Transport for LondonUsing Oyster
You can also add some discount entitlements to Oyster, such as National Railcards and discounts for those on low income or who are unemployed.
Where you can use Oyster
On London's buses, Tube, trams, DLR, London Overground, National Rail services and boats. There are a few exceptions. Find out more.
Paying the right fare
Yellow card readers
These work differently for each type of transport.
Make sure you don't pay too much by touching the yellow card readers at the start and end of your journey.
Pink card readers
If you see a pink card reader (route validator) it's worth touching your card on it - you might get a cheaper fare.
Maximum journey times and maximum fares
Find out how long you can spend making a journey and why we sometimes charge you a maximum Oyster fare. This is only for Tube, DLR, London Overground and National Rail journeys.
Open an online Oyster account to:
- Protect your card and any pay as you go credit, Travelcards and passes on it
- Top-up pay as you go credit
- Set up Auto top-up, and never run out of credit again
- Add and renew Travelcards
- Get a history of your journeys using Oyster
Journey statements
You can see details of your journey history:
- At touchscreen ticket office machines at Tube stations - these show you the last eight journeys you made and the transaction details
- Online - if you have an online account, you can see details of recent journeys and transactions
- At Tube station ticket offices - get a print out of your last eight journeys, transaction details and any journey resolutions
You can only get a history of your journeys using Oyster for the last eight weeks online. We don't keep the information after that.
Looking after your Oyster card
- Keep it in its wallet
- Keep your Oyster card separate from other credit and/or debit cards
- Do not bend the card
