Yay! You Can Now Pay for Bus Tickets in Paris with Your Bank Card
A small but useful change has arrived for anyone taking the bus in Paris or the wider Île-de-France region. Since early November 2025, you can now buy a ticket directly on board using your contactless bank card.
RATP and Keolis have begun equipping buses with small payment terminals near the driver or the existing validator. You simply tap your contactless card, your phone, or your watch with NFC, and the system charges you for a single trip.
The machine confirms payment, and that’s it.
This ticket is called a “ticket de dépannage,” meaning it’s a backup option for people who don’t already have a valid ticket or pass. It’s meant for spontaneous or occasional trips, not as a regular payment method.
Until recently, you could still buy paper tickets directly from the driver. That ended on November 1, 2025.
Transport authorities wanted to reduce cash handling and speed up boarding, so they removed the option. But that left visitors and occasional riders with no easy way to pay once on board.
The contactless payment system fills that gap. It offers a quick digital solution for those caught without a Navigo card or mobile ticket.
The on-board contactless ticket costs €2.50, more than the standard fare bought in advance (€2.15 in most cases). The difference reflects the convenience of paying directly on the bus.
You won’t get a paper ticket, the digital validation is stored in the system once your payment goes through.
There’s one important catch: this on-board ticket is valid for a single ride only. It doesn’t allow transfers between buses, trams, or the metro. If your trip involves several legs, you’ll need separate tickets or a proper Navigo pass.
Where It’s Available
The rollout started in early November 2025 across several RATP and Keolis lines in Île-de-France.
Some routes, such as the RoissyBus connecting Paris to Charles-de-Gaulle Airport, have offered contactless payment since March 2025. The system is gradually expanding to other buses in the region, with full coverage expected in 2026.
Metro and RER stations are not yet included. For now, the tap-and-go option only applies to buses, though regional transport authorities are studying how to extend it to other modes in the future.
A Relief For Travelers
For locals, this new feature is mainly a backup for rare cases when you forget your ticket. For visitors, it’s a small relief: you no longer need to find a vending machine or ticket counter before boarding.
Still, plan ahead if your journey includes transfers. A Navigo Easy card or the Île-de-France Mobilités app remains cheaper and more flexible. The contactless ticket is best for single, short trips.