Touch ‘n Go is Malaysia’s national contactless payment system for public transport and tolled roads. If you’re taking the LRT, MRT, Monorail, KTM, or any highway, you will encounter it within hours of arrival. Here is everything tourists need to know.
What Touch ‘n Go Actually Is
Touch ‘n Go started as a prepaid card for toll roads in the late 1990s. It has since expanded to cover the entire RapidKL rail network (LRT, MRT, Monorail), intercity KTM trains, Rapid Penang and Rapid KL buses, the Penang ferry, and virtually every highway toll in Malaysia.
There are now two distinct products:
Touch ‘n Go card - a physical contactless smartcard, similar to London’s Oyster or Hong Kong’s Octopus. You top it up with credit and tap it on readers at transit gates and toll lanes. It works offline and does not require a smartphone.
TNG eWallet - a smartphone app that operates as a digital wallet. It can do everything the card does plus much more: QR payments at shops, petrol stations, restaurants, and online merchants. Most Malaysians under 40 use the eWallet as their primary payment method.
For most tourists visiting Malaysia for one to two weeks, the physical card is sufficient. If you plan to spend more than two weeks or want to tap into local street food stalls and petrol stations without cash, setting up the eWallet is worth the extra registration step.
Where to Buy the Touch ‘n Go Card
KLIA arrivals hall - Customer service desks in both KLIA and KLIA2 sell cards. This is the most convenient entry point if you land in Kuala Lumpur.
KL Sentral station - The Touch ‘n Go service counter near the KLIA Ekspres concourse sells cards and handles top-ups. Open approximately 8am–10pm.
LRT and MRT station kiosks - Most major stations have reload machines that also sell new cards. Not all stations carry them in stock, so buy at KL Sentral or KLIA if possible.
7-Eleven and convenience stores - Major outlets across KL, Penang, Johor Bahru, and other cities sell cards. The card costs approximately RM10 and typically comes with RM10 in stored credit included.
Petronas and Shell petrol stations - Cards sold at most petrol station counters nationwide.
How to Top Up (Reload) Your Card
The physical Touch ‘n Go card cannot be reloaded online or by bank transfer. Reload options:
- Reload machines inside LRT, MRT, KTM, and Monorail stations - cash only, accepts RM1, RM5, RM10, RM50 notes
- 7-Eleven counters - the cashier adds credit at point of sale; minimum top-up is RM10
- Petrol stations (Petronas, Shell, BHPetrol) - staff reload at counter
- Touch ‘n Go service counters - at KL Sentral, KLIA, and major malls
Top up in amounts you can use. The card balance does not expire, but if you have excess after your trip it is not refundable. Topping up RM30–50 typically covers a week of daily transit in KL.
Where Touch ‘n Go Works
Rail transit in Kuala Lumpur:
- Kelana Jaya Line (LRT)
- Ampang/Sri Petaling Lines (LRT)
- Putrajaya Line (MRT)
- Kajang Line (MRT)
- KL Monorail
- KL Sentral ERL Transit (not KLIA Ekspres - that requires a separate KLIA Ekspres ticket)
- KTM Komuter (intercity rail within Klang Valley)
- ETS trains (book separately, but Touch ‘n Go card accepted for some KTM short-hop journeys)
Bus transit:
- Rapid KL buses across Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley
- Rapid Penang buses across Penang island and the mainland
- BRT Sunway Line
Ferries:
- Penang Butterworth–Georgetown ferry
Toll roads:
- All toll plazas on Malaysian highways, including the North-South Expressway, Penang Bridge, and PLUS highways. If you rent a car in Malaysia, you will need a Touch ‘n Go card or cash at every toll. Many hire car operators include a pre-loaded card - confirm this when collecting your vehicle.
TNG eWallet: The Upgrade for Longer Trips
If you want to go further, the TNG eWallet app (iOS and Android) extends Touch ‘n Go into a full-featured payment wallet. Benefits over the physical card:
- No physical card needed - your phone handles all transit taps via NFC
- Online top-up - link to a Malaysian bank account or an international debit/credit card
- QR payments at hundreds of thousands of merchants: restaurants, petrol stations, supermarkets, street food stalls
- RFID highway transit - if your car has a TNG RFID sticker, the eWallet auto-deducts tolls without slowing down at barriers
- E-commerce - pay for some Malaysian online platforms directly from the wallet
Setting up the eWallet as a tourist:
- Download the TNG eWallet app (available globally on the App Store and Google Play)
- Register with a Malaysian or international phone number
- Upload a passport photo and selfie for identity verification
- Link a credit or debit card for top-ups (Visa and Mastercard accepted; some international cards require an OTP via SMS)
Verification typically takes a few minutes but can take up to 24 hours on first registration. Set it up the evening before you need it, not at the station gate.
Practical Tips for Tourists
Check your balance before gates. The card balance is displayed at reload machines and on the reader screen when you tap. Running out of credit mid-journey means you cannot exit the station - you will need to visit the customer service counter inside the station to add credit before the exit barrier unlocks.
Minimum fare covers most KL journeys. Most LRT and MRT single trips within central KL cost RM1.20–RM2.80. A balance of RM30 covers approximately 10–15 days of typical transit use.
The physical card and eWallet are separate accounts. Topping up the eWallet does not add credit to your physical card. If you have both, keep track of which is running low.
Toll roads need the card in the car. If you’re renting a car, keep the Touch ‘n Go card accessible for the driver. Some highways have dedicated Touch ‘n Go lanes - using them saves time over cash lanes, which can queue. Check that the card has enough balance before entering a highway as there are no top-up points mid-expressway.
Penang travellers: Rapid Penang bus drivers are accustomed to tourists and will usually tell you the fare in cash if your card balance is low. However, carrying a topped-up card avoids the coins-and-change issue on busy routes.
Plan Your Trip
✈️ Book your flights to Malaysia 🛡️ Get travel insurance 📱 Stay connected with an eSIM 🚗 Rent a car