FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Please explore our FAQs and speak with your school’s site administrator or contact us for more support.
Eligibility and How to Apply
Nothing! The Student Transit Pass is totally free. If you lose the card with the pass on it, then you’ll be charged a $3 replacement fee from Clipper.
Students in grades 6-12 at over 160 participating Alameda County schools can apply for a free Student Transit Pass, depending on which type of school district you’re in. Check your school’s status on our Apply for a Pass page.
Just visit our Apply for a Pass page and click on the application for your school. Be sure to have a parent or guardian nearby to sign at the end.
Once you apply, it can take 4-6 weeks for a Youth Clipper card with the Student Transit Pass loaded on it to be delivered to your school’s site administrator (longer at the beginning of the school year and during holidays). If you already have a Youth Clipper card, add the serial number to your application and the pass will be loaded remotely to it within 2-4 weeks after you apply.
Reach out to the site admin at your school for updates. If it’s been more than 6 weeks since you applied, feel free to contact us or check in via our help request form.
Applications may be denied for the following reasons:
- You already have an active Student Transit Pass. You only need to apply for the pass once—if you received one at another school, it will continue to work. If you need a replacement, follow the steps on our Replace Your Pass page.
- You entered some information incorrectly, like your birth date or student ID. Talk to your site administrator if you believe your application may have incorrect information.
The pass remains valid until you leave high school, as long as you’re enrolled in a participating Alameda County school—even if you transfer or move from middle to high school.
Nope! Once you get your pass, you don’t need to apply again—it lasts until you leave high school. If you lose your card, please follow the steps on our Replace Your Pass page to get a new one. If your pass stops working for some reason, speak with your site administrator or contact us.
Using the Pass
If using a plastic card: Tap the card on the reader when boarding a bus or entering a BART station. If it’s your first time using the card, it may require a few taps.
If the pass is on your phone: Open the Clipper app or your phone’s wallet app and tap your phone to the card reader.
Add cash value to ride BART and other transit services throughout the Bay Area. Cash value can be added to your Youth Clipper card online, on your phone, or in person at participating retailers, self-service machine, or staffed service location — just follow Clipper’s instructions to reload your card. Bus rides with your local agency are free and do not require any cash value!
Yes, you can transfer the pass from a plastic card to a phone using Apple Wallet or Google Pay, or the Clipper app. After the transfer takes place, the plastic card will be deactivated and no longer work. Learn how to transfer the pass to your phone on the Clipper website.
Pass Replacement and Troubleshooting
There are several options available for replacing lost or stolen passes. For detailed instructions, visit our Replace Your Pass page.
- Touch Card Below: Tap the card on the reader again. It might take a few tries, especially the first time.
- Invalid: The card might be defective. Check for physical damage and request a replacement if necessary. Did you transfer the card to your phone? If so, the plastic one won't work anymore.
- Low Funds: First, make sure you're riding a local bus like AC Transit, Wheels, or Union City Transit—ask the driver to be sure the fare payment system is set to local routes. If so, then the pass might not be working anymore. Use our help request form to reactivate it.
If you're still enrolled in a participating school, then you can continue using your Student Transit Pass after you turn 19. However, you might need to ask for your pass to be reactivated. Just tell your site administrator or fill out a reactivation request.
