How it works

You can check in and out with your contactless card or phone anytime. No need to apply or set anything up beforehand – it's that simple! Here's how OVpay works.

Step by step

  1. Hold your contactless debit or credit card or your mobile phone up to the card reader. A single beep means you've checked in. To ensure you use the right card, take the one you want out of your wallet.
  2. At your destination, hold the same card you checked in with up to the card reader, just as with any public transport smart card. Two beeps means you’ve checked out.
  3. You'll pay automatically. The day after your journey, a payment with 'NLOV' in the description will appear in your transaction overview. All the day's fares are added up, and your account will be charged for the total amount. You'll always pay the same fares as you would with your OV-chipkaart.
  4. Want to view your travel expenses for a specific date? Download the OVpay app or visit our self-service page. On the self-service page, enter the 14 characters following 'NLOV' along with the amount paid.

Is my contactless card compatible?

You can check in and out with:

  • a contactless debit card issued by ABN AMRO, ASN Bank, bunq, ING, Knab, Rabobank, RegioBank, SNS or Triodos.
  • a contactless Mastercard or Visa credit card (issued by ICS, among others).
  • a smartphone compatible with contactpless payments, linked to one of the above-mentioned debit or credit cards. Also with Apple Pay and Google Wallet.
  • a foreign contactless debit or credit card issued by Maestro, V PAY, Mastercard or Visa.

You won't even need an OV-chipkaart or subscription. No registration is necessary. 

Tip: Fully remove the card you want to use from your wallet. This way, the card reader will scan the correct card, ensuring you pay the correct fare.

Good to know

  • Want to check in and out with your phone? Make sure contactless payments are switched on.
  • We're working closely with transport operators to develop. For example, we're currently working on the ability to add (discount) subscriptions to your contactless card.
  • Wondering if you can add your (discount) subscription yet? Check the website of your transport operator for the latest information. - If you're 65 or older or under 12, you can add an age-based discount to your contactless card. This will let you travel by bus, tram or metro at a 34% discount. Learn more here.
  • Curious if you can use OVpay for travel yet? Answer a few quick questions to find out.

Do you have a missed check-in or check-out?