Further information about Go cards

Go cards are smart travel cards that replace advance purchase saver and multi-journey tickets. Most of the cards can be topped up online or in person at a variety of locations on the Isle of Man. 

There are several Go card products to choose from:

Go Easy cards offer unlimited travel on all scheduled Bus Vannin services and half price travel on Hullad Oie Night Owl services for 28 consecutive days. After the initial 28 days travel has expired, the cards can be topped up, either with another 28 days' travel or with a one, three, five or seven day saver - or they can be left empty until needed again.

Go Explore cards permit unlimited travel on all our scheduled bus and rail services for 1, 3, 5 or 7 consecutive days. Go Explore Heritage cards permit 5 consecutive days’ travel plus admission to all Manx National Heritage sites.

Annual cards are known as Go Platinum cards and provide unlimited bus or rail travel for one year. There is also a Go Platinum Reserve card that includes all bus and rail travel plus admission to all Manx National Heritage sites for one year.

Go School cards enable children travelling to IoM Government-run schools and college courses to travel for 40p per journey. Children who receive free school meals are exempt from paying a fare on school buses. Those eligible are issued with a Go School travel card from Isle of Man Transport.

Go Places cards are 12 journey cards offering great savings for passengers who travel regularly on the same route.

Go Saver cards can be loaded with bus saver tickets, permitting unlimited travel on bus services for 1, 3, 5 or 7 consecutive days. Manx Gaelic versions of these cards, the Immee cards, can be purchased online.

For Go Easy cards please see Purchasing a Go Easy card.

Buy online - Please allow up to 10 working days for your card to be received

In person - from the Welcome Centre in Douglas Sea Terminal, the airport information desk, the House of Manannan in Peel or main bus and rail stations

We recommend you buy your card online or go to the website to register your card when you purchase it so that refunds can be made if the card is reported lost.

If you have purchased or been given a Go card you can register it on the website.

Click on Create an account and follow the steps to register your card.

Registering the card in your name protects any remaining value on the card. If it is reported lost we can hotlist (deactivate) the card and we may be able to transfer any remaining value to a replacement card. The card activation charge will apply for replacement cards.

Go cards with photos on (for example, Go Gold, Go Silver, Go Platinum and Go Easy) are already registered to you.

Go Explore cards permit unlimited travel on all our scheduled bus and rail services for 1, 3, 5 or 7 consecutive days from first use.

Go Explore Heritage cards are valid for 5 consecutive days' unlimited travel and admission to all Manx National Heritage sites.

Go Explore cards cost £2 each and can be purchased as souvenirs with no need to add any products.

Go School and Go College cards enable children travelling to IoM Government-run schools and college courses to travel for 30p per journey between their home and school. Children who receive free school meals may be exempt from paying a fare on school buses. Those eligible are issued with a Go School travel card from Isle of Man Transport.

• Go School 1 (SCH1) is for primary school children and valid on school days up to 6pm
• Go School 2 (SCH2) is for secondary school children and valid on school days up to 6pm
• Go College (SCH3) is for full time students aged 16-19 years attending the IoM College of Further & Higher Education. Cards are valid during college term time up to 9.30pm on journeys to/from the college to enable students to access evening classes. Journeys can be taken only on Douglas routes away from the college after 6pm.

Go Easy card are a great option for students aged 20+, and students who want to use the bus to travel for any other journeys.

Frequent fare-paying travellers by bus

The Go Easy card is a flexible way to save money on regular bus travel. They offer great value, particularly if you are aged between 18 and 21.

If you use the bus frequently for more than 10 months each year, you should consider buying an annual Platinum card. 

Go Places cards are 12 journey cards offering great savings for passengers who travel regularly on the same route.

Go Saver cards can be loaded with bus saver tickets, permitting unlimited travel on bus services for 1, 3, 5 or 7 consecutive days. Manx Gaelic versions of these cards, the Immee cards, can be purchased online.

Frequent fare-paying travellers by all scheduled local transport systems

Platinum cards are annual travel cards that offer cheaper travel on various combinations of bus, steam train, MER and SMR services.

Infrequent bus users

Go Places cards are 12 journey cards offering great savings for passengers who travel regularly on the same route.

Go Saver cards can be loaded with bus saver tickets, permitting unlimited travel on bus services for 1, 3, 5 or 7 consecutive days. Manx Gaelic versions of these cards, the Immee cards, can be purchased online.

On boarding, put your card flat against the blue electronic card reader in front of the driver. It does not matter which way the card is put on the reader. There will be a short beep to confirm that the card has been read.

If there is a longer louder beep there is an issue with the card and you may be asked to pay the standard fare. See Faulty Go cards.

You can purchase top ups in person from the Welcome Centre in Douglas Sea Terminal, the House of Manannan in Peel, all major bus and rail stations and Ronaldsway Airport. 

Online top-ups are available. You will be required to either create an account or log into your account to do this.

If you are wanting to buy additional products to go onto your travel card you will need to do this in person. 

Your 28 day Go Easy product can be topped up online, so long as you are still within the age entitlement. 

If you purchase or register your Go card online, IoM Transport can hotlist (deactivate) the card when lost and any outstanding credit, depending on the type of card, can be transferred to a replacement card. You will have to pay the £2 activation cost on any replacement card.

If you choose not to register it online, please keep your proof of purchase and a note of your card number. If it is lost we can deactivate it and transfer your credit to a replacement card. You will have to pay the £2 activation cost on any replacement card.

If your card is unregistered and you do not have a note of the number we will be unable to transfer the balance or to return the card to you if it is handed in.

Please also refer to our Conditions of Carriage.

A very small percentage of Go cards may be faulty. Your bus driver will tell you if the chip inside your card does not register with the electronic ticket machine reader on the bus. A standard fare will have to be paid until it is replaced, except for children using Go School cards.

It is important to register your Go card online or keep a record of the card number. Without this information we will be unable to transfer any remaining credit to a new card.

If your Go School card does not work because of a fault:

• The driver will retain the card and issue a faulty card receipt for it to the child
• Providing the card has been registered, bus vannin will aim to get a replacement card to the purchaser at the registered address, within three working days
• The child can use the receipt to travel for up to two days until the card is replaced

For other faulty Go cards, please take the card to one of the main card issuing stations or the Welcome Centre where a replacement will be issued with no activation charge.

If your card is physically damaged or defaced, you will need to obtain a replacement card and register this under the same account. We will transfer any outstanding credit to your new card if we are able to establish the amount. Please allow up to 48 hours from the time a faulty card is hotlisted (deactivated) for any remaining trips to be transferred on to a replacement card.

Go School cards will not work outside the time limits for their use: (SCH1 and SCH2) are valid until 6pm on school days until the end of the school term. Standard fare (half fare for children aged 5 to 15 years) is payable after this time. Always ensure you board the bus before 6pm on school days if you are intending to use a school journey on your Go School card.

Go College (SCH3) is for full time students aged 16-19 years attending the IoM College of Further & Higher Education. It is valid during college term time up to 9.30pm on journeys to/from the college to enable students to access evening classes. A college ID card must also be carried and shown to the driver. Journeys can be taken only on Douglas routes away from the college after 6pm.

Cards are automatically deactivated if not used for 12-15 months depending on card type. Once deactivated, cards cannot be re-activated.

Your Go card has an embedded chip that enables you to pre-purchase discounted fares.

Take care not to damage your card and do not stick or write anything on it. Keep it dry and do not expose it to extreme temperatures. Free replacements will not be issued for damaged cards.

Card holders, priced from £1, are available from the Welcome Centre and main stations.

You can check the balance on your Go card online. To do this you will need to register the card in your name. You can then purchase top-ups online as required.

You can check the credit of all cards in person at the Welcome Centre.  Credit and expiry dates on all cards, except Go Easy cards, can be checked at the House of Manannan and all main bus and rail stations.

Go School card credits can be refunded when they are no longer required. Please complete the 4R form and take it to the Welcome Centre or the main card issuing stations at Ramsey or Port Erin. If the card has previously been reported lost and hotlisted (deactivated) we will be unable to refund any outstanding balance.

Refunds are not available on any other type of Go card.