A card reader, comprising: a card path through which a card having a magnetic stripe is to be transferred; a transfer means (14d to 14f) for transferring the inserted card through the card path; a card insertion slot for inserting the card into the card path; a magnetic head placed in the card path for recording/reproducing magnetic data to/from the magnetic stripe of the card; card position detecting sensors (8a to 8e) for detecting a position of the card; and a controlling means for controlling the operation of the card reader; wherein the card position detecting sensors (8a to 8e) are located at positions, where the magnetic stripe passes along the card path, and include at least one sensor (8a, 8b, 8e) which is placed in a line along which the magnetic stripe passes, and at least one sensor (8c, 8d) which is placed in the proximity of the magnetic head; wherein the magnetic head is also provided as a further sensor for detecting the presence of the card; and wherein the controlling means is adapted to continue the operation in a first case wherein the at least one sensor (8c, 8d) placed in the proximity of the magnetic head detects the presence of the card or in a second case wherein the at least one sensor (8c, 8d) placed in the proximity of the magnetic head does not detect a presence of the card, but the magnetic head detects magnetic signals from the magnetic stripe of the card, and is further adapted to classify the card in the first case as a standardized card provided in accordance with standard specifications and in the second case as a non-standardized transparent card which includes a transparent area not defined specifically according to standard specifications, but allows the operation to be continued. a card path through which a card having a magnetic stripe is to be transferred; a transfer means (14d to 14f) for transferring the inserted card through the card path; a card insertion slot for inserting the card into the card path; a magnetic head placed in the card path for recording/reproducing magnetic data to/from the magnetic stripe of the card; card position detecting sensors (8a to 8e) for detecting a position of the card; and a controlling means for controlling the operation of the card reader; wherein the card position detecting sensors (8a to 8e) are located at positions, where the magnetic stripe passes along the card path, and include at least one sensor (8a, 8b, 8e) which is placed in a line along which the magnetic stripe passes, and at least one sensor (8c, 8d) which is placed in the proximity of the magnetic head; wherein the magnetic head is also provided as a further sensor for detecting the presence of the card; and wherein the controlling means is adapted to continue the operation in a first case wherein the at least one sensor (8c, 8d) placed in the proximity of the magnetic head detects the presence of the card or in a second case wherein the at least one sensor (8c, 8d) placed in the proximity of the magnetic head does not detect a presence of the card, but the magnetic head detects magnetic signals from the magnetic stripe of the card, and is further adapted to classify the card in the first case as a standardized card provided in accordance with standard specifications and in the second case as a non-standardized transparent card which includes a transparent area not defined specifically according to standard specifications, but allows the operation to be continued.