How to buy and top-up with Swift

You can order Swift cards online using the ticket finder. 

Your card will take up to 5 working days to arrive. 

If you need a day ticket, sign up to Swift Go online. 

You cannot buy nBus day saver tickets online – these can be bought at a Swift or Metro ticket machine. 

Alternatively, you can use the TfWM app to get your Swift card. Visit our webpage to find out more and download the app.

You can buy most types of Swift card at: 

• bus stations
• main interchanges for bus services
• all tram stops

You can pay for tickets using credit card or debit card. Some machines accept cash up to a limit of £70.  

Visit our webpage to find a ticket machine.

The following Swift products are not available at a Swift or Metro ticket machine: 

• Swift child photocards 
• Swift 16-18 photocards 
• student pass 

All adult and student tickets go onto a Swift card. This card is also used for Swift Go. 

You can get one: 

• online when you buy a ticket from our ticket finder. This card is only issued when you buy a ticket, we do not issue this card without a ticket
• when you buy a ticket on the TfWM app 
• when you buy a ticket at a Swift ticket machine or Metro ticket machine

Swift cards are not available from Payzone shops or railway stations.

Swift Child photocards are for children aged 5-15 years old. If your child is under 5, they can travel on bus, train and tram for free. 

Child season tickets can be added to this card. Visit our Swift child photocard webpage to find out how to get this card. 

Swift child photocards are not available from: 

• Payzone shops 
• Swift and Metro ticket machines 
• railway stations

Swift 16-18 photocards are for people aged between 16 to 18 years old, living in the West Midlands. You can load child tickets onto this card. This card works on buses, trains and trams depending on the ticket you have bought.

Visit our Swift 16-18 photocard webpage to find out how to get this card. 

Swift 16-18 photocards are not available from: 

• Payzone shops 
• Swift and Metro ticket machines 
• railway stations 

Pay As You Go cards do not have a photo, so they can be shared with friends or family. 

You can add credit and use this card on buses, trains, and trams. 

You can get one: 

• online through our ticket finder by selecting 'Swift PAYG' as the 'Pass' option – (you will need to top up the card first, as we do not issue this card without credit on it)
• through the ticket finder on the TfWM app by selecting 'Swift PAYG' as the 'Pass' option
• at a Swift ticket machine or Metro ticket machine 

These cards are not available from railway stations.

This type of card stores a bundle of bus tickets. You can buy bundles of 5 days or 10 days. 

This card works on all buses that accept nBus tickets. Visit our webpage to find out which buses accept these.

You can get one: 

• online through the ticket finder 

• through the ticket finder on the TfWM app 

• at a Swift ticket machine or Metro ticket machine 

nBus multi-day cards are not available from Payzone shops or railway stations.

nBus multi-day tickets do not work on trains. 

What does 'collect' mean? 

When you buy a ticket, or top-up a Swift card online or on the TfWM app, the ticket or balance doesn’t go onto your card automatically. This also applies for activating or cancelling auto top-up payments on a Swift Pay As You Go card and top-up purchases on an Older Person’s or Disabled Person’s Pass. 

You need to ‘collect’ it by physically touching your card to a Swift reader — either through the TfWM app, or at Swift or Metro ticket machine. 

There are two ways to collect.

Option 1: Using the TfWM App 

What you'll need: 

• The TfWM app (download from Google Play for Android or Apple app store for iOS) 
• A phone with Near Field Communication (NFC) 
• Access to the internet 

How to collect:

1. Open the TfWM app 
2. Tap on ‘Tickets’  
3. Tap on ‘Collector’ 
4. Hold your Swift card against the back of your phone. If you have an iPhone you will need to select 'Scan card'
5. Wait until you see the confirmation message on the screen
6. Your card is now ready to use

Collection tips:

• If your ticket is not not showing, wait a few minutes and try again
• If your card is not recognised by the app, make sure Near Field Communication (NFC) is switched on in your phone settings and that your card is positioned correctly
• Make sure your phone is connected to the internet
• If you have a case on your phone, take it off when trying to collect
• If you have an iPhone, try placing your card on the front of the screen when trying to collect
• Ensure you don't remove your Swift card from the phone until you see a confirmation message
• Check for app updates and install the latest update
• Check your phone and install the latest software updates
• Consider trying a Swift or Metro ticket machine

If you still need help after trying the tips above, please contact customer services.

Option 2: Using a Swift or Metro Ticket Machine 

Visit our webpage to find a ticket machine.

How to collect:

1. At a Swift ticket machine, hold your Swift card on the card reader on the machine. Make sure you hold it for around 10 seconds. At a Metro ticket machine, place your Swift card inside the card reader
2. Wait until you see the confirmation message on the screen
3. Your card is now ready to use

If you want to view what’s on your card, remove your card and place your card back on the card reader.  

When can you collect your ticket or top-up? 

You can usually collect your ticket or top-up within 15 minutes of purchasing online or through the TfWM app. 
 
Some purchases (like Direct Debit tickets or student passes) may take a few days to become available. You’ll be notified by email when it’s ready for collection. 

Swift Go

If you already have a Swift card and want to add Swift Go, you will need to collect Swift Go on your Swift card before you travel by following the steps above.

Blocked Swift Go account 

If your Swift Go account is blocked you will need to top-up your account or add a payment card to clear your debt. 

Once you clear any outstanding debt, Swift Go will be unblocked and you will need to collect Swift Go on your Swift card before you can travel again.

We will email you to let you know when Swift Go is ready to collect. 

You can add credit or tickets to your Swift card in the following ways:

• online through your Swift account  
• using the TfWM app through your Swift account 
• at a Swift or Metro ticket machine
• at a Payzone store – when selecting a location on their website, click on 'Additional Services' and look for the 'Swift Smart Ticketing' option to check that the Payzone store can top-up your card

If you already have a Swift card but don’t have a Swift account, you should register it in your Swift account. 

Registering your card allows you to: 

• buy tickets 
• top up your card 
• replace your card if it is lost or damaged without losing your credit 

You can register your Swift card online through your account. Once you have created an account, select ‘Add a Swift card to my account’ under the account options and follow the instructions. 

You will need to create a Swift account to buy tickets, top up and manage your card online or in the TfWM app. 

You can use your Swift account to: 

• renew your tickets 
• top up your Swift card 
• change contact details 
• update payment methods 
• report your card as lost or stolen 

You can set up a Swift account online or in the TfWM app.