Liverpool Bus Payment Guide: Easy Ways To Pay Your Fare

Liverpool's bus network can be tricky for newcomers to navigate, but there are a variety of payment options available. These include paying with cash on board, buying tickets from a Merseytravel centre, or using contactless payments. Liverpool City Region is the only region outside of London with a 100% bus network accepting contactless payments, which has helped speed up boarding times and increase bus punctuality.

Paying with cash

You can pay with cash on Liverpool's buses, but the driver will ask for the exact fare wherever possible. They do not accept £50 notes, and while they will take other notes, they may not have change. It's best to have coins if possible, although the driver will usually be able to provide change for a £5 or £10 note.

Single (one-way) tickets can be bought directly from the driver with cash. Unfortunately, bus companies don't publish their single fares, so you'll need to ask the driver. Expect to pay around £2 for a short journey of up to 15 minutes.

Both of Liverpool's main bus companies, Stagecoach (red and blue buses) and Arriva (blue buses), sell day and weekly tickets that are valid only on their own buses. These can also be purchased with cash directly from the driver.

Day tickets cost £3.90 for Stagecoach ("Merseyside Dayrider") and £4.20 for Arriva ("Liverpool Day Saver").

Weekly tickets are also available, but the price is not provided.

You can also buy a "Saveaway" day pass from Merseytravel, a local government organisation that oversees local travel arrangements. These passes are valid on buses run by all companies and on trains. You can buy these at railway stations, Merseytravel's own travel centres (at main bus stations), or any staffed station.

The "Saveaway" costs £3.90 for Liverpool only and £5.20 for all of Merseyside, which includes travel on trains beyond Merseyside to Chester and the Mersey Ferry peak-hour commuter service.

Paying with card

Liverpool's bus network offers a variety of payment options, including paying with your card. Here is everything you need to know about paying with your card on Liverpool's buses:

Contactless Card Payments

As of July 2019, all buses in the Liverpool City Region accept contactless card payments. This includes the two biggest operators, Stagecoach and Arriva, as well as all other bus operators in the region. This makes Liverpool the only region outside of London with a fully contactless bus network. Contactless payments are not only convenient but also help speed up boarding times and improve bus punctuality.

Walrus Card

In addition to regular contactless cards, Liverpool's buses also accept the Walrus Card, a smart card that can be loaded with ticket information. You can tap this card on the ticket machine when boarding the bus. The Walrus Card can be purchased and topped up at Merseytravel centres, staffed train stations, or Paypoint outlets.

Card Payments via Apps

Some bus operators in Liverpool, such as Arriva and Stagecoach, offer their own mobile apps. You can download these apps on your smartphone and purchase tickets using your card. Simply buy and activate your ticket before boarding and show the driver your mobile ticket.

Online Card Payments

Liverpool is also introducing an online portal for purchasing tickets with your card. This will be rolled out in stages, offering various products and flexible payment options.

Paying via the Arriva app

Liverpool offers a variety of options for paying for bus journeys. One of the ways to pay for your bus fare in Liverpool is via the Arriva app.

The Arriva Bus app is free to download on iPhone or Android devices and provides door-to-door guidance with street maps to and from bus stops, as well as route details. The app offers a full range of travel options with step-by-step instructions, allowing you to navigate from your current location or by entering a different postcode.

You can purchase tickets directly through the app. To do so, simply buy and activate your ticket before boarding the bus and show the driver your mobile ticket on your screen. The app allows you to purchase single, day, or weekly tickets.

In addition to ticket purchases, the Arriva app also provides bus tracking functionality. You can see exactly where your bus is on its route, saving you from waiting at the bus stop. The app also provides timetables for all Arriva buses, so you can easily check when the next bus will arrive and plan your journey accordingly.

The Arriva app is just one of the many ways to pay for your bus fare in Liverpool. The city also offers contactless payments, electronic ticket machines, and the option to buy tickets on board with cash.

Paying via the Stagecoach app

To pay via the app, you will first need to download the Stagecoach Bus App and set up an account. Once you have done this, you can use the app to plan your journey, view timetables and buy your ticket.

When purchasing a ticket, you will need to select the correct ticket type for your journey. Ticket types include single, day, weekly, four-week and annual passes. You can also purchase student and scholar tickets at a discounted rate. After buying your ticket, you will need to activate it before boarding the bus. When you board, simply show the driver the activated m-ticket on your screen.

It is worth noting that Stagecoach buses in Liverpool also accept contactless payments on board. This method of payment was introduced in July 2017, and by August 2019, more than one in five journeys on Stagecoach buses in Liverpool were being paid for using contactless technology.

Merseytravel day passes

Merseytravel offers a range of day passes for bus travel in Liverpool. These include:

Day Ticket for Young People

The Day Ticket for Young People is ideal if you're aged between 5 and 18. You can buy 1, 3, or 5-day bundles, as well as weekly, 4-weekly, term, or yearly passes. These tickets are available at Merseytravel Centres and PayPoint stores and can be used across Merseyside and Halton.

MyTicket

MyTicket is a one-day travel pass for young people, offering cheap travel on buses in Merseyside and Halton.

Over 60s Travel Pass

If you're aged 60 or above, you can apply for the Merseytravel Over 60s Travel Pass, which offers free travel on buses, trains, and Mersey Ferries river crossings within Merseyside. The pass is valid at any time on Saturdays, Sundays, and bank holidays. For Monday to Friday, the pass cannot be used for journeys starting between 6:30 am and 9:30 am.

English National Concessionary Travel Pass

The English National Concessionary Travel Pass is available for Merseyside residents aged 60 and above. This pass offers free travel on most buses in Merseyside, the Merseyrail network, and Mersey Ferries river crossings. It also includes local bus services anywhere in England. The pass can be used at any time on weekends and bank holidays. For weekdays, it's valid from 9:30 am to 11 pm.

Disability Concessionary Travel Pass

Merseytravel offers free travel on buses, trains, and Mersey Ferries river crossings for people with certain disabilities who live in Merseyside. To qualify, your disability must meet the conditions outlined in the seven categories of disability defined in the Transport Act 2000. The pass can be used on local buses in England and the Merseyrail network, as well as Mersey Ferries river crossings. It is valid all day, every day of the week.

Frequently asked questions