It's easy to pay your fare. On buses, you pay as you enter the bus. At train stations, you pay as you pass through the turnstiles before reaching the boarding area.
Touch your card or ticket to the lower part of the Ventra reader on top of train station turnstiles and on buses.
When you touch your card, you'll hear a sound that indicates the card was read, and then a second sound along with a screen that tells you to "Go" or "Stop."
Contactless bankcard or mobile wallet app
You don’t need to download anything or stop at a vending machine—just tap your contactless 
payment card or your device (set up regular payment cards in the mobile wallet app on your phone) and go. The Ventra fare system even keeps track of your transfer credits if you tap the same card.
$5 pre-authorization
Like other purchases made with a credit card, merchants will often pre-authorize a certain dollar amount. For example, you may notice this when making gas purchases or booking a hotel room. Ventra requests a pre-authorization of $5. This money reflects a pending transaction. Once the transaction processes with your bank (usually by the end of the business day), the amount shown will reflect the actual fares charged, based on the number of rides you’ve taken.
Ventra Card
Ventra Cards are hard plastic cards that you can use to pay your fare. They come with the ability to use unlimited-ride passes and manage your account online.
You can get Ventra Cards at vending machines in 'L' train stations, on the Ventra website, in the Ventra app, at the Ventra Customer Service Center at 567 W. Lake Street, or by calling 1-877-NOW-VENTRA. There are also over 1,000 retail locations, including drug stores and Currency Exchanges. See Ventra Retailers to find a location.
Ventra Cards cost $5, but the cost is returned to you as transit value as soon as you register your card. You can register your card on the Ventra website, in the Ventra app or by phone. Registering your card also protects it against loss or theft, and we'll send you a new card when your card expires.
Transit value can be used for rides on buses and trains, or applied toward the purchase of a pass.
You can also buy a virtual card in the Ventra app. A virtual Ventra Card can only be saved on one device, so load it to the phone or smartwatch you plan to tap when you ride.
Avoid “card clash”
Whenever you pay, take out and touch only your desired payment method (card, ticket, mobile device, etc.) to the Ventra fare reader.
Ventra readers can accept payments from many different card/payment types. Taking your card out makes sure that the payment method you intended to use covers every part of your trip.
Ventra Tickets
You can buy disposable paper Single-Trip and 1-Day tickets at all vending machines, as well as 3-Day tickets at select locations. This can be a great option if you're just visiting or are an infrequent rider. Ventra Tickets are good only for a limited time and cannot be reloaded after they are used.
Cash
On the train
At all CTA 'L' stations, you can buy a new Ventra Card or Ventra Ticket using bills and coins at vending machines.
All Ventra Vending Machines also allow you to load value and unlimited-ride passes to Ventra Cards with either cash or cards.
On the bus
On the bus, you can pay for a one-way fare in cash. Exact change is required (no change is given). Buses accept $1 bills and most coins (no half-dollars). Transfer is not available when paying in cash on the bus.
Paying for multiple riders
You can pay for up to six additional riders traveling with you.
- At train station turnstiles, you can pass your card/device back to others in your group.
- When boarding a bus, tell the driver you wish to pay for multiple rides. The driver will press a button that lets you use your card for additional riders.
If you have a pass loaded into your transit account, only your own ride is covered by the pass. Be sure to load value to cover the fares of anyone else you wish to pay for.
If you are traveling with children who qualify for a Reduced Fare, ask for help from a station attendant or bus driver before paying.