Madrid public transport: the fine, validation and contactless payment (2026)
According to Metro de Madrid, checked on 31 October 2026, if you travel on the Metro without a valid ticket or card you must pay an €80 extraordinary surcharge, halved to €40 if you pay within 15 working days, and contactless bank cards are accepted at some signposted gates.
Fines and payment rules change, often at the start of the year. We quote the transport company’s own pages word for word, with the date we checked them; this is information, not legal advice. The inspector, the fine notice and the official page decide.
At a glance
| Network | Metro de Madrid |
|---|---|
| Fine without a valid ticket | €80 surcharge (€40 if paid within 15 working days) on the Metro |
| Contactless bank card | Partly: contactless bank cards work at some signposted Metro gates |
| Validate or tap? | Yes: validate at the gates before each trip, and at the exit where there are gates |
| How to pay | Public Transport Card, or a contactless bank card at some signposted gates |
| Change announced | None on the pages we read |
| Checked | 31 October 2026 |
What the official sources say
Fines
If you travel without a valid transport ticket or card, you will be obliged to pay the amount of €80 by way of an extraordinary surcharge, in application of the provisions of Article 28 of the Metropolitan Railway of Madrid Travel Regulation. This amount will be reduced by half (€40) if payment is settled within the maximum period of 15 working days
Source: Metro de Madrid: Extraordinary travel card top-up (Metro de Madrid), checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.
How to pay
Metro de Madrid allows access to the network through the use of EMV-compatible contactless bank cards through some of its validation equipment, conveniently signposted, without the need to have a transport ticket previously loaded on the Public Transport Card.
Source: Metro de Madrid: Rules for the use of EMV-compliant contactless bank cards (Metro de Madrid), checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.
Validating and tapping
Validation by bank card may only be carried out at toll equipment which is authorised and marked with a specific visual identification
Source: Metro de Madrid: Rules for the use of EMV-compliant contactless bank cards (Metro de Madrid), checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.
Also on the official pages
Users are responsible for keeping the device active; otherwise, during an inspection, the measures foreseen for the absence of a valid ticket will be applied.
Source: Metro de Madrid: Rules for the use of EMV-compliant contactless bank cards (Metro de Madrid), checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.
Driving instead?
Driving in Spain, do you need an international driving permit? UK licence · Canadian licence · Australian licence
Other cities
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Questions
What is the fine on the Madrid metro?
Metro de Madrid says: “If you travel without a valid transport ticket or card, you will be obliged to pay the amount of €80 by way of an extraordinary surcharge, in application of the provisions of Article 28 of the Metropolitan Railway of Madrid Travel Regulation. This amount will be reduced by half (€40) if payment is settled within the maximum period of 15 working days”
Does the Madrid metro take contactless?
Yes, at some gates. Metro de Madrid says: “Metro de Madrid allows access to the network through the use of EMV-compatible contactless bank cards through some of its validation equipment, conveniently signposted, without the need to have a transport ticket previously loaded on the Public Transport Card.” “Validation by bank card may only be carried out at toll equipment which is authorised and marked with a specific visual identification”
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