Students heading back to school can save on transit with PRESTO

We’ve got all sorts of tips to help you head back to school. PRESTO makes taking transit a breeze and puts more savings back in your pocket.

Getting a PRESTO card
Digital PRESTO cards are free! You can add a PRESTO card in your mobile wallet through the PRESTO app. Find out how to get started with PRESTO in Apple Wallet or PRESTO in Google Wallet .You’ll need to have a payment method linked to your Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, and you’ll need to load at least $0.05 on your new PRESTO card. Digital PRESTO cards are not accepted on OC Transpo.

Buy a physical PRESTO card for $4 at locations across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area and Ottawa.

Pay Less with the Right Fare Type


Did you know you could get a discounted fare? Find out more about all the fare types available on PRESTO .

Youth (13 to 19 years old): Visit a participating Shoppers Drug Mart, or a customer service outlet with your PRESTO card and photo ID showing proof of age to set up your fare type. Don’t forget to carry proof of age when traveling with your PRESTO card!

Post-Secondary Student (20-64 years old): If you're a full-time student at an approved Ontario post-secondary school, you may qualify for a Post-Secondary fare type with discounts. The discounts and sign-up process will depend on your transit agency, so see below:

Apply for a GO Student ID online to get a 40% discount over the Adult cash fare.

TTC: If you’re a full-time post-secondary student between 20 and 64 years old in a recognized program within the City of Toronto, you’ll need to buy a TTC Student ID and visit a Customer Service Outlet to set a Post-Secondary Student fare type on your PRESTO card. Then you’ll be eligible to load a discounted monthly transit pass. If you aren’t using a monthly pass, you’ll pay the regular adult fare. Find out more about how to take the TTC as a student.

Some post-secondary schools also offer a U-Pass program for eligible students. If you’re attending one of the following schools, and have not received a PRESTO voucher code , speak with your school to see if you are eligible:
Durham Region Transit (DRT): Durham College, Trent University Durham GTA, Ontario Tech University
Hamilton Street Railway (HSR): McMaster University, Mohawk College, Redeemer College
MiWay: University of Toronto Mississauga Campus

In the Ottawa area, Carleton University, Saint Paul University, Algonquin College, and University of Ottawa qualify for an OC Transpo U-Pass that is added to your student card, instead of your PRESTO card. Speak to your school about getting a U-Pass. Find out more at OC Transpo.
Loading your PRESTO card
If you’re not using a monthly pass or a U-Pass, you’ll need to load funds on your PRESTO card. But you’ll never have to worry about running low with these quick and easy loading options:

• You can load your digital PRESTO card instantly through the PRESTO app or your phone’s wallet app.
• The PRESTO app also has a handy, instant ‘Load Now’ feature for your physical PRESTO card.
• Click here for a list of locations .
• Set up Autoload on your PRESTO card. Autoload automatically adds funds to a digital or physical PRESTO card whenever the balance falls below the minimum amount that you set. And you can always see exactly how much you have on your PRESTO card with the PRESTO app’s handy Check Balance feature.

Save more with One Fare


You can save even more if you use more than one transit agency to get to and from campus! You’ll get free or discounted transfers if you use a physical or digital PRESTO card to travel on more than one transit agency in the GTHA for a single trip thanks to One Fare. Find out how it works .

Have fun and save money with PRESTO Perks
Your PRESTO card isn’t just for transit. With PRESTO Perks PRESTO cardholders enjoy deals on sports, dining, special events and popular attractions like 20% off the Toronto Zoo and 15% off Ripley’s Aquarium. Visit our PRESTO Perks page often to check out the latest offers and start saving!

Now you’re all set to take these tips, get riding and have a fantastic year!