A division of Metrolinx, an agency of the Ontario Government, PRESTO is the fare payment transit service for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.
A division of Metrolinx, an agency of the Ontario Government, PRESTO is the fare payment transit service for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.
Are you new to PRESTO? Don't worry, we've got you covered! Check out our list of frequently asked questions to get the answers you need to start using PRESTO!
PRESTO is an electronic fare payment system used on public transit in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) and Ottawa, OntarioIt allows transit riders to use a physical reloadable card, an Apple Wallet, a Google Wallet, contactless credit and Interac debit, and tickets to pay for trips on participating transit systemsLearn about all the payment options and find out which product is right for you.
There are many benefits with using a PRESTO card, which include:
You can use your PRESTO card on any of the 11 participating transit agencies in Ontario, including:
Please note:
Yes, PRESTO is accepted on many specialized transit services, including Wheel-Trans in Toronto, DARTS in Hamilton, Mobility On-Request in York Region, Durham Region Transit, Care-A-Van in Oakville, Para Transpo in Ottawa (PRESTO in Google Wallet not accepted) and Handi-Van in Burlington
There are two different PRESTO fare payment devices on specialized transit vehicles:
1a handheld device 2a device attached to the vehicle’s centre console
Depending on which device type is on your vehicle and where you are seated, you may be able to tap your own card, or the operator may need to tap your card for youIn either case, the result of your tap will be visible on the screen and there is also an audio mode that the operator can turn on for youWhen your card is tapped, the audio mode reads out the same information that appears on the screenThis includes the fare paid and your balance remainingRemember, you must ask the operator to turn on the audio mode before your card is first tapped.
With PRESTO in Mobile Wallet, you can get a card almost instantly through the PRESTO app, Apple Wallet or Google Wallet
You can buy a physical PRESTO card in-person or onlineIf you are buying a replacement card, please cancel your lost card and follow the steps here
Buy card in person:
Buy card onlineThis card will be mailed to you within 7-10 business days
We recommend adding your PRESTO card to an online account to benefit from account features like balance protection, Autoload and transaction history
The physical PRESTO card costs $4 and is non-refundableThis charge is collected by us to cover administrative fees for the cost of the card and using the system
There is no cost to get a new PRESTO card in Mobile Wallet.
The safety and security of our system is a top priority, and we want to remind customers to only buy PRESTO cards from an authorized PRESTO retailer, including:
Ticket Vending Machine (TVM) or a Fare Vending Machine (FVM)
Through the PRESTO website
For Android device users, you can get a new PRESTO in Google Wallet card through the PRESTO app or Google Wallet app
For iPhone device users, you can get a new PRESTO in Apple Wallet through the PRESTO app or Apple Wallet app
We recommend adding your PRESTO card to an online account to access the full range of benefits including card balance protection
If you encounter an unauthorized PRESTO retailer selling PRESTO products, you should report suspected fraud to your local police and notify the PRESTO Contact CentreThe more information we can collect on the matter will help in stopping it before more customers are affected
If you bought your physical card in person, no activation is neededIt is ready for use right away.
However, if you bought a physical card through your PRESTO account and it was mailed to you, it's already added to your account and must be activated before useTo activate a PRESTO card, simply sign into your PRESTO account and select Card Details for the card, and choose Activate New Card Alternatively, you can type “Activate PRESTO card” in the PRESTO Virtual Assistant to activate your card.
With PRESTO, simply tap your PRESTO product and travelLearn more about the different PRESTO products you can use to pay for transit.
NoPunching a hole in your PRESTO card will damage the card's antenna and chip, making it unusablePRESTO and our Transit Agency partners are not responsible for any damaged cards
If the physical card is damaged you will be responsible for buying a replacement card for the cost of $4.
No, PRESTO cards do not expireThe date on the back of the card is the date the card was manufacturedYou may continue to use your card even after the indicated date.
