What Happens If You Don’t Tap Out on the Tube?
“Oops, I Forgot to Tap Out!” – Now What?
You’re tired, rushing, or just distracted. You ride the Tube, hop off at your stop… and forget to tap out at the yellow Oyster or contactless reader.
It happens more often than you think — especially to tourists, distracted commuters, or people using unfamiliar exits.
But here’s the question:
What actually happens if you don’t tap out?
Do you get fined?
Are you charged extra?
Does TfL send a stern letter to your nan?
Let’s break it down — with no jargon, no myths, just the facts.
The Short Answer: Yes, You’ll Be Charged — Sometimes a Lot
If you don’t tap out, TfL (Transport for London) doesn’t know where your journey ended.
So the system assumes the worst-case scenario — and charges you the maximum fare possible for your journey type.
That’s not a penalty fare or fine — it’s just how the system works.
Here’s what that means in real numbers:
Contactless card users: charged a “maximum fare” for your journey — often £7.70 to £9.40, depending on zones and time
Oyster card users: similar rules apply, with maximum fares ranging up to £8.60
It’s like being charged for a Zone 1–9 journey during peak hours… even if you only went two stops in Zone 2.
What Counts as “Not Tapping Out”?
Here are common scenarios where this happens:
Forgetting to tap out at a station with barrier-free exits (like some Overground or National Rail stations)
Jumping off the Tube in a rush and heading straight to the bus
Accidentally tapping the wrong card or phone when exiting
Taking a route that starts and ends within the same zone but still requires tapping
Losing connection if your digital card (e.g. Apple Pay) doesn’t scan properly
It Can Also Impact Daily & Weekly Caps
If you don’t tap out properly, your trip may not count toward your daily or weekly contactless cap — meaning:
You pay more overall
You miss out on discounts you’d otherwise get after a few trips
So a forgotten tap might cost you not just on that trip, but across the whole week.
Do You Get Fined?
Not automatically. But you can be fined or penalised if:
A TfL inspector checks your card and finds no valid journey recorded
You pass through the wrong exit intentionally (e.g., trying to dodge fares)
You habitually “miss” taps and it looks suspicious
Penalty fares are:
£100, reduced to £50 if paid in 21 days
Applies to TfL Rail, Tube, DLR, Overground, and Elizabeth Line
What’s the Reason for Tapping Out?
The Tube isn’t a flat fare system like a bus. Fares depend on:
Zones travelled
Time of day (peak or off-peak)
Type of card (Oyster vs contactless)
Route taken (especially with National Rail or interchanges)
Tapping in starts the fare calculation, and tapping out completes it.
No tap out? TfL doesn’t know how far you went — so they assume you went far.
What If the Reader’s Broken?
If the tap-out reader isn’t working, don’t panic. TfL recommends:
Report it immediately to staff or through the TfL website/app
Tap out at a nearby validator if possible (e.g., if there’s one by another exit)
If you were charged a maximum fare, you can usually apply for an automatic refund
Can You Get a Refund?
Yes — if it was a genuine mistake, and you don’t do it often.
How to request a refund:
Use the TfL website: Sign in, check your journey history, and click "Apply for a refund"
Or use the TfL Oyster/contactless app
You usually must apply within 8 weeks of the trip
TfL may limit how many refund requests you can make per month
They’re pretty forgiving for occasional mistakes. But if it happens a lot, they might refuse the refund.
What About Journey “Timeouts”?
This one catches people out often.
TfL allows up to 90 minutes between tapping in and out — after that, it treats the journey as incomplete and charges the maximum fare.
Here’s when that’s relevant:
If you stop for dinner mid-journey and forget to resume within 90 mins
If you fall asleep and wake up too late to finish your trip
If your interchange (like at Stratford or Clapham Junction) is delayed too long
Always finish your journey in one go, if you can.
Tourists: Watch Out for These
Tourists often forget to tap out because:
Their station has no barriers, especially on the Overground or DLR
They used a phone and it didn’t register properly
They don’t realise they need to tap both in and out
If you’re using contactless and unsure — just look for a yellow card reader and tap it before leaving the station.
Even if there are no gates, you still need to tap.
Pro Tip: Set Up Journey Notifications
If you’re using contactless with Apple/Google Pay or a physical bank card:
Register your card on the TfL website
You’ll be able to view all journeys
You’ll get alerts when you’ve been overcharged
You can request refunds online — no phone calls or drama
What About Buses?
Buses work differently.
You only tap in, never out. It’s always a flat fare (£1.75). So don’t worry about missing a tap on the bus.
But for all rail services (Tube, Overground, DLR, Elizabeth Line, some National Rail) — tapping in and out is essential.
Final Thoughts
In a city where the Tube is life, it pays to know the small stuff — like how much forgetting a single beep can cost you.
So the next time you're juggling bags, messages, and a train change, just remember:
Tap in. Tap out. Save pounds.
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