Clipper Customer Agreement
YOUR FIRST USE AND ANY SUBSEQUENT USE OF THE CLIPPER® FARE PAYMENT SYSTEM (FPS), WEBSITE OR MOBILE APP SIGNIFIES YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS CLIPPER CUSTOMER AGREEMENT AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND AGREEMENT TO ANY DISCLOSURES MADE TO YOU IN THIS AGREEMENT.
1. DEFINITIONS
1.1 Customer - is a person who uses the Clipper FPS for any purpose, including creating or accessing a Clipper Account, registering a Clipper Card, adding cash value or a transit pass to a Clipper Card, using a Clipper Card to pay for transit service, using a Contactless Bank Card to pay for transit service, or purchasing a Mobile Ticket on the Clipper mobile app.
1.2 MTC - is the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. For more information, visit https://mtc.ca.gov/.
1.3 Clipper Card - is the plastic card or card in a digital wallet licensed to Customers to pay transit fares on participating transit systems through the Clipper FPS. The Clipper Card is the property of MTC as the Clipper Card Issuer. Each Card is uniquely identified by a serial number.
1.4 Clipper Fare Payment System (FPS) - is the trademarked system that the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) manages on behalf of the region's transit operators (Service Providers). The Clipper FPS is designed to collect fare payment on behalf of Service Providers and may also be used to support Service Provider parking and paratransit programs, as well as affiliated regional bike share services and transit trip planning.
1.5 Service Providers - are transit agencies participating in the Clipper FPS. Current information on Service Providers is available at clippercard.com.
1.6 Clipper Customer Service Center - is an agent of MTC. The telephone number and business hours of the Clipper Customer Service Center can be found on the Clipper website and mobile app.
1.7 Clipper Account - is a record in the Clipper FPS associated with a Customer who has provided a valid name, address, phone number, and email address.
1.8 Registered Customer - is a Customer who has created a Clipper Account for which the Customer has provided a valid name, address, phone number, and email address by registering on www.clippercard.com, on the Clipper mobile app, at an in-person customer service center, or by calling the Clipper Customer Service Center.
1.9 Registered Clipper Card - is a Clipper Card associated with a Clipper Account for which the Customer has provided a valid name, address, phone number, and email address by registering on www.clippercard.com, on the Clipper mobile app, at an in-person customer service center, or by calling the Clipper Customer Service Center.
1.10 Clipper Websites - include www.clippercard.com and clipperstartcard.com.
1.11 Account Manager - is someone who accepts an invitation to manage someone else's Clipper Cards in their Clipper Account.
1.12 Inactive Funds - are the funds on an unregistered Clipper Card that has had no activity within the previous three (3) years or on a Registered Clipper Card where there has been no activity on either the Clipper Card or the associated Clipper Account within the previous three (3) years.
1.13 Undelivered Order - is a transaction that orders a transit pass or cash value that is not added to a Clipper Card for more than one hundred eighty (180) days after payment has been received.
2. TYPES AND FORMATS
2.1 Five types of Clipper Cards are available:
2.1.1 Adult Clipper Cards - are available for use by all Customers.
2.1.2 Youth Clipper Cards - are available for Customers age 5-18 who may qualify for discounts offered by Service Providers.
2.1.3 Senior Clipper Cards - are available for Customers age 65 and older who qualify for discounts offered by Service Providers.
2.1.4 Clipper Access Cards - are available for Customers with qualifying disabilities and are distributed in accordance with the Clipper Access Card Program, which is managed by MTC on behalf of the Service Providers. Customers with Clipper Access Cards qualify for discounts offered by Service Providers.
2.1.5 Clipper START Cards - are available for Customers with qualifying incomes and are distributed in accordance with Clipper START, which is managed by MTC on behalf of the Service Providers. Customers with Clipper START Cards qualify for discounts offered by Service Providers.
2.2 Clipper Cards are available in two formats:
2.2.1 Plastic Clipper Cards - are Clipper-branded plastic Clipper Cards.
2.2.2 Mobile Clipper Cards - are available through Apple and Google digital wallets.
Customers may, at their option, use the Clipper mobile app to convert their Plastic Clipper Cards to Mobile Clipper Cards; once converted, the Plastic Clipper Cards can no longer be used.
2.3 The Clipper FPS also accepts the following for fare payment according to the terms of the Service Providers:
2.3.1 Contactless Bank Cards - are credit, debit, and prepaid cards, including those in a mobile wallet, used to pay adult transit fares on participating transit systems. The Clipper FPS accepts MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover for contactless payment.
2.3.2 Paper Clipper Tickets - are paper tickets with a Clipper logo that a Service Provider issues that can be used for fare payment when tapped on a Clipper Card reader. Paper Clipper Tickets are subject to the terms of the Service Provider that issued the ticket in addition to this Customer Agreement.
2.3.3 Mobile Clipper Tickets - are only available for purchase through the Clipper mobile app. Mobile Tickets are subject to the terms of the Service Provider who has made the Mobile Tickets available on the app. Governance and enforcement are at the discretion of the Service Providers.
3. FARE PAYMENT TRANSACTIONS
3.1 A Customer may use the Clipper FPS to pay for transit fare or similar transactions with Service Providers. Each Service Provider determines the fares and other conditions for use of the Clipper FPS on its transit system.
3.2 All fares, including promotional or discount fares, are subject to review, change, and withdrawal by the relevant Service Provider at any time.
3.2.1 The Service Provider's existing policy for fare discounts based on age and other eligibility criteria shall determine whether a discount fare is applied.
3.3 If, for any reason, the Customer is not able to use the Clipper FPS on a participating Service Provider, the Customer may be required by the Service Provider to pay the fare in cash or an alternative payment method.
4. ADD VALUE TRANSACTIONS
4.1 MTC may require a minimum add value amount and establish a maximum amount that can be stored on the account. If a Customer tries to load value that causes the Clipper Account balance to exceed the maximum amount, the transaction or order will not be processed.
4.2 If a ride costs more than the cash value on the Customer's Clipper Card, Clipper may let the Customer complete the trip even if the fare exceeds the Clipper Card's remaining cash value. In such a case, Clipper will deduct the owed value from a subsequent add value transaction.
5. CLIPPER CARD LOSS AND DAMAGE
5.1 The Customer shall not alter or interfere with the graphic or data of the Clipper Card and shall take care to ensure that it is not interfered or tampered with. Plastic Clipper Cards that have been visibly altered will be considered damaged and not defective.
5.2 Balance Restoration for Lost, Stolen, Damaged or Compromised Clipper Cards:
5.2.1 Only a Registered Clipper Card is eligible for card balance protection. A Customer may apply to MTC for the cancellation of a lost, stolen, damaged or otherwise compromised Clipper Card and the issuance of a new Clipper Card or a refund subject to the payment of any fees, as described in Section 9.
5.2.2 The Customer is responsible for any payments made through use of the Clipper Card up until the time when the Customer reports the Clipper Card lost, stolen, damaged or otherwise compromised to the Clipper Customer Service Center.
5.2.3 The Clipper Customer Service Center will restore the full value of a Registered Clipper Card's balance as of the time when the Clipper Card was reported lost, stolen, damaged or otherwise compromised. Transit passes that are restored will have the same expiration date as the transit passes that were on the original Clipper Card.
5.3 Defective Clipper Cards
The Cardholder bears the Clipper Card at their own risk. If a Plastic Clipper Card malfunctions due to no fault of the Customer, they may return the Clipper Card to the Clipper Customer Service Center, and MTC shall refund any remaining cash value (except as provided in Section 7.4) or transfer any remaining Clipper Account value to a new Clipper Card if the Clipper Card is returned within six months from the date that the Customer first used the Clipper Card. If the Clipper Customer Service Center determines that the Clipper Card is not defective but has been damaged, the Customer may request a replacement Clipper Card in accordance with Section 5.2.
6. OPTIONAL FEATURES
6.1 Clipper Card Registration:
6.1.1 The Customer can register their Clipper Card with the Clipper Customer Service Center by providing a valid name, address, phone number and email address.
6.1.2 A Clipper Card must be Registered in order for the Customer to receive a copy of the transaction history record from the Clipper Customer Service Center.
6.1.3 The Clipper Customer Service Center may utilize the contact information associated with Registered Clipper Cards to communicate with Customers about issues related to the Registered Clipper Card, to refund Clipper Account balances associated with Registered Clipper Cards and/or funds collected for Undelivered Orders, or for the operation of the system per MTC's Clipper Privacy Policy, as referenced in Section 13.
6.1.4 MTC reserves the right to decline a request to register a Clipper Card or to refuse Registered Clipper Card services (refunds, card replacement, etc.) to prevent fraudulent use or abuse of Registered Clipper Card features and benefits.
6.2 Auto-Reload
6.2.1 By setting up Auto-Reload, the Customer authorizes MTC to automatically reload value to their Clipper Card by means of a credit card account or bank account whenever one of the following occurs: (1) the Customer's cash value or BART High Value Discount balance is below $10; (2) the Customer's transit pass expires; (3) the number of stored rides remaining on the Customer's Card falls below three; or (4) the cash value is reloaded according to the period frequency determined by the customer.
6.2.2 The Customer may request to terminate Auto-Reload at any time by editing the Auto-Reload set-up via www.clippercard.com or the Clipper mobile app, or by mailing or faxing an Auto-Reload form available at www.clippercard.com to the Clipper Customer Service Center. If the Clipper Card balance reaches an Auto-Reload threshold identified in Section 6.2.1 before the Auto-Reload termination process is completed, the Clipper Card will continue to Auto-Reload the pre-specified value and the Customer will be liable for payment.
6.2.3 If Auto-Reload payment for cash value is declined for any reason, the backup payment method will be used for Auto-Reload. If the Customer has not configured a secondary payment method for Auto-Reload, or the secondary payment method fails, no value or transit pass will be added.
6.2.4 MTC reserves the right to decline a request to set up a Clipper Card for Auto-Reload or to accept an alternative payment (bank or credit card) source to prevent fraudulent use or abuse of Auto-Reload features and benefits.
6.3 Promotions
6.3.1 Promotions are created and managed by Service Providers and MTC. Promotional codes created by parties other than the Service Providers and MTC are not redeemable on the Clipper FPS.
6.3.2 Customers must be Registered to redeem promotional codes. Promotional codes can only be used for cash value and transit passes. Promotional codes cannot be used to purchase Mobile Clipper Tickets and Paper Clipper Tickets.
6.3.3 The terms and parameters of use of promotions are set by Service Providers and MTC. Promotional offers will not be redeemable if their use is outside of the established parameters.
6.3.4 MTC reserves the right to monitor individual Registered Customers' use of promotional codes to prevent fraudulent use or abuse of promotions.
6.4 Account Manager Designation
6.4.1 A Registered Customer can grant Registered Customers access to their Clipper account by designating up to five Account Managers. Customers can invite or remove an Account Manager by accessing their Clipper Account on www.clippercard.com or the Clipper mobile app, or by contacting the Clipper Customer Service Center.
6.4.2 By designating another person as an Account Manager, the Customer authorizes the other person to access the Customer's Clipper Account on the Clipper website or mobile app, to add value and transit passes to the Customer's Clipper Cards, to view the Customer's trip and order history, and to submit a trip dispute on behalf of the Customer.
6.4.3 Account Managers are not able or authorized to use the Customer's cash value or transit passes, to view, add, remove or use the Customer's saved payment methods, to request a refund where the repayment method is a check, or to edit the Customer's personal or login information.
6.4.4 A Customer who has been invited to be an Account Manager must accept or decline the invitation by accessing their Clipper Account on www.clippercard.com or the Clipper mobile app. A Registered Customer may act as an Account Manager for up to five other Registered Customers. The Clipper Customer Service Center cannot accept or decline Account Manager invitations on the Customer's behalf.
6.4.5 A Customer who has accepted an invitation to be an Account Manager may remove themselves as an Account Manager by accessing their Clipper Account on www.clippercard.com or the Clipper mobile app, or by contacting the Clipper Customer Service Center.
6.4.6 MTC reserves the right to remove an Account Manager from a Customer's Clipper Account to prevent fraudulent use or abuse.
7. REFUNDS
7.1 A Customer may request a refund of the remaining cash value in a Clipper Account by visiting www.clippercard.com, the mobile app, or by calling the Clipper Customer Service Center. Refunds are subject to the fees in Section 9.
7.2 Requests for refunds for transit passes, stored rides or mobile tickets are subject to the policies of the individual Service Providers.
7.3 Undelivered Orders expire after one hundred eighty (180) days. Any reinstatement or refund to the Cardholder of the value of an Undelivered Order shall be at the sole discretion of MTC.
7.4 The Clipper Customer Service Center will not provide a refund of cash value added through a pre-tax or tax-exempt transit benefit program established pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 132.
7.5 MTC reserves the right to refuse to provide a refund of cash value that was added to a Registered Clipper Card prior to the Clipper Card's being registered in the name of the Customer requesting the refund.
8. CLIPPER ACCOUNT VALUE
8.1 MTC's master record of the Clipper FPS is the only record MTC shall accept to establish the amount of remaining value in any Clipper Account.
8.2 Information provided by the Clipper Customer Service Center, through the Clipper Website at www.clippercard.com, or through the Clipper mobile app about the existing value in a Clipper Account is only accurate as of the date and time provided and is subject to change. No warranty is given as to the ongoing availability of that cash value in the event the Customer (or a prior Customer, if any) violates or has violated any term of this Agreement, or if the funding source for a transaction adding cash value to a Clipper Account subsequently reverses the payment.
9. CUSTOMER FEES
The following non-refundable fees will be charged to the Customer, unless waived by MTC:
9.1 Adult Card Acquisition - $3 (Not applicable when Auto-Reload is set up for an Adult Clipper Card at the same time the Clipper Card is acquired.)
9.2 Clipper Card Replacement and Balance Transfer for Clipper Access and Adult Clipper Card - $3.
9.3 Refund Processing - $5 (See Section 7.)
No fee is charged for converting a Plastic Clipper Card to a Mobile Clipper Card.
10. SELLING OR SHARING CARDS
10.1 The sale by a Customer of a Clipper Card or Clipper Account Value is strictly prohibited. No warranty is given as to continuing usability of a Clipper Card that is purchased from any entity other than an authorized Clipper Card distributor.
10.2 The sharing by a Customer of a Clipper Card that is unique to a Customer, such as a Youth Clipper Card, a Senior Clipper Card, Clipper START, a Clipper Access Card, or a Clipper Card that has had value or transit passes added through an institutional program or a pre-tax or tax-exempt transit benefit program established pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 132, is strictly prohibited.
11. RESERVATION
11.1 MTC does not warrant that any particular service and/or facility will be provided by MTC of by any Service Provider at any time or place.
11.2 To the maximum extent permitted by law, no warranty is given that operation of the Clipper FPS will be available with any Service Provider at any time or place, and MTC shall not be liable for any loss, injury or damage resulting therefrom, whether direct, indirect, special or consequential. To the extent applicable law limits this disclaimer of warranty or liability, it may be that MTC may be liable for damages proximately caused by a failure to execute a transaction with the Clipper FPS, provided, however, that even in such event, MTC will have no liability if: (1), through no fault of MTC's, the Customer does not have enough money in their Clipper Account; (2) the Clipper reader or other aspects of the Clipper system was or were not working properly and the Customer knew about the breakdown when they performed the transaction; (3) the Customer's Clipper Card was reported lost or stolen, or compromised, and MTC has reason to believe in its sole discretion that a transaction has not been properly authorized or has been attempted for fraudulent or illegal purposes; (4) the Clipper Account has been canceled; (5) the Customer did not properly follow this Customer Agreement; or (6) circumstances beyond MTC's control (such as fire or flood or Internet or other network outage) prevent the transaction, despite reasonable precautions that MTC has taken. There may be other exceptions stated in MTC's agreements with the Customer.
11.3 The authorized staff of MTC and the Service Providers shall have the right at any time to inspect any Clipper Card and Clipper Account data therein and any Contactless Bank Card that a Customer presents as proof of fare payment on the Clipper FPS.
11.4 The authorized staff of MTC and the Service Providers shall have the right to confiscate a Plastic Clipper Card or block a Mobile Clipper Card if it is determined in the exercise of their sole discretion that the individual using the Clipper Card is ineligible for the discounts granted therein or if it is determined that the Clipper Card is otherwise being used fraudulently.
11.5 MTC reserves the right to:
11.5.1 Recover any cost, expenses, loss, and damages incurred or suffered by MTC as a result of Clipper Card alteration or interfering with the Clipper Card or Clipper Account data.
11.5.2 Waive these conditions or any part thereof against any person.
11.5.3 Deduct any value owed by the Customer related to the Customer's use of transit service from the Customer's Clipper Account balance.
11.5.4 Block a Clipper Card, Contactless Bank Card or Clipper Account from use on the Clipper FPS for non-payment of any value owed by the Customer.
11.5.5 Block Clipper Account with only Inactive Funds. Any refund of Inactive Funds remaining in the Clipper Account at the time it was blocked shall be at the sole discretion of MTC, subject to the requirements of Section 7.
11.5.6 Stop acceptance of a Clipper Card due to change in Clipper FPS compatibility and security requirements, and offer a replacement in accordance with Section 5.2.1. MTC will provide written notice on the Clipper Website at www.clippercard.dom if it plans Clipper FPS changes that will stop acceptance of a Clipper Card.
11.6 To the maximum extent permitted by law, MTC disclaims any responsibility or liability arising out of the utilization or attempted utilization of the Clipper Card with non-Service Providers or for other than authorized uses, as herein defined, including the use/misuse of Customer information, including personally identifiable information (PII), as defined in MTC's Clipper Privacy Policy, as amended, by a non-Service Provider and/or failure to protect Customer information, including PII, from unauthorized disclosure.
12. CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION
12.1 The collection, utilization and security of PII obtained from Customers is subject to the Clipper Privacy Policy, as amended. This policy may be amended from time to time, as deemed necessary by MTC. Any changes to the Privacy Policy will be posted on the Clipper Website at www.clippercard.com including the date of the amendment.
12.2 All PII relating to the Customer collected by the Clipper FPS shall be utilized by MTC and the Service Providers for the purposes of the operation and management of the Clipper FPS and shall serve as a source of information and data for transit and/or related services in general but shall otherwise be dealt with in a confidential manner by MTC and the Service Providers unless:
(a) The Customer's express written consent has been obtained; and/or
(b) As otherwise required by law or ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction.
12.3 The Customer retains the right to review all PII collected by the Clipper FPS pertaining to their Clipper Account, whether stored electronically or on paper. Any inquiry or request to obtain information, in accordance with the above provisions, should be directed in writing to the Clipper Customer Service Center. The Clipper Customer Service Center is only able to provide transaction history data for the prior 90-day period. MTC may adopt procedures for the review of such information, including, but not limited to, charging a fee for processing requests for access to PII.
12.4 A Customer who has used a Contactless Bank Card for fare payment can access limited transaction information by visiting www.clippercard.com and securely submitting via an online form the Contactless Bank Card number, expiration date and security code printed on the physical card.
12.5 MTC cannot secure PII that is released by Customers to third parties including, but not limited to, mobile phone providers and mobile payments providers. A Customer who chooses voluntarily to disclose information to a third party does so at their own risk. Customers are advised to refer to any user agreement or privacy policy promulgated by such third party.
13. TERMINATION
13.1 MTC may terminate this Agreement at any time and for any reason..
13.2 Following termination, the Customer will remain responsible for payment of amounts owed under this Agreement. If such unpaid charges are not properly remitted, the Customer may become liable for additional service charges, fines, or penalties, in accordance with applicable law.
14. CHANGES TO THIS AGREEMENT
MTC reserves the right to change the terms of this Agreement and any associated policies at any time by providing written notice on the Clipper Websites. Such changes go into effect and the Customer will be deemed to have received such notice thirty (30) days after posting of that notice on the Clipper Website at www.clippercard.com. Use of the Clipper FPS after that date constitutes conclusive proof of the Customer's acceptance of such changes.
15. RELEASE AND INDEMNITY
THE CUSTOMER HEREBY RELEASES MTC FROM ANY AND ALL LOSS, DAMAGE, OR INJURY WHATSOEVER, KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY MANNER CONNECTED WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE CLIPPER FPS OR THE AGREEMENT. NEITHER MTC, ITS OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, NOR AGENTS WILL HAVE ANY OBLIGATION OR LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE CUSTOMER USE OR THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CLIPPER FPS. THE CUSTOMER'S SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY FROM MTC WILL BE REPLACEMENT OF ANY DEFECTIVE CLIPPER CARD(S). THE CUSTOMER AGREES TO INDEMNIFY, PROTECT, AND HOLD HARMLESS MTC, ITS OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND ITS AGENTS FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY FOR ANY LOSS, DAMAGE, OR INJURY TO PERSONS OR PROPERTY ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THE CLIPPER FPS AND/OR THE AGREEMENT.
16. FAILURE TO COMPLY
16.1 Failure to comply with any portion of this agreement may result in MTC's blocking the Customer's use of the Clipper FPS.
16.2 When the Customer's use of the Clipper FPS is blocked in accordance with Section 16.1 above, the refund of any remaining Clipper Account value shall be at the absolute discretion of MTC and subject to such conditions as MTC deems fit, including surrender of a Plastic Clipper Card and deduction of any amount due or payable by the Customer to MTC and/or any Service Provider.
17. COMMUNICATION
Please address all questions, notifications, and communications to:
Clipper Customer Service Center
P.O. Box 318
Concord, CA 94522-0318
Tel: 877.878.8883 (TTY/TDD: 711 or 800.735.2929) and type Clipper
Fax: 925.686.8221
clippercard.com
Revised and posted to the Clipper website as of October 2, 2025.