When you travel on credit, you pay a base rate plus an amount for each kilometre travelled. When you check in, an boarding fare will be deducted from your credit. You can see this as a kind of deposit. When you check out, the boarding fare is refunded minus the kilometres travelled and base rate. Therefore, if you do not check out, you will pay the full boarding fare.
Boarding fare
The boarding fare for the bus is usually € 4.00. For some longer routes the boarding fare could be more. For exceptions see the webpage Different boarding rates.
Basic fare
The basic fare is determined at the national level. In 2023 it is set at € 1,08.
Costs per kilometre
The kilometre fare is not determined at a national level. This can differ per travel area. Would you like to know the costs? Plan your trip using our travel planner. The costs are mentioned in the given advice.
Children between 4 to 11 years of age and adults 65 years and older are entitled to a 34% discount if they travel by bus on credit. Young people from 12 to 18 years also get a 34% discount, only in the province of Noord-Brabant. These discounts are valid at any time during the day.
What do you need to do?
In order to travel at a discount, you need a personal OV-chipkaart. Your date of birth is on your personal OV-chipkaart. The card then automatically calculates your age discount when you check in and out. So, you only have to check in and out with a personal OV-chipkaart.
Top-up credit
Do you have enough credit on your OV-chipkaart? Make sure you 'top-up' your card before you travel. This is because you need to have enough credit for the boarding fare or for the trip fare. Do you always want to have sufficient credit on your OV-chipkaart? Then opt for automatic top-ups.
