LA Metro's TAP Card Now Supports Apple Pay With Express Transit Mode

As promised, Los Angeles Metro's TAP card now supports Apple Pay with Express Transit mode, allowing the card to be added to the Wallet app on a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch for tap-and-go payment at rail stations and on buses.

la tap card apple pay
Express Transit mode allows users to pay for rides without having to wake or unlock their iPhone or Apple Watch, or open an app. The mode also bypasses the need to authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode. Users simply need to hold their iPhone or Apple Watch near the contactless payment reader until a checkmark appears on the display.

While the Los Angeles Metro is set to formally announce its new TAP app later today, Apple has already updated a support document to reflect TAP's support for Apple Pay, as spotted by Twitter user Kanjo, who shared the screenshot above.

Apple Pay with Express Transit mode went live for the SmarTrip card in the Washington, D.C. area earlier this week, and the feature is also available in New York City, Portland, London, Hong Kong, and many cities across China and Japan.

Related Roundup: Apple Pay

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro 3 4ths Perspective Aluminum Camera Module 1

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Sunday April 13, 2025 7:52 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
Apple 2025 Thumb 1

10 Products Still Coming From Apple in 2025

Friday April 11, 2025 4:14 pm PDT by
Apple may have updated several iPads and Macs late last year and early this year, but there are still multiple new devices that we're looking forward to seeing in 2025. Most will come in September or October, but there could be a few surprises before then. We've rounded up a list of everything that we're still waiting to see from Apple in 2025. iPhone 17, 17 Air, and 17 Pro - We get...
Beyond iPhone 13 Better Triad

Apple's 20th Anniversary iPhone May Finally Go All Screen

Tuesday April 15, 2025 6:31 am PDT by
Apple is preparing a "bold" new iPhone Pro model for the iPhone's 20th anniversary in 2027, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. As part of what's being described as a "major shake-up," Apple is said to be developing a design that makes more extensive use of glass – and this could point directly to the display itself. Here's the case for Apple releasing a truly all-screen iPhone with no...
iOS 19 Roundup Feature

iOS 19 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday April 15, 2025 7:37 am PDT by
The first iOS 19 beta is less than two months away, and there are already a handful of new features that are expected with the update. Apple should release the first iOS 19 beta to developers immediately following the WWDC 2025 keynote, which is scheduled for Monday, June 9. Following beta testing, the update should be released to the general public in September. Below, we recap the key...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Homescreen

Foldable iPhone Resolutions Leak With Under-Screen Camera Tipped

Monday April 14, 2025 3:12 am PDT by
Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone (or "iPhone Fold") will feature two screens as part of its book-style design, and a Chinese leaker claims to know the resolutions for both of them. According to the Weibo-based account Digital Chat Station, the inner display, which is approximately 7.76 inches, will use a 2,713 x 1,920 resolution and feature "under-screen camera technology." Meanwhile, the...
iPad Pro iPadOS

iPadOS 19 Will Be 'More Like macOS' in Three Ways

Sunday April 13, 2025 6:43 am PDT by
A common complaint about the iPad Pro is that the iPadOS software platform fails to fully take advantage of the device's powerful hardware. That could soon change. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said that iPadOS 19 will be "more like macOS." Gurman said that iPadOS 19 will be "more like a Mac" in three ways:Improved productivity Improved multitasking Improved app window management...
Apple Vision Pro with battery Feature Blue Magenta

Vision Pro 2 Rumored to Have Two Key Advantages Over Current Model

Sunday April 13, 2025 7:15 am PDT by
Apple is working on a new version of the Vision Pro with two key advantages over the current model, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Specifically, in his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said Apple is developing a new headset that is both lighter and less expensive than the current Vision Pro, which starts at $3,499 in the U.S. and weighs up to 1.5 pounds. Gurman said Apple is also...
Apple Bristol Current

An Apple Store in the UK is Permanently Closing Later This Year

Monday April 14, 2025 7:33 am PDT by
Apple has confirmed that it will be permanently closing its retail store in the heart of Bristol, England, and there is no replacement in sight. Apple Bristol in 2023 Apple Bristol will be closing its doors on Saturday, August 9, due to redevelopment plans at the Cabot Circus Shopping Centre, and the adjacent Bristol Shopping Quarter. According to news reports, and a building application, the ...
M6 MacBook Pro Feature 1

Waiting for the Perfect MacBook Pro? 2026 Might Be the Year

Thursday April 10, 2025 4:19 am PDT by
Apple in October 2024 overhauled its 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, adding M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips, Thunderbolt 5 ports on higher-end models, display changes, and more. That's quite a lot of updates in one go, but if you think this means a further major refresh for the MacBook Pro is now several years away, think again. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said he expects only a small...

Top Rated Comments

Antes Avatar
60 months ago
Wish this would have come sooner when I took the trains but better late than never.
In LA they just proposed the Fareless System Initiative in hopes of making all metro rides free for everyone.
I always wanted the convenience of having my TAP card in my phone but free rides sound better to me.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jailbreak74 Avatar
60 months ago

hmm, it seems there is no option to transfer an existing balance like I had with the DC Metro. Just to add funds to a new card. Oh well, next time I’m in LA I’ll just have to use up my old balance the old fashioned way: with plastic.


You can use their tap app to transfer your current card but I guess you can no longer use the physical card.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tap-la/id1505839730
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gnasher729 Avatar
60 months ago

With this express card mode, is the amount of of the bus fare auto payed at that time, or do you have to "fill up" the tap card before hand?
In London, it's connected to a bank account of yours. The money is taken out at the end of the day. Obviously they can't take money when you tap in, because the amount is unknown yet. Express card mode just identifies you. "gnasher was at this point".
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dontwalkhand Avatar
60 months ago

hmm, it seems there is no option to transfer an existing balance like I had with the DC Metro. Just to add funds to a new card. Oh well, next time I’m in LA I’ll just have to use up my old balance the old fashioned way: with plastic.


Download the app. I have successfully transferred my physical card to Apple Pay and even the Metro 31 day pass moved over.


Right, I keep reading stories like this and thinking “I wish we had this here in Berlin”. Then I remember that we don’t have any security gates or other checks before entry on public transport (although we’re still supposed to pay, in theory - legal free rides would be even better!)
Most US transit doesn’t have fare gates either. We aren’t all New York. You tap a validator before you get on the train or on the bus fare box.

Attachment Image
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dontwalkhand Avatar
60 months ago

In London, it's connected to a bank account of yours. The money is taken out at the end of the day. Obviously they can't take money when you tap in, because the amount is unknown yet. Express card mode just identifies you. "gnasher was at this point".
London is using open loop transit like NYC and Chicago are. LA, and DC are using closed loop transit.

Oyster is supposed to come to Apple Pay soon to join these closed loop cards as people have passes, government benefits, etc on them.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dontwalkhand Avatar
60 months ago

So when can I use it on my flying uber taxi. So I can fly from one large city to another in 15 minutes. :) I could live in one city and work in another :)
You can...when you get out of the flying Uber and need ground transport.

Come on Clipper Card!! I’m excited! I’m literally always in LA, so this is very useful for me. I’m also always in SF, so waiting on that!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)