Clipper®

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Clipper® is a reloadable fare payment system used to store a Caltrain Monthly Pass and/or cash.

Passengers using Clipper on Caltrain will benefit from additional discounts compared to buying tickets from the station ticket machines.
See a list of fares.

The Clipper validators at Caltrain stations (see left) read either your virtual Clipper card in your digital wallet or your physical Clipper card to see if you have a current Monthly Pass, or deducts the cost of a trip or ride from your card.

Clipper cards can be purchased at www.clippercard.com or Clipper's retailers such as Walgreens or at the Caltrain office in San Carlos. Virtual/digital Clipper cards are available on the Clipper mobile app.

Youth and senior cards are free.
If you are purchasing a youth or senior card, you must complete the application. 

Customers with disabilities applying for a Regional Transit Connection Discount Card need to complete an application and have their photo taken at a transit office, see link.

Clipper is accepted on most San Francisco Bay Area transit systems.

Get Clipper
Clipper FAQs

Top Tips for Smooth-riding with Clipper® on Caltrain

  • All Caltrain customers must have $1.25 cash on their Clipper cards (physical  at all times. Cash value may be added immediately at transit agencies, retailers, BART ticket machines and Add-Value machines. If loading online or via the telephone, funds won't be available on the card for 3 to 5 days.
  • Tap the card or your mobile device on the Clipper validator screen until you hear a beep. Be sure the validator is located on Caltrain’s platform. For troubleshooting, please see our FAQs page.
  • Cash customers must tap on and off for each trip. Card validators are located on Caltrain platforms, except at San Francisco (on the concourse).
  • Monthly Pass customers only tap on & off for first trip of the month. If you loaded your card at a retail vendor (such as Whole Foods or Walgreens) or a Clipper Add-value machine then you don't need to tap, (the pass was loaded when the card physically interacted with the Clipper terminal).
  • Monthly passes must be tapped on and off by the 15th of the month, including for Autoload customers.

For more information on Clipper, visit www.clippercard.com

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