The Future of Fares is Clipper!

Clipper is the Bay Area’s transit fare payment system—and the best choice when you ride Marin Transit. 

Available on your phone or as a plastic card, Clipper is accepted on all Bay Area transit agencies. Add cash value or transit passes and pay fares with a tap!

Note: Clipper is not currently accepted on Marin Access Paratransit or Marin Access Shuttles. 

Save money with Clipper

Clipper offers a variety of discounts to save you money on Marin Transit—making it easy to get around for less. (Learn more about Clipper benefits on transit agencies all around the Bay Area.)

  • Reduced Adult Fares: Clipper riders receive a discount on standard adult cash fares. Local fixed-route service on Marin Transit costs $1.80 with Clipper—a 10% savings on the standard $2.00 cash fare.
  • Free and Discounted Transfers: Clipper offers free and discounted transfers within the Marin Transit system and between Marin Transit and other agencies. Just tap your plastic or mobile Clipper card and the discounts are calculated automatically. 
    • Free transfers between Marin Transit buses: Unlimited free rides within 2 hours of first boarding a Marin Transit bus. 
    • Free transfers to a Marin Transit bus from any other transit agency will be free within 2 hours of the first tap on the Marin Transit bus. 
    • Discounted transfers from Marin Transit to other agencies: Riders who transfer from a Marin Transit bus to another transit agency (e.g., Golden Gate Ferry, SMART Train) will get a discount of $2.85 off the total adult fare. Youth, Senior, Clipper Access and Clipper START cardholders receive half that discount. 
  • Frequent-Rider Maximums: Marin Transit offers daily and monthly maximums. Never pay more than $5 per day or $40 per month no matter how many times you ride! Frequent-rider maximums are only available on Clipper. Unlike the 31-day pass that riders purchase upfront and that is valid for local trips on Marin Transit and Golden Gate Transit, only trips on Marin Transit count towards the Marin Transit fare maximum.
  • 31-Day Passes: Paper 31-day passes are no longer available on Marin Transit (learn more here). Marin Transit Local 31-Day passes are only available on Clipper and are good for unlimited local rides on both Marin Transit and Golden Gate Transit in Marin County. The Marin Local 31-Day pass is activated on the day it is first used and is valid for 31 days after activation.

Clipper Discount Cards

Clipper offers the following 50% discount cards for eligible riders. Discounts are good on Marin Transit and all other Bay Area transit agencies. There is no fee to apply. Your application information is secure—it is not shared with anyone else.

  • Clipper Youth Card: Riders ages 5-18 receive 50% standard Marin Transit adult fares. Apply online or by mail, email or fax. You can also apply for a card in person at a Clipper Customer Service Center. You will need to verify your birth date with an accepted form of identification. Learn more here. 
  • Clipper Senior Card: Riders ages 65+ receive 50% off standard Marin Transit adult fares and 50% off the Marin Transit 31-Day Pass. Apply online or by mail, email or fax. You can also apply for a card in person at a Clipper Customer Service Center. You will need to verify your birth date with an accepted form of identification. Learn more here. 
  • Clipper Access Card (formerly RTC): Riders with disabilities receive 50% off standard Marin Transit adult fares. Caregivers may also receive the discount when accompanying a rider with a Clipper Access card that has an attendant logo. To apply, bring a completed application form to the Customer Service Center at the San Rafael Transit Center, Monday - Friday, 7 am to 6 pm, or call 415-455-2000. If you are unable to apply in-person for a personalized card due to disability, call 415-778-6622. Alternate format application materials are available. Learn more here. 
  • Clipper START Card: Clipper START is an income-based program that provides 50% single-ride discounts to eligible riders. To qualify you must be a resident of the Bay Area, 19-64 years old and meet the income eligibility. CalFresh participants qualify automatically. Learn more here. 

Getting a Clipper Card and Adding Value

Clipper is available as a plastic card or in your phone’s mobile wallet. You can add value to your Clipper card in the form of cash or transit passes. Marin Transit riders can purchase a plastic Clipper card and add value at the following nearby locations:

You can also add a mobile Clipper card directly to your Apple Wallet or Google Wallet for free. Visit clippercard.com/pay-with-phone to learn more about Clipper on your phone. 

How to Use Clipper

It’s easy to use Clipper to pay your fare on Marin Transit and other agencies:

  1. Find the Clipper reader on the bus or at fare gates at train stations or ferry terminals.
  2. “Tap on”—Hold your card or phone flat over the Clipper logo.
  3. Wait for the beep or green light and continue boarding.

Note: You do not need to tap off when you complete your ride on Marin Transit. For additional tutorials on using Clipper with other transit agencies, visit our YouTube channel. 

Checking Your Clipper Balance 

Clipper card balances are not available on Clipper readers, but checking your balance and transaction history is easy! Here are 4 ways you can access your Clipper balances 24/7: 

  • Log into the Clipper app or website (if you have an account)
  • Check your mobile wallet (if you have a mobile card) 
  • Call Clipper Customer Service at 877.878.8883
  • Tap your card at a station Clipper machine

Need Help?

  • For general information about Clipper: 
Learn More About Clipper
Using Clipper on Marin Transit
Get a Clipper Card
Fare Discounts with Clipper

Get a Clipper Card in Person!

Visit the San Rafael Transit Center Customer Service window to get a Clipper card in person.

850 Tamalpais Avenue, Platform D
San Rafael, California 94901
 
Open weekdays 7am – 6pm