Public transportation and the MTA are a massive part of what makes our city so great and accessible, and it’s important to understand how to maneuver it correctly! MetroCards, or the primary way of paying subway fares, were first introduced back in 1993 and continue to be a main way of navigating the city.
Replacing subway tokens before then, these subway cards became the new way to load funds to pay the fare and swipe your way for entry! In this guide, we walkthrough all of the necessary details you may need about finding a MetroCard, buying one, refilling it, and more.
What is a MetroCard?
A MetroCard is a physical ticket card that grants you access to public transportation in New York City. These cards are accepted on the subway, buses, local trains, and more. A MetroCard will grant you entry to:
- MTA subway
- MTA local buses
- Metro-North trains
- PATH trains
- Staten Island Railway trains
- AirTrain at JFK Airport
- Nassau Inter-County Express
- Bee-Line Bus
- Roosevelt Island Tramway
Where to buy a MetroCard in NYC
MetroCards are available for purchase at MetroCard vending machines located at most subway stations in NYC. Some of the larger/prominent stations also have MTA workers that can help assist you with the machines.
There are some other places you can purchase a MetroCard as well:
- Local retail stores (see all locations)
- Mobile sales buses and vans: Each month traveling buses/vans move around the five boroughs where you can purchase a MetroCard with cash (see times and locations)
Are there different types of MetroCards?
Yes, there are different types of MetroCards with different benefits. The different options vary by how frequently you want to ride as well as of course price. See the various price options below.
Single Ride
Starting with single ride tickets, this option allows you just one single one-way ride. Single ride tickets can be purchased at MetroCard machines and cost $3.25. They are also not refillable and you cannot transfer between subway and bus with this type of card. You can also physically tell it’s a single ticket because it’s white…versus the typical yellow MetroCard.
Pay-Per-Ride
The most popular MetroCard option is the pay-per-ride card, which as it sounds…equates to $2.90 per ride. The way this card works is you load up however much money you want on the card and it will deduct the $2.90 fare each time you ride. These refillable cards must have a minimum balance of $5.80 for new cards (two swipes) and a brand new card costs an additional dollar.
When you purchase a card from the vending machine or refill your balance, you can choose from pre-fixed amounts or add a custom total. It’s refillable forever!
Unlimited Rides (Weekly/Monthly Pass)
The unlimited MetroCard is quite popular amongst local New Yorkers who find themselves on-the-go a lot of the time. You can purchase either 7-Day or 30-Day passes which unlock unlimited travel around NYC. That means as many swipes per day as you want all during the allotted timeframe.
This option is also popular amongst tourists visiting New York City for a week.
Can I buy a MetroCard online?
You cannot buy individual physical MetroCards online, however you can order them in bulk for whatever reason through MTA’s website.
What you can do is add value to your MetroCard online. You can do this by creating an account on the Transit Authority’s website and linking your card to refill it.
Do I NEED a MetroCard or are there other ways of payment?
If you wish to ride public transportation in NYC without a MetroCard, there is a way! A tap-to-pay contactless service called OMNY exists and makes things easier! It’s so loved in fact that OMNY is set to become the standard and phase MetroCards out according to local officials.
OMNY
OMNY is an alternative to a MetroCard, and is NYC’s contactless payment system for public transportation. Riders can use OMNY by simply tapping their credit card or smartphone at the turnstile for easy entry. Or, select stations have OMNY vending machines which dispense physical OMNY cards for $5.
With OMNY, you pay for a maximum of 12 rides per any given week (if using the same card). Once you surpass 12 rides, the rest are then free during those 7 days.
How to use a MetroCard for the subway
To use a MetroCard you simply swipe your card at the subway turnstile entry points or insert into a farebox on a bus.