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Bus Companies With Mobile Boarding: Complete Guide

Photo of a woman about to board a bus with her mobile boarding pass.

Pagers. Fax machines. Printers.

What do these things have in common? They’re all stale technology.

You better believe we’re including printers in that mix. 🔥 Fact of the matter is, there’s hardly a need for home printers anymore. Thanks to improved apps and mobile wallets, you can use your phone for any number of tasks that formerly required an inkjet to spew color on a piece of paper. 

Thankfully, most major bus companies have caught on. From Megabus to Peter Pan, there are now a number of carriers on Wanderu that allow for mobile boarding, making “Low Ink” warnings and “Out of Paper” errors a thing of the past. 

That said, a few are still adapting to the new digital status quo. Below you can see which U.S. bus carriers on Wanderu currently allow for mobile boarding, and which do not. Within the table, click on the carrier’s name for further details.

For many of the bus carriers marked “Yes,” you can pull up your ticket or the reservation information necessary to board in the Wanderu app, available for both Android and iOS. 

Find additional details on each bus’s policy in the following section:

Barons Bus Lines

Unfortunately, Barons Bus Lines does not currently offer mobile boarding. To ride, you will need to print out a physical ticket. They do not offer will-call tickets, either. Upon boarding, you will need to present a government-issued ID along with your ticket. For further information about riding with Barons Bus Lines, visit their official website.

BestBus

Good news: BestBus has mobile boarding. They confirm your e-ticket via email, so as long as you have access to your confirmation email when boarding then you’re set. Upon boarding, you will be asked to present a government-issued ID. For further information about riding with BestBus, visit their official website.

BoltBus

Good news: BoltBus has mobile boarding. Just show your confirmation email to the driver and you will be given the go-ahead to board. While BoltBus does not require an ID to board, we recommend having a government-issued ID on hand anyway, just in case. For further information about riding with BoltBus, visit their official website.

Burlington Trailways

Unfortunately, Burlington Trailways does not currently offer mobile boarding. To ride, you will need to print out a physical ticket. They do not offer will-call tickets, either. While Burlington Trailways does not require an ID to board, we recommend having a government-issued ID on hand anyway, just in case. For further information about riding with BoltBus, visit their official website.

Concord Coach Lines

Unfortunately, Concord Coach Lines does not currently offer mobile boarding when purchased through Wanderu. To ride, you will need to print out a physical ticket. Upon boarding, you will need to present a government-issued ID along with your ticket. For further information about riding with Concord Coach Lines, visit their official website.

GoBuses

Good news: GoBuses has mobile boarding. Just show your confirmation email to the driver and you will be given the go-ahead to get on the bus. While GoBuses does not require an ID to board, we recommend having a government-issued ID on hand anyway, just in case. For further information about riding with GoBuses, visit their official website.

Greyhound

Unfortunately, Greyhound does not currently offer mobile boarding. To ride, you will need a physical ticket. However, Greyhound does offer the option to pick up your tickets at the bus station. If this option is available for your route, you will be able to select it at checkout, and it will be noted in your confirmation email. When you arrive at the station, give the ticket agent your confirmation number and you will be given your ticket.

Upon boarding, you will need to present a government-issued ID along with your ticket. For further information about riding with Greyhound, visit their
official website.

Jefferson Lines

Unfortunately, Jefferson Lines does not currently offer mobile boarding. To ride, you will need a physical ticket. They do not offer will-call tickets, either. Upon boarding, you will need to present a government-issued ID along with your ticket. For further information about riding with Greyhound, visit their official website.

Megabus

Good news: Megabus has mobile boarding. In fact, all you need is your reservation number and you will be allowed to board. While Megabus does not require an ID to board, we recommend having a government-issued ID on hand anyway, just in case. For further information about riding with Megabus, visit their official website.

OurBus

Good news: OurBus has mobile boarding. They confirm your e-ticket via email, so as long as you have access to your confirmation email when boarding then you’re set. While OurBus does not require an ID to board, we recommend having a government-issued ID on hand anyway, just in case. For further information about riding with OurBus, visit their official website.

Peter Pan Bus Lines

Good news: Peter Pan has mobile boarding. They confirm your e-ticket via email, so as long as you have access to your confirmation email when boarding then you’re set. Upon boarding, you will need to present a government-issued ID along with your ticket. For further information about riding with Peter Pan Bus Lines, visit their official website.

RedCoach

Good news: RedCoach has mobile boarding. They confirm your e-ticket via email, so as long as you have access to your confirmation email when boarding then you’re set. Upon boarding, you will need to present a government-issued ID along with your ticket. For further information about riding with RedCoach, visit their official website.

Trailways

Unfortunately, Trailways (Adirondack Trailways, New York Trailways) does not currently offer mobile boarding. To ride, you will need a physical ticket. They do not offer will-call tickets, either. While Trailways does not require an ID to board, we recommend having a government-issued ID on hand anyway, just in case. For further information about riding with Trailways, visit their official website.

Vamoose

Good News: Vamoose has mobile boarding. They confirm your e-ticket via email, so as long as you have access to your confirmation email when boarding then you’re set. Upon boarding, you will need to present a government-issued ID along with your ticket. For further information about riding with Vamoose, visit their official website.

Just because a bus lets you board with your phone doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best option — obviously, factors like price, duration and so forth play a key role in determining which one best suits your needs. That said, if you don’t own a printer, seeking one out can be a major inconvenience. Let this guide be your … guide … when you book your next trip on Wanderu!

And once you’ve purchased those tickets, take a look at our bus luggage guide to see how many bags you can bring along with you.

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About the author
Tyler Moss

Tyler Moss

Tyler Moss has danced on tables at Oktoberfest and petted alpacas in the Andes. He prefers to eat at restaurants where the menu is in a language he can’t understand, and likes bars where the lighting is dim and the drafts are cheap. His writing has been published by Condé Nast Traveler, The Atlantic, New York, Outside, Atlas Obscura, Playboy and other fine venues.

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