How to reload your transport card in Madrid with your cell phone

Did you know you can now reload your transport card in Madrid with your cell phone?

Mobile payment is currently essential in my life. Cash has disappeared from my wallet and I have included my credit cards on my phone.

That is why the Madrid Transport Card App makes my life easier and helps me to save time. I can avoid long lines to reload my transport card in the morning when I am usually in a hurry and fully enjoy the amazing public transport in Madrid.

Although the App is easy to use, it is just in Spanish. That is why I have created a step-by-step guide for you.

A step-by-step guide to reloading your Madrid transport card with your cell phone

1. Download the official Tarjeta Transporte App

First thing is to download the Tarjeta Transporte App on your smartphone. It is a free App available on Google Play, Apple Store, and Huawei App Gallery.

Open the app, and from the home page you can access the main menu by pressing the three horizontal lines in the upper left corner. You will find the following options:

• Saldo y Recarga (Balance / reload): Check the current balance and reload your transport card.
• Tarjeta Bancaria (Credit Card): Here you can register a credit card to make payments or check the ones you have registered.
• Facturas (Invoices): Reload invoices are stored here.
• Información (Information): This section includes links to terms of use and frequently asked questions. It also allows you to report issues and failures of the app.
• Mensajes (Messages): See notifications and alerts. For example, when the app is not available due to maintenance.

2. Add your payment information

The process for registering a credit card is simple.

Access the “Tarjeta bancaria” section from the main menu. Enter your data (card number, expiration date, and CVV) and click on Aceptar.

As you can see the amount charged in this case is € 0,00 as the only purpose is to validate the card.

You will be redirected and you will have to verify the order following the security instructions of your bank. In my case, I need to validate it with my fingerprint.

A message will appear in the app with the confirmation of a valid credit card. This credit card will now appear in this “Tarjeta Bancaria” section.

You can add more cards (“Registrar nueva tarjeta”) and remove the existing ones (“Eliminar”). For example, you can delete your credit card info after every reload.

3. Reload your Madrid Transport Card

Remember that to reload your transport card, you need a smartphone with an internet connection and the NFC enabled.

The NFC is a technology used for short-distance data transmission that is incorporated in most devices. In case this option is disabled, check the settings on your cell phone.

Click on the “Saldo y Recarga” section on the main menu and bring your transport card close to the back of your phone (the NFC chip is usually there). When the App has recognized the card, move it away from the phone.

You will see the status of the card, and the tickets available.

To reload the card you must click “Mostrar títulos a recargar” at the bottom of the screen. If you are a visitor, you will probably be interested in the Metrobus 10-journey ticket in the “Multiviajes” section.

Once you have selected the ticket, you will have to choose the credit card where the reload will be done. Confirm your purchase order and follow the instructions on the screen to validate the payment.

A notification and a tick mark will pop up to inform you that the transaction has been satisfactorily done.

Next, the app will ask you to bring again the Madrid transport card close to the mobile’s NFC reader to load it. A new message will pop up when the load has finished, and you can separate the transport card from the mobile.

To verify that the reload has been carried out correctly, click on the Saldo y Recarga option on the menu and bring the transport card close to the back of the cell phone.

And that´s it. You have properly reloaded your transport card in Madrid with your mobile phone.

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FAQ

What can you do with the Madrid Transport Card App?

The Madrid Transport Card App allows you to load and check the balance of most public transport cards in Madrid.

Is the Madrid Transport Card App free?

Yes. The App is totally free.

Is the Madrid Transport Card App available for iOS?

Yes. The App is currently available for Android and iOS.

What do you need to load your Transport Card with your phone?

You just need to have a smartphone with an internet connection and the NFC activated. The NFC is a technology used for short-distance data transmission that is incorporated in most devices.

How can you download the Madrid Transport Card App?

My Transport Card App is available on Google Play, Apple Store, and Huawei App Gallery.

Can you pass through the turnstiles with your phone?

Not for the moment. You can reload your Madrid transport card with your cell phone but you still need your card to pass through the turnstiles.

It is expected that in the next months, passengers will be able to access the transport just with their phones.

Can you reload more than one card with the same phone?

Yes.