Ticketless, fare-box cash collection

Traditionally more common in both North and South America, the system requires passengers to pay cash (or a token) into a fare-box [sometimes called a ‘hopper’] where the driver can see the payment before dropping the cash into an under-body cash vault that is emptied at the garage at the end of the day.

No change is generally given, which encourages passengers to pay the correct fares and thus speeds boarding. However this provision can then be strongly resented when a significant overpayment has to be made, and can actively discourage travel.

This payment method provides security to the operator, in that the driver does not have access to the cash. That in turn gives him personal security in that he cannot then be robbed of the takings.
However, the system does not provide any proof of payment by the passenger. This may lead to collusion between the driver and the passenger for under payment of the correct fare. It also becomes impossible to control over-riding effectively through inspection.

A variant sometimes exists where a time-restricted transfer facility is offered for extra payment, and a transfer ticket is then issued for a second trip [on another route] within a fixed time period.