Cashless payment on Regensburg city buses

On September 3, 2025, Stadtwerk.Mobilität in Regensburg will launch a trial run for cashless ticket purchases on twelve buses. These twelve test buses will be equipped with new ticket machines. Tickets can no longer be purchased from the driver on the test buses. The twelve buses are marked with stickers on the entrance doors.

From late fall 2025, the entire municipal bus fleet of Stadtwerk.Mobilität will be equipped with machines for cashless ticket purchases.

Regensburg city buses are being equipped with machines for cashless ticket purchase – initially twelve test vehicles from Stadtwerk.Mobilität and, from late fall, the entire city bus fleet.

On regional buses operated by the district's local transport company GFN, you can still purchase RVV tickets with cash from the driver.

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 (short-distance fare), the digital ticket 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 inspection staff are equipped with readers. As soon as you hold your payment method (e.g., credit card) up to the inspection device, the card number is transmitted anonymously and encrypted. The 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: It is not possible to transfer to the train. Your digital RVV ticket, which you purchased from a machine on a city bus, is only valid for travel on city and regional buses.

Contactless payment is just as secure as cash. Card information is protected and transmitted in encrypted and anonymous form. It is just as secure with a smartphone or smartwatch: only tokens are stored on the device, not actual card numbers.

The purchase of RVV tickets from ticket machines on buses is subject to 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 RVV 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 you purchase your ticket. Your payment method (e.g., your bank card) becomes your ticket.

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). Starting this fall, RVV will also offer a prepaid card that will be available at advance sales outlets in Regensburg and Neutraubling, as well as at the RVV customer center.

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

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

Bank and credit cards, as well as almost all smartphones and smartwatches, are equipped with an NFC chip. This chip transmits data over short distances, e.g. when you hold your card close to the terminal.

Contactless payments are processed via our cooperation partner's payment technology system.

RVV tickets are also available via our app.

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.

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.