Checking in and out with your debit card, credit card or mobile phone
Discover travel with your debit card
Traveling by public transport has never been easier. Simply check in and out with your debit card, credit card, or mobile phone, no need to top up your balance first, and no separate pass required.
Super convenient and works everywhere in the Netherlands. The travel costs are automatically debited from your account after your trip.
The benefits of checking in and out with your debit card
- No more checking your balance—travel immediately, without having to visit a ticket machine.
- No new/additional card required—simply use your own debit card or mobile phone.
Your travel expenses are automatically debited from your account afterwards.
Also suitable for travel with discount season tickets.
Always have insight into your travel expenses and journeys via your OVpay account.
Also suitable for your mobile phone or smartwatch.
How does traveling with your debit card work?
Hold your debit card, credit card, or mobile phone briefly against the card reader to check in.
When you exit, check out again with the same card at a card reader.
- Your fare will be calculated automatically and debited at the end of the day.
Please note: take your card out of your wallet so that you don't accidentally check in with the wrong card.
Forgot to check in or out? You can easily adjust this in the OVpay app or at ovpay.nl. Be sure to do this within 60 days of your trip. If you are entitled to a refund, the excess amount debited will be refunded to your account.
How does OVpay work?
Who is traveling with a debit card suitable for?
In principle, anyone with a debit card, but especially if you:
- Don't want to purchase an additional card
- Find topping up your balance a hassle and prefer to pay afterwards
- Travel by public transport occasionally and don't want to purchase a separate pass for this
- Are traveling in the region as a tourist or visitor
With my subscription(s), can I already travel with my debit card?
Last updated: 15-12-2025
A number of public transport passes are already available for travel with a debit card, and more are being added all the time.
Below, we have summarized what is currently available and what is not yet available.
| Subscription | Available on debit card? |
| Pay per ride | Yes |
| Age discount | Yes |
| HTM Monthly discount | Yes, under the name HTM 20% discount |
| Regional subscription | Available soon |
| Kids voor Niks | Not available yet |
| Ooievaarspas | Not available yet |
To see if your subscription from another transport provider can already be added to your debit card, check here.
Is your HTM subscription not yet available on your debit card? Keep an eye on this page.
If you prefer to travel with a separate card for public transport, take a look at traveling with the OV-pas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to activate OVpay?
No, activation is not necessary. You can travel immediately by holding your bank card or mobile phone against the card reader.
Do I need to set anything up or connect anything?
You don't need to register or activate anything. Just check in and out, and you're done. Want to view your travel history later? Then you can voluntarily link your pass to an online account via ovpay.nl.
How much does it cost to travel with a debit card?
You pay the same as with an OV-chipkaart. There are no additional costs for using OVpay. You pay the regular boarding fare and kilometer rate, as you are accustomed to with HTM. If you travel with a subscription on your OV-chipkaart, click here to see if your subscription is also available for the debit card.
How does the age discount work on the debit card?
If you are aged between 4 and 11 or 65+, you can travel with a 34% discount on your debit card on city and regional transport in the Netherlands. You must first register via ovpay.nl or in the OVpay app. Please also register if you already travel with an age discount on your OV-chipkaart. You cannot activate your age discount at HTM Service Shops.
How do I check in and out?
Hold your debit card against the card reader. When you have successfully checked in, you will hear a single short beep and see a confirmation on the screen. When you check out, you will hear two short beeps and see another notification on the screen.
Tip: Always check in and out with the same card. Hold your card separately to the card reader. This will prevent you from accidentally checking in or out with the wrong card.
Why is my debit card being declined?
There could be several reasons for this, but a common one is that the bank's most recent attempt to debit the cost of a previous trip from your account failed. If this happens, make sure you have enough money in your account so that the bank's next attempt is successful.
What should I do if I forget to check in or out?
Forgot to check in or out? You can easily adjust this in the OVpay app or at ovpay.nl. Please do so within 60 days of your trip. Are you eligible for a refund? If so, it will be transferred to your account within 15 days. Do you still have to pay? The amount will be debited from your account within 15 days.
Can my child travel with a debit card?
Yes, this is possible if your child has their own bank card with contactless payment. Your child can then check in and out themselves with their own card. If your child does not have their own bank card or you do not want the travel costs to be debited from your child's bank account, there are other options:
- HTM Children's Day Ticket: Your child can travel with HTM for a whole day at a greatly reduced rate. Available for purchase at the HTM Service Shop or in the HTM app.
- Free travel with Kids voor Niks: Does your child (aged 4 to 11) live in the municipality of The Hague? Then apply for free travel via bereikbarestad.denhaag.nl.
- Travel with the OV-pas.
Can multiple people travel with the same debit card?
No, this is not possible. Just like with the OV-chipkaart, one pass is a ticket for one person. If you have multiple debit cards linked to the same bank account, each person can travel with their own card.
How do I link my debit card if I want to purchase a subscription?
To do this, you must first take a tram, bus, or train journey using your contactless debit or credit card. The day after your journey, you will find a reference number consisting of 18 digits and letters starting with NLOV in your bank statement.
Enter this reference number together with the amount debited during the purchase process in the webshop to link your card.
Create an account with HTM right away and you can skip this step for future orders.
Is it safe to travel with my debit card?
Traveling with your debit card is just as safe as using it in a store. The transport company cannot see your bank details, and the bank cannot see your travel details. This means your details are safe.