Abstract: A card reader is provided with a card transporting mechanism wherein the trailing end of a card as viewed in a card transporting direction is brought into contact with a first card engaging/holding member moving in a card transporting direction, and the card is transported by the first card engaging/holding member. The card transporting mechanism includes a carriage movable in the card transporting direction, and the first card engaging/holding member is mounted so that the first card engaging/holding member is movable between a first position where the first card engaging/holding member comes in contact with the trailing end of the card and a second position where the first card engaging/holding member does not come in contact with the card.