Cashless payment on Regensburg city buses

Since September 3, 2025, twelve Regensburg city buses have been equipped with new ticket machines.

Starting October 27, 2025, the municipal bus fleet operated by Stadtwerk.Mobilität will gradually be converted to cashless ticket purchasing. The conversion is expected to be completed by the end of November 2025.

All Regensburg city buses are gradually being equipped with ticket machines for cashless ticket purchases.

On buses operated by das Stadtwerk.Mobilität that have already been converted, tickets can no longer be purchased from the driver, but only from the ticket machines. These buses are marked with stickers on the entrance doors.

On regional buses operated by the district's local transport company GFN, RVV tickets can still be purchased from the driver in cash.

Buying digital tickets from the machine on the bus is easier, cheaper, and faster than buying tickets from the driver.

A single ticket currently costs €3.60 when purchased on the bus and €3.20 when purchased in advance; digitally at the new ticket machine on the bus or via the RVV app, you pay only €2.88 – that's a saving of around 20 percent. If you travel a maximum of three stops from the point of boarding, the digital ticket (short-distance fare) costs just €1.44.

Buses can leave stops more quickly after passengers have boarded. There is no need to purchase tickets from the bus driver, which saves time.

The payment method you used to purchase the ticket is your digital ticket. RVV staff are equipped with readers. As soon as you hold your payment method (e.g., credit card) up to the inspection device, our inspection staff can see whether a valid ticket is stored digitally and which ticket it is.

For inspection purposes, you must always present the same payment method that you used to purchase the ticket. If, for example, the ticket was purchased using a credit card stored on your cell phone, please present your cell phone for inspection. If you paid with your plastic credit card, you must present this card.

Please note:

• You will not receive a paper ticket when purchasing your ticket. Your payment method (e.g., your bank card) will serve as your ticket.
• It is not possible to transfer to the train. Your digital RVV ticket, which you purchased from a ticket machine on a Regensburg city bus, is only valid for travel on city and regional buses.

Contactless tickets are just as secure as contactless payments (e.g., in retail stores).

These General Terms and Conditions for the RVV Prepaid Card apply to the purchase of RVV tickets from ticket machines on buses.

They supplement the General Conditions of Carriage, fare regulations, and fares of the RVV tariff in their currently valid version.

At the ticket machines on Regensburg city buses, you can purchase single tickets for children and adults as well as day tickets in price categories 1 (e.g., Regensburg city area) to 5 (e.g., Regensburg–Beratzhausen). For journeys of up to three stops from the point of boarding, a reduced short-distance fare is also available.

If the bus is in a location where a municipal ticket is valid (e.g., line 9 in Neutraubling), this discounted single ticket is also available.

Please note:

• You will not receive a paper ticket when purchasing your ticket. Your payment method (e.g., your bank card) will serve as your ticket.
• It is not possible to transfer to the train. Your digital RVV ticket, which you purchased from a ticket machine on a Regensburg city bus, is only valid for travel on city and regional buses.

You can purchase your ticket in three simple steps.

1. Select your ticket: The default setting is a single ticket for a one-way journey within the city of Regensburg (i.e. price category 1).
2. Enter the number of tickets you require.
3. Place your card or smartphone on the reader and pay contactlessly.

You can use all standard contactless debit or credit cards (currently with the exception of American Express).

You can pay for tickets with your smartphone or smartwatch via Apple or Google Pay.

For anyone who does not have their own bank card, the RVV prepaid card will be available from October 29, 2025 – e.g. ideal for children.

You only pay the ticket price for your journey. There are no additional fees for using your debit or credit card.

RVV tickets are also available via our app – e.g., with RVVswipe.

You can still purchase tickets with cash on regional buses, at numerous advance sales outlets in the Regensburg city area, or at ticket machines at central stops in Regensburg.

For a fee of EUR 5, our prepaid card is available at the RVV customer center.

During November 2025, RVV sales outlets in Regensburg and the surrounding area (Donaustauf, Lappersdorf, Neutraubling, Obertraubling, and Sinzing) will also gradually begin offering the card.

Please check rvv.de/prepaid for the latest information.

You can easily top up your RVV prepaid card online at www.rvv.de/prepaid. This feature will be available soon.

We can also add credit to your prepaid card at all RVV sales outlets where the prepaid card is available and at the RVV customer center.

You can choose from top-up amounts of EUR 5, EUR 15, EUR 30 and EUR 50. When purchasing the card, you must load a starting balance of at least EUR 5.

You can check how much credit you have on your prepaid card at our advance sales outlets where the prepaid card is available, or online in the customer portal.

You do not need to register for the customer portal. When logging in, simply enter your card number and expiry date.

YYou can only return your prepaid card at the RVV customer center. We will refund you the entire remaining balance on the card.

In the customer portal. You can view your trips and the costs incurred in your customer account.

Registration is not necessary. When logging in, simply enter the number and expiry date of your card.

You can also log in using the reference number included in the debit details on your account statement.

Please send us a message at www.rvv.de/kontakt and include the reference number for your payment.

You can find the payment reference number (also known as “PRN”) in the debit details on your bank statement. You can also find the reference number in the customer portal.