although seniors age 62 and over are eligible to receive discounted fare under Yolobus’s approved fare structure, the age qualification for senior in the State of California is 65. The Tap-to-Pay system links into the federal Social Security Administration database to confirm eligibility. Seniors age 62-64 can still access discounted fare on Yolobus, just not through the Tap-to-Pay contactless payment system. Riders who are eligible for a discount fare can still choose to pay the existing discount fare with Transit Connect, Connect Card, or with cash at the farebox instead of using the contactless payment reader. |
| Q: How do I get verified to access my discount fare?
A: Yolobus has partnered with the California Integrated Travel Project (Cal-ITP), an initiative of the State of California, to offer a way to quickly verify your eligibility for a discount and then link that discount to your contactless-enabled Visa, Mastercard or Discover card. You’ll get your discount every time you pay with that same contactless card.
Disabled and senior (65+) riders can ensure their discount is applied by securely linking their contactless payment card through the California Integrated Travel Project (Cal-ITP) web tool. Make sure to select Yolo Transportation District as the transit provider.
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