Transport for LondonDaily price capping
Daily price capping is the most you will be charged a day when you use Oyster to pay as you go on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and some National Rail services.
Our aim is to ensure that Oyster always charges the lowest fare. Where it doesn't we will refund the difference.
Learn more about:
Tube, DLR and London Overground
To ensure you get charged the lowest fares when travelling by Tube, DLR and London Overground, you must always touch in on a yellow card reader at the start and touch out at the end of every journey.
Peak travel
A peak cap will apply if you travel on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and some National Rail services between:
- Monday-Friday 04:30-09:29
If the total cost of your journeys is less than the peak cap, you will be charged separately for any journeys taken during peak hours, plus the off-peak cap.
Off-peak travel
An off-peak cap will apply if you travel between:
- Monday-Friday from 09:30-04:29 (the following day)
- Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 04:30-04:29 (the following day)
Check current daily price cap for Tube, DLR and London Overground
Stations north of Moor Park
If you travel from a station north of Moor Park on a weekday after the times below, your Oyster single fare will count towards the off-peak cap instead of the peak cap:
| Station | Touch in times |
|---|---|
| Chesham | After 09:00 |
| Amersham | After 09:10 |
| Chalfont & Latimer | After 09:15 |
| Chorleywood | After 09:15 |
| Rickmansworth | After 09:20 |
Maximum cash fares
When you are using Oyster to pay as you go you must touch in at the start and touch out at the end of your journey, even if you have reached the daily price cap for your day's travel. If you do not, a maximum cash fare will be deducted from your balance in addition to the capped fare.
Buses and trams
To ensure you get charged the lowest fares when travelling by bus and tram, you must always touch in on a yellow card reader at the start of every journey.
When you use Oyster to pay as you go on buses and trams, there is a single, flat-rate cap regardless of what time you travel. However, if you make bus or tram journeys on weekdays between 04:30-09:29, you will be capped at the peak rate if you also use Tube, DLR, London Overground and some National Rail services during the same day.
Check current daily price cap for buses and trams
National Rail
To ensure you get charged the lowest fares, you must always touch in on the yellow card reader at the start and touch out at the end of every journey.
If you intend to use National Rail, a Day Travelcard may be a better option as you can only use Oyster to pay as you go on some National Rail services.
National Rail Railcard discounts
If you hold a National Rail Railcard, you can get an Oyster card and have the Railcard discount entitlement added to it. If you then travel during off-peak hours on Tube, DLR, London Overground and some National Rail services, the Oyster daily price cap will be reduced by 34 per cent.
National Railcard price capping discounts do not apply if you only travel by bus or tram. However, if you travel by bus or tram as well as Tube, DLR, London Overground and some National Rail services, any bus or tram journeys will count towards the daily price cap.
This discount is available to holders of the following National Rail Railcards:
- Disabled Persons
- HM Forces
- Senior
- Young Persons
Check current daily price cap for National Rail Railcard discounts
