Clipper Access FAQ

You need to fill out either the Basic or Medical application and take them to a transit agency to have your picture taken. You can find more information on the Eligibility Page. There is no fee to apply for the program.

If you are unable to submit your Clipper Access application in-person or by mail due to disability, please call (415) 778-6622.

Contact Customer Service for alternative application materials such as Large Format or other formats.

You may also request a paper application be mailed to you by calling Customer Service or writing directly:

Clipper Access 
P.O. Box 7006 
Stockton, CA 95267 

Most Clipper Access applications have no fee. Replacement cards have a $3 fee. 

For questions about application status, call any of the transit agency offices listed on the processing locations page.

If your application is incomplete, Clipper Access will reach out to you using your contact information provided on the application form. 

Once your application is approved, cards will arrive within 21 days. If you have not received your card after 21 days, you can call any of the transit agency processing locations. They will let you know if your card was returned as undeliverable. If your card needs to be sent again, it can be sent to a transit agency near you to pick up. 

If you would like to update your mailing address or contact information on file, please email clipperaccess@bayareametro.gov or go in person to one of the Clipper Access processing locations.

Clipper Access cards are valid for varying lengths of time and will differ based on whether:  

1. Your medical professional determines that your disability is of a limited duration, or
2. Your eligibility is tied to a qualifying document that is valid for a specific period such as a DMV placard (typically every 2 years), or  
3. You used a card from another transit agency as proof of eligibility.  

If you have a “P” (indicating permanent disability) on your card and you applied or renewed you card after January 2020, you do not need to renew your card again.

If you apply to Clipper Access with the Medical Eligibility Application, your medical professional can check the box to certify your need for an attendant. If you apply to Clipper Access with the Basic Eligibility Application and travel with an attendant on a Bay Area paratransit service provider, you can check the ADA Paratransit box.  

Clipper Access cards with an attendant symbol permit you to pay discounted cash fares for your attendant. If you would like your attendant to use a Clipper card when traveling with you, apply for an "Attendant-Limited" Clipper card at a transit agency. The attendant will not receive their own Clipper Access card nor be included in the photo on your card. The "Attendant-Limited" Clipper card allows your attendant to pay discounted transit fares only when accompanying you.

There is no fee for the attendant card.  

A service animal is any guide dog, signal dog or other animal individually trained to work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. Certification or documentation is not required for your service animal. However, the service animal must be under your control at all times. The Clipper Access card does not contain any special marking for a service animal, and a photograph of your animal is not required for your Clipper Access card. 

Call Clipper Customer Service at (877) 878-8883 or if hearing impaired, call the TDD at (800) 735-2929.

Note: MUNI riders with a free MUNI pass must contact Customer Service to ensure that their pass is transferred to their new card. 

If your Clipper Access card is not expired and stopped working, you should fill out a Defective Card Application (PDF) and take it to a local processing location to have your card tested. The Defective Card application must be submitted in person as it requires transit agency staff to test your card to confirm if it has malfunctioned. 

Discount fares on bus, rail or ferry are available for eligible riders without a Clipper Access card, but only on transit that accepts cash fares. Please check with the transit agency's services you plan to use.  

You must show a valid photo ID and one of the following when you board:

• Medicare card (not Medi-Cal)
• A current Disabled Person Parking Placard Receipt from the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
• Transit discount ID card issued by another California transit agency equivalent to the Clipper Access Card. Please be aware that acceptance of non-Bay Area transit cards is at the discretion of individual transit operators.

If you are a Senior (65 or older) you may receive discounted fares using a Senior Clipper card. Learn more about the Senior Clipper card.

Many transit agencies offer monthly discount passes that must be electronically loaded onto your Clipper Access card. Some transit agencies provide stickers that can be placed on your card. Contact your transit agency for more information. Please check the list of transit agencies.

If you have a Clipper Access card, are a San Francisco resident and meet the income eligibility requirements, you may also be eligible for the free MUNI program managed separately by SFMTA. More information can be found on SFMTA’s website.

Yes. You have the option to transfer your plastic Clipper Access card to your mobile wallet, but you will still need to carry your plastic card with you as proof of eligibility.  

Once you add Clipper Access to your phone, the plastic card is deactivated for transit use and you can only use your mobile wallet to pay for fares; your plastic card is only used for identification. For more information, visit the Clipper Pay with Phone page. 

If you experience issues with transferring your plastic Clipper Access card to your mobile wallet, please contact the Clipper Customer Service (877) 878-8883 or if hearing impaired, call the TDD at (800) 735-2929. 

We recommend using a Clipper Access card when visiting the Bay Area.  

You may apply for a Clipper Access card prior to your visit. If you are visiting for less than 3 months, use the "Basic Eligibility" application form and a valid ID as proof of eligibility that works best for you. If you use the "Medical Eligibility" application, the certification must be completed by a doctor licensed in California.

You may not use an out-of-area discount card to pay your fare. Your out-of-area card may be used as proof of Clipper Access eligibility for discount fares, however, local transit operators may not recognize your card, so we recommend applying for a Clipper Access card. 

For more information, contact the Clipper Access Customer Service.

Phone:  415-778-6622
Email:  clipperaccess@bayareametro.gov