General rules regarding replacement and refund
We can only replace or refund tickets, travelcards and passes if it can be determined without a doubt that they are
- original
- the ticket/pass type printed onto the paper can be clearly seen including the serial number, no significant part is missing (e.g. the hologram has not been torn off)
- and it can be checked whether a single-ride type ticket has been validated or not.
If the ticket or pass has been printed incorrectly by the ticket vending machine (TVM), it can be exchanged or refunded at any customer service centre. A refund request needs to be submitted for unidentifiable tickets or passes at the customer service centre.
If the ticket or pass is not identifiable for any reason (for example, damaged by water, faded or printed by the machine in such a way that it is not recognisable), you can ask for a written record or investigation of the case or submit a request for an exchange or refund at the customer service centre.
Single tickets
Refund for single tickets
Unused single tickets will be refunded at customer service centres for a handling fee of 300 HUF. This is possible as long as the price printed on the ticket is valid, or for 15 months after the price has changed. The refunding of the Block of 10 tickets is only possible if all 10 unused tickets (numbered consecutively) are available.
Replacement of single tickets
You can exchange damaged single tickets not yet used for travel for a handling fee of 300 HUF, and incorrectly printed or faded tickets from the ticket vending machine for tickets of the same type without a handling fee. You can do this as long as the price printed on the ticket is still valid, or for 15 months after the price has changed (during the latter period, you will have to pay the difference in price). The exchange is possible at the customer service centres.
Usability of single tickets
Tickets with a kinegram are valid for travel during the validity period of the indicated price and the transitional period immediately following a price change. The transitional period is one year following the price change. During the three-month replacement period immediately following the transitional period, unused tickets will be replaced in value with tickets with a kinegram at the sales price valid during the replacement period.
Tickets (single, single ticket bought on the spot, block of 10 tickets, airport shuttle bus single ticket, boat ticket, ferry ticket, heritage service ticket) with a kinegram or metal stripe purchased from 2013 are valid up to a price change and a year thereafter.
In the case of bank card payment, BKK will apply a bank card refund, provided that this does not encounter any technical obstacle on the part of BKK.
In the event of a price change, exchanges (replacements) will be made at the locations indicated in the price change notices, without any handling fee. When making an exchange, please note the following:
- In case of exchange, the total value of the returned tickets must not exceed the total value of the new tickets.
- The Book of 10 tickets may only be exchanged with the cover, the value to be taken into account being the product of one tenth of the price on the cover multiplied by the number of unused tickets.
- Tickets can only be exchanged during the exchange period and cannot be used for travel after the transitional period.
Single tickets that cannot be used or replaced anymore
Tickets purchased at a price lower than the current price and tickets that have already expired cannot be used for travel, exchanged or refunded.
Tickets and passes consisting of several slips
In case of passes consisting of several slips, the slip valid for the given and consecutive period must be handed over. In case of tickets consisting of several slips, each unused slip must be handed over.
Invoice
In case a customer requested an invoice previously, upon purchasing a ticket or pass, when requesting a replacement or refund, the original invoice must be handed over. As an invoice will be issued for replacements, the customer must also present a photo ID to verify his/her name and address, as those data are required for the invoice. For cash refunds of travelcards/passes requiring a photo ID, customers need to present the matching photo ID.
Mobile Ticket
The replacement of tickets, travelcards and passes purchased in the mobile ticket app is not possible; but refunds are provided in the app for unused single tickets, block of 10 tickets, airport shuttlebus mobile tickets, 30-minute and 90-minute tickets, heritage service single tickets within 1 year after purchase; while for all other types of travelcards and passes refunds are possible before the start of validity. Please note that Discounted annual Budapest-passes are exceptions: no refunds are given, not even before the start of validity.
Fare Products of MÁV-START, GYSEV and Volánbusz
BKK will not replace or refund tickets and passes issued by MÁV-START Zrt., GYSEV Zrt. or Volánbusz Zrt. You can request exchanges and refunds at the place of purchase (from the retailer). Please find information here on the replacement and refund of tickets and passes purchased in the MÁV app.
Suburban railway tickets
Unused suburban railway tickets that have been damaged or destroyed will be replaced after the payment of the HUF 300 handling fee, while tickets improperly issued by TVMs or faded tickets can be replaced for ones of the same type and validity without the payment of the handling fee at the customer service centres.
Suburban railway tickets can be refunded prior to the starting day of the validity period at all BKK ticket offices, customer service centres, if the ticket price exceeds the amount of the handling fee (HUF 300).
Please find information here on the replacement and refund of tickets purchased in the MÁV app.
Replaceable travelcard and pass types:
- Budapest 24-hour travelcard
- Budapest 24-hour group travelcard
- Budapest 72-hour travelcard
- Heritage service tickets
- 15-day, monthly (with the exception of the monthly pass for job seekers), quarterly, semester Budapest-passes and different types of annual passes
There are two options for replacement of paper-based tickets/travelcards/passes:
- A same type travelcard or pass is requested with the same validity. For example, an accidentally washed or damaged pass is replaced with a new pass of the same type and validity.
- The customer receives a travelcard or pass having at least the same value (same or higher price) and the same start of validity. For example, a monthly pass is replaced – after the payment of the price difference – with a quarterly pass with the same start of validity.
Please find information here on the replacement and refund of passes purchased in the MÁV app.
No replacement is available for mobile tickets.
The replacement fee is HUF 1000. Tickets improperly issued by TVMs or faded tickets will be replaced for the same tickets with same validity without the payment of the handling fee (in this case, tickets and passes not listed above can be replaced, as well.)
If a new ID number or name is to be indicated in case of replacements of paper-based travelcards/passes requiring a photo ID, or you wish to change the ID number of a ticket/pass purchased in the mobile ticket app, at least one of the conditions below must be met:
- both photo IDs belonging to the same person must be presented: the one used up until the time of replacement as well as the one to be used afterwards;
- the new photo ID was issued within no more than 30 days;
- up to 3 characters of the photo ID number indicated on the travelcard/pass needs to be modified based on the ID with which the travelcard/pass will be used in the future (this ID must be presented during processing).
The above listed products can be replaced at all BKK ticket offices or any customer service centres, except for the annual passes and products purchased via bank transfer. Annual passes, fare products purchased via bank transfer, and transferable passes are exchanged at the customer service centres at Baross tér, Deák Ferenc tér and Kelenföld. The replacement of tickets and passes purchased via bank transfer need to be requested by the customer online at the website.
In case a person has accidentally purchased two passes with the same validity period, it is possible to replace one of the passes – after the replacement, you will be in possession of two passes with consecutive months (e.g. in case of two passes with the validity period between 1 and 31 March, one of the passes can be replaced with a pass with a validity period 1-30 April). In case of passes issued for a given person which have at least one identical day (e.g. in case of a pass purchased for the validity period between 5 March and 4 April and another pass purchased by accident for the validity period between 4 April and 3 May), the pass with the subsequent validity period can be replaced with the same type of pass with a different starting day of validity (in order that the validity period of the two passes could be continuous, using the above-mentioned example, e.g. a pass with the starting day 5 April can be requested instead of the pass with the starting day 4 April). The passes can be replaced within seven days from the starting day of validity at customer service centres, with the payment of the handling fee charged for each type of pass. In case annual passes or passes purchased via bank transfer are required to be replaced, it is done by the customer service centres at Baross tér, Deák Ferenc tér and Kelenföld. In case the pass to be replaced is a semester pass or an annual pass, or the replacement is subject to pre-purchase restrictions, passes are refunded, not replaced.
Refundable travelcard and pass types:
- Budapest 24-hour travelcard
- Budapest 24-hour group travelcard
- Pupil group travelcard
- Heritage service travelcard
- Budapest 72-hour travelcard
- 15-day, monthly (with the exception of the monthly pass for job seekers), quarterly, semester Budapest-passes
- Annual Budapest-pass (business)
- Transferable annual Budapest-pass (business)
Refund is possible only before the start of validity. Exception: Annual Budapest-pass (business) can be refunded during the year (only the price unstarted months will be refunded by BKK).
The refund fee for paper-based tickets/travelcards/passes is HUF 1000. No fee is charged for the replacement of mobile tickets.
The paper-based products can be replaced at all BKK ticket offices, at customer service centres, except for the annual passes and products purchased via bank transfer. The different types of annual passes and transferable passes are refunded at:
- the customer service centres at Baross tér, Deák Ferenc tér and Kelenföld.
The refund of tickets and passes purchased via bank transfer can be requested by completing the required form and returning it along with the items to be refunded to the customer service centres at Deák Ferenc tér. The purchase price less handling fee will be transferred to the provided bank account. The replacement of mobile tickets is possible via the mobile application.