How long do Oyster cards last?

How long do Oyster cards last? The pay as you go credit on your Visitor Oyster card never expires so you can keep your card until your next visit, or lend it to family and friends. If you don't need your Visitor Oyster card, you can get the remaining credit refunded. The £5 you paid for your card won't be refunded.

How do I register my old Oyster card?

Register your Oyster card To register your card, create a contactless and Oyster account. Visitor Oyster cards can't be registered. If you're transferring your credit or discount to a new Oyster card, make at least one journey with it first, wait 24 hours, and then sign in to your contactless and Oyster account.

Can I buy an Oyster card at Heathrow Airport?

The most convenient places to buy an Oyster card are Underground stations across London, including Heathrow airport. You can buy one using either cash or your credit/debit card. Although there are a few manned ticket offices in London, the likelihood is that you will buy an Oyster card from a ticket machine.

Why has my Oyster card been deactivated?

It's memory space, TfL recently said that there were 16.5 million dormant Oyster cards out there with just under 30 million pounds of credit on them. No computer system really wants to have to remember 16.5 million details on its active servers if it can avoid it. So dormant accounts are moved off the active system.

Do Oyster cards get deactivated?

There is no expiry date on Oyster cards.

What happens if you dont use your Oyster card?

If you want to do it over the phone, call TfL customer services on 0343 222 1234 between 8am and 8pm. For full info on what to do about lost, stolen or faulty Oyster cards, see the 'Refunds and replacements' section of the TfL website.

Are Oyster cards expensive?

Oyster fares and caps are the same whether you use a standard Oyster or a Visitor Oyster, a common misconception. Visitor Oyster cards you pay an activation fee (£5 in 2023) which is non-refundable. If you buy a standard Oyster card in London or online after 4 September 2022 you now have to pay £7 for the card.

What is the difference between an Oyster card and a Visitor Oyster card?

In conclusion, the main difference between Standard and Visitor Oyster cards is that Standard Oyster cards are reusable, while Visitor Oyster cards are disposable. In addition, standard Oyster cards do not come with a daily price cap, while Visitor Oyster cards do.

Is it cheaper to get an Oyster card or a Travelcard?

As a general rule a Travelcard is more expensive than an Oyster card or Contactless payment card. The exception is if you make 3 or more journeys for 6 days or more within a 7 day period. In this case a 7 day Travelcard works out cheaper than an Oyster or Contactless payment card.

Can I use an Oyster card without registering it?

You can use your Oyster card to pay as you go at any time without providing your personal information to TfL. You can also add weekly and monthly season tickets to your Oyster card without needing to register your card or create an online account.

How much is a new Oyster card?

Get a new Oyster card You need to pay £7 and add a minimum amount of pay as you go credit, or a season ticket to your new card to use it straight away. Once you've got your new Oyster card, you can use our TfL Oyster and contactless app.

Is Oyster card cheaper than pay as you go?

It's more than 50% cheaper than buying a paper Travelcard or single tickets with cash. Oyster cards have a daily price cap – once you reach this limit, you won't pay for any additional journeys (excluding Thames Clippers River Bus where there is no capping).

What are the cons of Oyster card?

How much does an Oyster card cost?

How much does an Oyster card cost? The Oyster card costs £7. You then add money to the card to pay for your travel. The £7 fee is not a deposit.