Buying a Snapper card

Snapper is cheaper, faster and easier to manage than cash. You can use your Snapper card to pay for your bus and rail travel in the Greater Wellington Region.

You can buy a Snapper loaded up with credit right now and we’ll mail it to you, or head to your nearest Snapper retailer to buy one in-store.

What does it cost to buy a Snapper card?

  • Card: Our Recommended Retail Price (RRP) of a Snapper card is $10.  Some retailers set a different price.
  • Bank/Merchant transaction fees: You may also incur additional fees when paying by credit or debit card, or by EFTPOS. This fee covers the cost incurred by the retailer, for electronic transactions. However, you must be provided with a free alternative option.
  • Service fee: There is also a 25c fee should you wish to top up your card at any time at a retailer.
  • When buying a Snapper card online, you’ll pay the RRP of $10, plus shipping.

Buy a card online here

Cheaper than cash

You’ll pay less using a Snapper card than using cash. You can view current fares (set by the Greater Wellington Regional Council) on the Metlink website.
Snapper can save you even more money on your travel, with travel passes and concessions.

Find out more about concessions.
Found out more about travel passes.

Faster than cash

Paying with your Snapper card is the quickest way to travel. Just tag your Snapper card to the appropriate reader. You’ll automatically be charged the right fare when you tag off.

Find out how to board the bus with Snapper.
Find out how to board the train with Snapper. 

Types of Snapper cards

Snapper Red

 The Snapper Red is the classic Snapper card that will automatically charge you an adult fare unless you choose to apply and load a concession to it.

Who can use this card?

This card should be used by anyone 19 years or over.  Adult fares will be charged by default, but if you are eligible for a Young Adult Connect, Tertiary,  Accessible, or Community Connect concession – then these can be applied for and added to a red Snapper card.

Snapper Green

The Snapper Green will charge child fares by default – it is permanently loaded with a child concession which you will never have to apply to renew.

Who can use this card?

This card should be used by anyone between the ages of 5 and 18 (or 18+ and still at secondary school – whichever comes later). For children aged between 5 and 12, a Child Under 13 Free Pass can be loaded to the card to allow the user free travel.