What Is a City Card System and How Does It Work?
Updated: 2026-07-19 · Technical content: SoleAkbil Engineering Team
Last updated: 08.08.2026
A city card system is a closed-loop electronic fare collection system in public transport where passengers pay by tapping a balance-based card, phone NFC or QR ticket on the in-vehicle validator. The balance is held not at a bank but on the operator's own server (a SaaS platform) — which is what makes automatic discount/pricing by card type (student, full fare, senior, etc.) possible.
What Components Make Up a City Card System?
| Validator Terminal | An in-vehicle, touchscreen Mifare Card/ NFC Phone / QR Ticket /EMV Credit Card reader (see Sole Akbil T20) |
|---|---|
| SaaS Management Software | A cloud-based panel: card type/fare, device-vehicle-route records, driver shifts, reporting |
| Card Identity Types | Physical Mifare card, phone NFC, single-use QR ticket |
| Top-Up and Dealer System | Card balance top-up points and dealer/business-level top-up authorization |
| Reconciliation Module | Daily top-up/passage/refund summaries and bank reconciliation tracking |
Who Is It Suited For?
- Municipalities that operate their own public transport fleet
- Private bus and minibus/shuttle cooperatives
- University and campus transport systems
How Is a City Card System Set Up?
- Needs analysis: number of vehicles, route/fare structure and card-type needs are determined.
- Validator terminals are mounted in vehicles and paired with the SaaS platform.
- Card types, fares and top-up/dealer points are defined in the panel.
- Cards are personalized and distributed, and the system goes live.
The exact setup time depends on fleet size and field conditions; it is clarified per project through a technical survey.
Difference Between Mifare, NFC, QR and Credit Card Payment Methods
| Mifare Card | A physical, balance-based closed-loop card; automatic discount is applied by card type |
|---|---|
| Phone NFC | Contactless passage by phone without needing a physical card; follows the same balance logic |
| QR Ticket | A single-use digital ticket that becomes invalid automatically after use |
| EMV Credit Card | Open-loop payment; the balance is held at the bank, card-type discounts cannot be applied at the terminal, and it requires a separate payment institution integration |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many card types can be defined in a city card system?
On the SoleAkbil platform, a total of 12 card types are supported: 10 fixed types (Full Fare, Student, Free, Discounted, Senior, Teacher, Blue Card Subscription, Limited-Use Ticket, Phone NFC Card, Family Support Card) plus 2 free-form custom card types.
How is a lost or stolen city card cancelled?
It is marked as lost/stolen/cancelled in the card management panel; the moment it's marked, it becomes invalid on all validators, and its last balance can be viewed and transferred to a new card.
Does the city card system work without internet?
Card reading and balance top-up continue to work offline; the fare-deduction (passage) transaction requires server approval to prevent the fare from being altered on the device.
Is the city card system GDPR/KVKK compliant?
The system is designed with an architecture that respects data protection requirements; hosting region and data retention terms are clarified on a project basis with legal counsel, especially for municipal/public sector projects.
Get a City Card System Demo
Let's determine the right card type, pricing and validator setup for your organization together. Fill out the form and our technical team will get back to you shortly.
- Card, phone NFC, QR and Credit Card — 4 payment methods in one system
- Validator (Sole Akbil T20 / T10), card and software setup
- Installation, integration and technical service support
Direct contact:
☎ +90 212 221 11 09
✉ bilgi@solesystem.com.tr