Different public transit systems across the United States different rules and procedures for paying the fare. under a certain age or below a certain sometimes can ride for free or for a fare; the elderly and disabled usually ride for discounted price.

Most mass transit buses accept cash ; almost all buses accept coins. However, a passenger to have exact change because bus drivers do make change. Some buses accept tokens that you buy at some bus depots or train stations. the country, more and more buses use a card system. These are cards loaded by passengers a certain amount of money; it could be day, week, month or annual pass. They are , tapped, or scanned when riding. The fare is deducted. What is good about a fare card that they can be reloaded via the Internet by phone, so a passenger doesn't need to to a station to add money. Fare cards make transferring from one bus line to another . Many cities even allow for free transfers from bus line to another when using a fare .

Light rails, subways, and trains usually have a system of paying your fare. However, people cannot to ride using cash since there is no there to collect the fare. Most rail-based mass systems require a token or a fare card. rail systems have turnstiles that are locked until swipe or tap your fare card. Some people not like fare cards because they worry about they are going being tracked.