Snapper on Bus

Image of a bus showing the Snapper card reader

Snapper card readers are positioned by the doors at the front and the back of the bus to tag on and off with Snapper. The readers provide important audio and visual information about your bus trip. Just hold your Snapper card flat and still to the Snapper fish on the card reader until you hear a beep. When the screen goes green, you are good to get on board.

 

Snapper card reader messages at tag on

Green = Good to board the bus

“BEEP” You are good to board the bus.

“BEEP” If your balance is below $12.00, or you have less than 7 days remaining on your pass, the readers will display your balance when you tag on.

“BEEP” If you received an IOU the last time you traveled it will be repaid when you next tag on. If you have received an IOU you will need to top up before you can board the bus again.

“Please remember to tag off” If you failed to tag off your previous trip, when you next tag on you will receive a missing tag off charge. This covers the cash fare to the end of the line. It will be displayed on the lower left of the screen.

“Transfer Applied” If you are transferring between services you will see “transfer applied” on the screen. As a result you will be charged the appropriate transfer discount.

Boarding the bus with a discount fare (concession)

“BEEP BEEP” The Snapper card reader will display your Child concession on screen to confirm you are paying the correct fare. This will also display at tag on when the cardholder has a Child Under 13 Free Pass.

“BEEP BEEP” The Snapper card reader will display your Tertiary concession on screen to confirm you are paying the correct fare.

“BEEP BEEP” The Snapper card reader will display your Accessible concession on screen to confirm you are paying the correct fare.

“BEEP BEEP” The Snapper card reader will display your Young Adult Connect or Community Connect concession on screen to confirm you are paying the correct fare.

More information about discount fares (concessions) can be found on the Concessions page.

Orange = Please try again

“Please try again” Hold your Snapper card flat and still to the Snapper fish on the card reader.

“More than one card detected” Other electronic cards in your hand can interfere when reading your Snapper. Make sure you hold just your Snapper to the card reader.

Red = Declined

“Please pay the driver” A negative balance will display on the card reader. You’ll need to top up the amount shown before you can use your Snapper to board the bus. This could be the result of an IOU, forgetting to tag off the last time you travelled or your pass is not valid on the current bus route.

“Please pay the driver” If the card you are using was reported lost to Snapper, then it will display as blocked and cannot be used on the bus.

Snapper card reader messages at tag off

Green = Good to get off the bus

When you tag off the fare for your journey will display on the left side of the screen.

“Beep” As you tag off, the fare charged to your Snapper card will display on the Snapper card reader.

“Please check your balance” If your balance is below $12.00, or you have less than 7 days remaining on your pass, the readers will display your balance when you tag off. This will remind you to top up.

“BEEP” If you have a travel pass that meets the criteria to cover your journey, then the pass name and expiry date will display on the reader at tag off. This also applies to cards with a Child Under 13 Free Pass loaded.

Orange= Please try again

“Please try again” Hold your Snapper card flat and still to the Snapper fish on the card reader.

“More than one card detected” Other electronic cards in your hand can interfere when reading your Snapper. Make sure you hold just your Snapper to the card reader.

Red = Declined

“Fare already paid” You cannot tag off at the same spot you tagged on. If you need to cancel your tag on please advise the driver. If you have received this message in error please contact Snapper for support.

Additional resources