Claiming money back with an anonymous OV-chipkaart: is that possible?

An anonymous OV-chipkaart often still has a balance on it, even if the card has not been used in a long time. That money is not lost. You can ask for it back. Which route you take depends on the amount and on whether the card is still valid. In this article you will read exactly how that works.

Can you get money back from an anonymous OV-chipkaart?

Yes, you can. With an anonymous OV-chipkaart you also get your balance back. How you do that depends on two things: how much money is still on it and whether the card is still valid. Is there less than €30 on a valid card? Then you arrange it at the service desk. Is it more, or has the card expired? Then you request it back online and the money is paid into your account.

Below we walk through both routes.

Balance under €30: arrange it at the service desk

Do you have less than €30 on a card that is still valid? Then the service desk is the fastest route. Walk up to a service desk at one of your carrier's stations, for example NS, and have the balance taken off the card. You get the amount straight away.

Good to know: your card is not cancelled in the process. So you can simply keep using it afterwards. Do bear in mind that some carriers charge a small administration fee. Just ask at the service desk.

Balance over €30 or an expired card: request it back online

Is there more than €30 on it, or has the card expired? Then you request your balance back online. You do that via the form at ov-chipkaart.nl/saldo-terugvragen. The remaining balance is then refunded to your bank account.

This is also the route for that one card you have not used in years. As long as you are within the time limit, which we will explain shortly, you simply get your money back.

How to fill in the form

Filling it in takes you a couple of minutes. You will need the following details:

The card number (printed on the back of your OV-chipkaart).
The card's expiry date.
Your account number.
Your email address.

Fill everything in, submit, and that is it. The money is usually in your account within two weeks.

One thing: are you still travelling with this card and do you have automatic top-up switched on? Turn that off first before you request your balance back.

Mind your privacy: how your anonymous card becomes personal after all

One thing to be aware of. As soon as you have the money paid into your account, your card is effectively no longer anonymous. After all, you link your name and account number to the card number. For most people that is no problem, but it is good to know.

Would you rather avoid that? Then there is a simple alternative: just travel your balance down before the card expires. No form, no sharing details, no costs. More on that further down.

How long can you still request your balance back?

An OV-chipkaart is valid for five years. Your card has an expiry date on it. After that you still have time to request your balance back: up to five years after that expiry date. After that your right to the money lapses.

Has your card been expired for less than a year? Then you simply arrange it online via the form. Has it been expired for more than a year? Then you sometimes have to send the card in so it can be read out. In both cases you get your money.

In short: do not put it off forever.

The OV-chipkaart ends in late 2027: what does that mean for your balance?

And then there is something else important. The OV-chipkaart is going away. In late 2027 the card will be replaced by the OV-pass, under the new system OVpay. With that you check in and out using a new pass, your debit card or your phone.

For your balance that means: it does not automatically move across to a new pass. Is there still money on your anonymous OV-chipkaart? Request it back in time, or travel it down. Because a card that will soon stop working is one you can no longer empty out by travelling either.

By the way, you are not the only one still holding money on an old card. Translink, the company behind the OV-chipkaart, has been left with millions of euros in recent years from balances that passengers never claimed back. A shame, because it is your money.

Not in the mood for hassle? Just travel your balance down

The easiest way to get your money "back" is simply to travel the balance down before the card expires. No service desk, no form, no administration costs, and you share no details. For small amounts that is often the least effort.

Do you have a larger amount on it? Then requesting it back makes more sense. That way you actually get money into your account.

And money back for a train delay, can that be done with an anonymous card too?

Finally, a question we get a lot. Were you travelling on an anonymous OV-chipkaart and did your train have a serious delay? Then you often simply have a right to compensation. After all, that claim is tied to your trip, not to your name.

Sorting it out yourself is just a hassle: looking up the right travel details, filling in forms, chasing your money. That is what we are here for at trein-vertraging.nl. We find your delays and arrange your claim, so you do not have to chase it yourself.