Use Presto Smart Card for Traveling with E-Ticket

Presto

PRESTO is an electronic payment system that makes travelling on transit faster and easier by eliminating the need for tickets, tokens, passes and cash.

PRESTO works across local transit services in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) and Ottawa, making paying for your trip simple, convenient and secure.

PRESTO allows users to pay for their travel using an electronic fare card that replaces the need to use cash, tickets, tokens or passes on public transit.

Creating a PRESTO account helps protect your card balance. If your card is ever lost or stolen, the money can be transferred to a replacement card. You can’t do that with any other form of transit payment.

You can have money automatically loaded to your card when your balance falls below minimum amount that you set.

You can use your PRESTO card across 11 transit agencies in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) and Ottawa area.

By using PRESTO you’re also eligible for discount fare trips on participating transit services.

PRESTO card can be used on any of the 11 participating transit agencies in Ontario, including OC Transpo in Ottawa. Visit Paying for Transit to see the full list of PRESTO transit agencies.

Order a card online: your card will be mailed to you within 7-10 business days. You must add at least $0.05 to your card balance or a weekly/monthly transit pass. You can choose to either create a My PRESTO Account or have your card not associated with an account.

Buy a card in person: at a Customer Service Outlet or at a Ticket Vending Machine (TVM) or a Fare Vending Machine (FVM). Your card is ready to use immediately, and can be added to your My PRESTO Account online within 24 hours. The card will be activated already and you are encouraged to create a My PRESTO Account in order to access the benefits of having an account.

When you buy or reload a card at a Shoppers Drug Mart or other in-person Customer Service Outlets, at a Ticket Vending Machine at GO and UP Express stations or online, you must load at least $0.05. At Fare Vending Machines at TTC subway stations, you must load at least $5.00.

The date on the back of the card is the date the card was manufactured. Some older cards have an expiry date, but PRESTO cards no longer expire. You may continue to use your card even after the indicated expiry date and your balance will remain on the card. In addition, PRESTO and our Transit Agency partners are not liable for any damaged, defective or expired cards.

Punching a hole in your PRESTO card will damage the antenna and chip, rendering it useless. In addition, PRESTO and our Transit Agency partners are not liable for any damaged cards.

If the card is damaged you will be responsible for buying a replacement card for the cost of $6.

You can get a replacement PRESTO card and transfer your balance from the old card to your new card. First, you need to purchase a new card online or in person at a Customer Service Outlet or Ticket Vending Machine.

Once you get a new card, please do not register it, or add a monthly pass. This will be done automatically as part of the transfer process. When you are ready to transfer the balance from your old card to your new card, log in to your My PRESTO Account, click on Report Lost/Damaged card and follow the instructions.

Your primary card is the first card that is displayed when you log into your My PRESTO Account. If you would like to change your primary card, you can do so on the Manage My Cards page.

The PRESTO card costs $6 and is non-refundable. This charge is collected by us to cover administrative fees for the cost of the card and using the system.

Cards bought online without creating an account or cards bought in person at a Customer Service Outlet, Shoppers Drug Mart location, Fare Vending Machine or Ticket Vending Machine do not need to be activated.

It can take up to 24 hours to process your activation. During this time you won’t be able to use your card. After waiting 24 hours, you must tap on a PRESTO device within 30 days of activating to complete the activation process.

Fare types are set up on your PRESTO card by local transit agencies. By default it is set to ‘Adult’, however some transit agencies offer discounted fares for youth, seniors, and children. Customers must travel with proof of eligibility. Please contact your transit agency for more details on the fare types they provide.

PRESTO is currently accepted by the following Transit Services:

  • Brampton Transit
  • Burlington Transit
  • Durham Region Transit (DRT)
  • GO Transit
  • Hamilton Street Railway (HSR)
  • MiWay
  • Oakville Transit
  • OC Transpo
  • Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)
  • UP Express
  • York Region Transit/Viva (YRT/Viva)

Your PRESTO card stores funds in a secure account, replacing the need for tickets, tokens, passes or cash.

When you tap your PRESTO card on a fare payment device, the electronic chip embedded in the card instantly calculates the fare and deducts it from your account.

You can store up to $1000 on your PRESTO card, and can link your account to a debit or credit card.

If your transit agency offers a transfer on your PRESTO card simply tap when boarding a connecting vehicle and PRESTO will automatically determine if you’re eligible for a free transfer.

If a fare enforcement officer asks you to show proof of fare payment for a transit service, you must tap your PRESTO card on the officer’s handheld card reader to verify that your card is valid and that you tapped on at the start of your trip.

PRESTO card users are responsible for ensuring they travel with a valid card and have paid the correct fare. Children, youth, and seniors who travel with discounted fares are also required to have proper identification to prove eligibility.

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