Milan public transport: the fine, validation and contactless payment (2026)
According to ATM, Milan’s public transport company, checked on 31 October 2026, contactless bank cards, phones and watches work as a ticket on ATM metro, trams and buses if you tap in (and on the metro tap out), and ATM’s fine table, dated 9 January 2023 and still linked from ATM’s ticket guide, gives €39.30 plus the ticket if you pay the inspector on the spot.
ATM’s fine table is dated 9 January 2023. It works the fine out from the lowest-class STIBM single ticket at €1.70, not from the €2.20 Milan city ticket; ATM’s fare finder still lists €1.70 for a two-zone ticket outside Milan (Mi3 - Mi4), and ATM’s ticket guide still links to the table. The amount on your fine notice is what counts.
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 | ATM metro, trams, buses and trolleybuses |
|---|---|
| Fine without a valid ticket | €39.30 plus the ticket if paid to the inspector (€56.50 within 5 days, €71.50 within 60 days, plus the ticket; ATM table dated 9 January 2023) |
| Contactless bank card | Yes: tap in (and out on the metro) with a contactless card, phone or watch; not on S lines and Trenord trains |
| Validate or tap? | Yes: tap in at the gate or on board; tap out on the metro, or pay an extra cost |
| How to pay | Contactless bank card, phone or watch, ATM app or tickets |
| Change announced | None on the pages we read |
| Checked | 31 October 2026 |
What the official sources say
Fines
SANZIONI AMMINISTRATIVE dal 09/01/2023 Art. 46 L.R. 6/2012 e successive modifiche ( pari a 100 volte il costo del biglietto di classe minima di corsa semplice del sistema tariffario STIBM € 1,70 )
Our translation: ADMINISTRATIVE FINES from 09/01/2023 Art. 46 Regional Law 6/2012 and later amendments (equal to 100 times the cost of the lowest-class single ticket of the STIBM fare system € 1.70 )
► A bordo dei mezzi direttamente a mani del personale accertatore ridotta ad 1/3 e Scontata del 30% (oltre al prezzo della corsa);
Our translation: ► On board, directly to the inspection staff, reduced to 1/3 and discounted by 30% (plus the fare);
Se pagata all’atto della contestazione a mani del personale accertatore Se pagata entro 5 giorni dalla contestazione o dalla notifica Se pagata entro 60 giorni dalla contestazione o dalla notifica IMPORTO € 39,30 € 39,30 € 56,50 SPESE PROCEDIMENTO TOTALE € 39,30 + biglietto * € 56,50 + biglietto * € 71,50 + biglietto * € 15,00 € 15,00
Our translation: (table row, read across) If paid at the time of the inspection, to the inspection staff: amount € 39.30, total € 39.30 + ticket. If paid within 5 days of the inspection or notification: amount € 39.30, procedure costs € 15.00, total € 56.50 + ticket. If paid within 60 days of the inspection or notification: amount € 56.50, procedure costs € 15.00, total € 71.50 + ticket.
Source: ATM: Sanzioni amministrative dal 09/01/2023 (PDF) (ATM (Azienda Trasporti Milanesi)), checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.
Durante un controllo venite multati se non avete un biglietto o un abbonamento valido. Trovate i codici d’infrazione e gli importi delle multe a questa pagina.
Our translation: During an inspection you are fined if you do not have a valid ticket or pass. You will find the offence codes and the amounts of the fines on this page (the link opens the ATM table quoted above).
Source: ATM: Usare biglietti e abbonamenti (guide) (ATM (Azienda Trasporti Milanesi)), checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.
Mi3 - Mi4 Biglietti Costo Biglietto ordinario - valido 75' 1,70 €
Our translation: Mi3 - Mi4 Tickets Cost Ordinary ticket - valid 75' 1.70 €
Source: ATM fare finder (STIBM): Mi3 – Mi4 tickets and passes (ATM (Azienda Trasporti Milanesi)), checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.
How to pay
Contactless bank cards issued by Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Maestro and VPay can be used to pay as you go for travel. Prepaid Postepay cards issued by VISA and PagoBancomat debit cards are not accepted.
Contactless is not accepted on other operator’s services like Trenord trains, nor railway lines (S lines).
Source: ATM: Contactless pay as you go (ATM (Azienda Trasporti Milanesi)), checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.
Validating and tapping
CASE 2. On the metro you didn’t tap in when starting your journey but you tapped out upon leaving. In this case, the system cannot understand the starting station, therefore a total cost of 5€ is applied and taken in two separate payments on different days: 2.20€ (ticket cost) + 2.80€ (extra cost)
Source: ATM: Contactless pay as you go (ATM (Azienda Trasporti Milanesi)), checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.
Also on the official pages
What do i do if a ticket inspector asks to see my ticket? You simply show them the card or device used when tapping in.
Source: ATM: Contactless pay as you go (ATM (Azienda Trasporti Milanesi)), checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.
Driving instead?
Driving in Italy, do you need an international driving permit? UK licence · Canadian licence · Australian licence
Other cities
Public transport rules in 40 cities: every fine in one table
Questions
What is the fine on the Milan metro?
ATM’s fine table, dated 9 January 2023 and still linked from ATM’s ticket guide, says (our translation from Italian): “► On board, directly to the inspection staff, reduced to 1/3 and discounted by 30% (plus the fare);” “(table row, read across) If paid at the time of the inspection, to the inspection staff: amount € 39.30, total € 39.30 + ticket. If paid within 5 days of the inspection or notification: amount € 39.30, procedure costs € 15.00, total € 56.50 + ticket. If paid within 60 days of the inspection or notification: amount € 56.50, procedure costs € 15.00, total € 71.50 + ticket.” The table is based on the lowest-class STIBM single ticket (€1.70), which ATM’s fare finder still lists; the amount on your fine notice is what counts.
Can you use contactless on the Milan metro?
Yes. ATM says: “Contactless bank cards issued by Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Maestro and VPay can be used to pay as you go for travel. Prepaid Postepay cards issued by VISA and PagoBancomat debit cards are not accepted.” “Contactless is not accepted on other operator’s services like Trenord trains, nor railway lines (S lines).”
Do you need to validate metro tickets in Milan?
With a contactless card you tap in, and on the metro tap out too. If you forget to tap in, ATM says: “CASE 2. On the metro you didn’t tap in when starting your journey but you tapped out upon leaving. In this case, the system cannot understand the starting station, therefore a total cost of 5€ is applied and taken in two separate payments on different days: 2.20€ (ticket cost) + 2.80€ (extra cost)”
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