What to Expect: Using Contactless Credit or Debit Cards & Fare Inspection

ORCA customers who pay for transit using contactless payments, by tapping a credit or debit card – whether it is a physical card or in a digital wallet, may be asked by fare inspection staff for proof of payment during their ride.

If you Tap to Pay using a credit or debit card, you may be asked by transit staff to share the last four digits of your payment card number. In some scenarios, you may also be asked to share the first six digits of your card number. This information allows fare inspection staff to confirm that you have paid your fare for your trip. The last four digits of a credit card number are not unique to your payment card and allow fare inspectors to review transaction history without having access to sensitive information. 

Here are more details as to what to expect from fare inspection when using a contactless credit or debit card:

What to Do / Expect

When requested by fare inspection staff, hold up the payment card used, and cover the middle digits of the card number (and any other sensitive information, like your card’s expiration date) for the purpose of performing fare inspection. Fare inspection staff will look only for the last four digits of the payment card number. If fare inspection staff find multiple results with the last four digits matching your payment card, the fare inspection staff will need to ask for the first six digits of the payment card.
If you do not want to hold up your payment card for fare inspection staff to read, you may read aloud the last four digits of the payment card number for fare inspection. Once again, if fare inspection staff find multiple results with the last four digits matching your payment card, the fare inspection staff will need to ask for the first six digits of the payment card.
If you use a digital payment card, fare inspection staff will ask you to open your digital wallet app. You will not be asked to provide the first 6 digits of a digital payment card, as these numbers are not visible in a digital wallet.

If needed, follow the below instructions to view the correct last four digits of the digital payment card:

In Apple Wallet™

Open the Apple Wallet app on your device and click on the digital credit or debit card you used to pay.

Click on the card symbol in the upper right corner to see more (this may vary based on your operating system) and locate the four digits next to your “Apple Pay” number.

In Google Wallet™

Open the Google Wallet app on your device and click on the digital credit or debit card you used to pay; you may have to swipe left or right to find the card.

At the top, click More () and view the last four digits of the “Virtual Card Number.”

In Samsung Wallet™

Open the Samsung Wallet app on your device and tap the “All” tab, and then tap “Payment Cards.”

Click on the credit or debit card you used to pay, and from here, you can view your Virtual Card Number.”

For more detailed information about locating the last four digits of a credit or debit card in a digital wallet, including on smart watches, click here.

What Not to Do / Red Flags

Fare Inspection staff will never ask for your full payment card number. If that is requested of you, do NOT share your full payment card number.
Fare Inspection staff will never ask to take your payment card. If that is requested of you, do NOT hand over your payment card. Your credit or debit card will never be scanned on a mobile inspection device.
Fare Inspection staff will never ask you for sensitive information like your PIN or other identifying information.
Fare Inspection staff will never take a photo of your payment card.

Other Ways to Pay Your Fare

Are you uncomfortable sharing the last four digits of your payment card number with fare inspection staff? That’s fine! There are other ways to pay for your transit trips:

ORCA cards
ORCA cards in Google Wallet
Paper tickets purchased at ORCA ticket vending machines*
TransitGo app on a mobile device*
Cash

*Available for participating transit agencies

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