Transperth - providing public transport services for the Perth metro area Transperth - providing public transport services for the Perth metro area

Free Travel with a Student SmartRider

Travel free on weekdays with your Student SmartRider.

Students with a valid Student SmartRider can enjoy free travel on Transperth services for any journey from Monday to Friday, until the end of the school year.

To travel for free, students must tag on and tag off properly with their Student SmartRider every time they use public transport.

No tag, no free travel.

Tagging on and off helps Transperth understand how many students are using the service. That way, we can plan enough buses to get everyone to and from school safely and on time.

Important information for bus travel:

  • Tag on at the front door only
  • Tagging on at a centre or rear door will result in a default fare
  • Tag off at any door when exiting.


Find out more below: 

How do I tag on and off?

To access free travel, students must tag on and tag off properly with their Student SmartRider.

Here’s how to do it:

  • Tag on at the start of your journey by holding your SmartRider over the card symbol on the card reader. You’ll hear a beep and see a green light - that means you’re good to go. The screen will show your remaining balance.
  • Tag off at the end of your journey the same way. You’ll hear another beep, and the screen will show the fare deducted and your updated balance.

Important:

  • On buses, you must tag on at the front door. Tagging on at the middle or rear doors will charge you a default fare.
  • When getting off the bus, you can tag off at any door.
 

What if I don't tag on or off properly?

If you forget to tag on or off properly it means you haven’t actually paid for the trip you’ve just taken. This means a default fare will be deducted from your SmartRider card balance if you:

  • don't tag on at the start of your journey, but tag off at the end (you can be fined if you travel without tagging on, as you don’t have a valid ticket)
  • do tag on at the start of your journey, but don’t tag off.

The system deducts the default fare from your SmartRider card balance next time you tag on.

For buses The default fare is the cash fare of the longest journey you could have taken on that service. The exception is when you tag onto two bus services within 60 minutes without tagging off the first. When this happens, we use your second tag on location as your tag off location for the first bus service.
For trains The default fare is the cash fare for a two zone journey.
For ferries The default fare is the cash fare between Barrack Street and Mends Street.

Do I need to have value on my SmartRider to receive free travel?

No, however SmartRiders must not have a negative balance. Find out how to check your SmartRider balance here.

Where can I get a Student SmartRider?

Primary school students can order a Student SmartRider online through Monitor WA: SmartRider | MonitorWA or by using the manual application form.

For high school students, if your school is a participating school or registered for online ordering, please ask your school’s administration about obtaining a card. If your school is not a participating school you may be able to order a Student SmartRider online through Monitor WA: SmartRider | MonitorWA or you'll need to complete the manual application form.

Does the free travel include the school holiday periods?

Yes, the free travel includes public holidays and school holidays during the school year. Concession fares apply on the weekend and during the summer school holidays only.

Do Tertiary SmartRider holders get free travel too?

No, this only applies to students who have a Student SmartRider. Tertiary SmartRider holders will continue to receive the current concession fare.

Where can I find out more information about Student SmartRiders?

Visit the Student SmartRider page for more information.


For more information, call 13 62 13.

Hearing or speech impaired? Call via NRS 133 677 and ask for 13 62 13.

Service Updates