Abstract In recent years there has been a movement towards the use of smart cards in the transport sector including a profusion of demonstration projects and small to medium scale implementations. The use of smart card technology in the field of transport applications is becoming widespread and covers most modes of transportation. This paper reviews some major areas of application and cites some of the more innovative implementations of the technology in Europe. It covers both contact and contactless (proximity) smart cards for transport applications, used on their own as a payment and information carrier device, or with a reader to provide contactless communications. The broad application areas of smart card technology that are within the scope of the paper are passenger fare payment (bus, metro, LRT, train and ferry), access control, automatic toll collection and road-use pricing and standardisation issues. The paper provides an overview of some of the major research programmes in the field of transport. Standardisation is considered.