Fares

Fare Types & Cost

KAT has extended a grace period for the use of paper tickets on our buses through January 31, 2025. After that, you must use katpay or exact change on board to pay your fare. No day passes or change cards will be given. The cash price for one ride is still $1.00 for regular fare, or $.50 for discount fare. Transfers not included.

Frequent riders are encouraged to use katpay to access 1-Day and 30-Day pass rates.

katpay is an account based fare payment system with fare capping that guarantees you always pay the lowest fare. katpay tracks your usage, and stops charging when you’ve met the daily or monthly limit. You can use katpay on your smartphone through the Transit app, OR purchase a physical katpay card for $4.00 from the KAT Customer Service counter.  Visit the katpay page to learn how to set up your account.

*First card FREE promotion: Through May 1, 2025, passengers who create a katpay account and register their card will receive a $4.00 credit for bus fare, making their first card essentially free. You must contact KAT Customer Service to receive the credit.

*Through May 1, 2025, passengers who create a new mobile katpay account in the Transit app will receive a $4.00 credit to their account. Passengers must contact KAT Customer service to receive the credit.  (applies only to new Transit app accounts created after 10/21/24)

Ticket Buyback Program: Through February 2, 2025, passengers can trade in UNUSED paper tickets and change cards for credit in their katpay account.

Children ages 4 and under may ride for free. Knox County School students also ride for free through the Youth Freedom Pass Program.

All bus fare, passes and tickets are non-refundable.

KAT Customer Service is unable to make change. You can find a change machine across from the Customer Service counter near the vending machines. It provides dollar coins that are accepted in our fareboxes.

Fare Descriptions

One Ride

$1.00 ($.50 discounted fare) – Good for a single, one-way trip on any fixed route bus. No transfers. One ride passes can be purchased on the bus with cash* (exact change recommended), as a mobile ticket through the Transit app, or with katpay. Click here to learn about katpay, or to learn how to use mobile tickets, click here.

*Beginning February 1, 2025, exact change required. Change cards will no longer be given.

1-Day Pass

$2.00 ($1.00 discounted fare) – Good for unlimited rides all day on all bus routes. 1-Day passes can be purchased on the bus with cash* (exact change recommended), as a mobile ticket through the Transit app, or with katpay. Click here to learn about katpay, or to learn how to use mobile tickets, click here.

*Beginning February 1, 2025, Day passes can no longer be purchased on the bus.

30-Day Pass

$30.00 ($15.00 discounted fare) – Good for unlimited rides for 30 consecutive days beginning the day the pass is first used. 30-Day passes can be purchased as a mobile ticket through the Transit app, or with katpay. Click here to learn about katpay, or to learn how to use mobile tickets, click here.

All bus fare, passes and tickets are non-refundable.

Payment Options

Discounted Fare Program

A discounted fare is available to those who qualify. Proper identification (Medicare card or a valid KAT I.D. card) is required before boarding.

Qualifying individuals include:

• Seniors age 65 or over
• Medicare card holders
• Persons with disabilities, including disabled Veterans
• Students in Knox County Schools grades K-12
  • Currently, all Knox County Schools students may ride for FREE with the Youth Freedom Pass program

To apply for the discounted fare program, please download, complete, and return the Discounted Fare Application (PDF) to the Knoxville Station Customer Service Counter at 301 Church Avenue Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. KAT will charge a $2 processing fee for all IDs. 

*All discounted fare program participants must be recertified every three years, except seniors over the age of 65. KAT reserves the right to re-evaluate a participants eligibility before that 3 year timeframe is up.

Football Shuttle Fares

Heading to a home game at Neyland Stadium? KAT offers several Football Shuttle options for riders during the regular fall football season.

Please note – football shuttles are cashless and tickets must be purchased through the Transit app (if you live outside our service area, you may not see them in the app until you are closer).

FOOTBALL SHUTTLE ROUTES:

• Civic Coliseum – $10 round-trip per person
• Market Square/Krutch Park – $10 round-trip per person
• Old City – $10 round-trip per person (not available for all games)

In addition to our Football Shuttles, riders can also utilize our fixed bus route options for just $2 all day.

For more information, visit our Football Service Options page.

Youth Freedom Pass

UT Partnership

Partners

Smart Trips: Discount Offers

If you are a transit passenger and haven’t discovered Smart Trips, it’s high time you checked them out! Smart Trips offers discounts for using alternative transportation instead of driving. So, if you use the bus every day for work, errands, or even Saturday shopping, Smart Trips will reward you with prizes like restaurant coupons, retailer discounts, and tickets to shows and attractions.

Three Rivers Market

Knoxville Area Transit is partnering with Three Rivers Market!