Pay your fare with your debit or credit card

Can I use my debit or credit card to pay my fare on the TTC?

Yes. Debit and credit card payment is available across the TTC, as well as on all transit agencies that accept PRESTO (Brampton Transit, Burlington Transit, Durham Region Transit, GO Transit, Hamilton Street Railway, Oakville Transit, York Region Transit and UP Express).

How much will I be charged if I use my debit or credit card on the TTC?

You will be charged $3.30, the same as the adult single ride PRESTO fare.

Youth, senior and Fair Pass Discount Program fares are not available on debit and credit card payments on the TTC. If you qualify for any of these fare types, you should continue to pay your fare using a PRESTO card that has been set to deduct a youth, senior or Fair Pass Discount Program fare.

As always, children 12 and under are free.

What debit/credit cards can I use to pay my fare?

You can use:

• Visa
• Mastercard
• American Express
• Most Interac® Debit
• Visa Debit
• Apple Pay and Google Pay connected to their phone or smartwatch

When tapping a phone or smartwatch, please select your preferred payment card within your mobile wallet. For some phones and smartwatches, you may need to unlock your device before tapping.

Some credit and debit cards are not yet accepted on transit systems. Check with your bank to see if you can use your card to pay with PRESTO contactless. 

Can I use a bank card issued outside of Canada with PRESTO contactless payment?

Yes. You can use international credit cards and internationally issued Visa Debit and Debit Mastercard cards, but please be aware that they may have currency fees and extra processing fees for out-of-country use. You cannot use regular debit cards issued by a bank outside of Canada.

Will I be charged bank fees if I use my bank card to pay?

You will need to contact your financial institution to confirm if bank fees apply when using a debit card for payment. Some banking plans may charge additional fees or have transaction limits when paying with a debit card.

Before tapping, check with your bank to see if there are debit transaction fees associated with your account and whether transaction limits apply to public transit purchases.

Will paying a fare with my debit card count towards my transaction limit on my bank account?

Yes. Each fare charged to your card will count as a transaction. During a single trip, each tap does not count separately as a transaction, so tapping on and off will count as one transaction when your account is charged. Tapping on an inspection device during a fare inspection does not count as a transaction, but if the Fare Inspector finds that you didn’t tap your card and you are charged an inspection fare, that fare will count as a transaction.

Bank transaction fees may apply. Please check with your bank if you have any questions about transaction fees.

Where do I tap my debit or credit card?

You need to tap your debit or credit card, phone or smartwatch on the bottom part of the PRESTO device on a vehicle, or directly on top of the PRESTO reader on top of or at the side of the fare gate at stations.

Can I tap my wallet to pay my fare, or do I need to remove my physical card?

You should remove the card that you want to use to pay your fare from your wallet. This will prevent multiple cards from being charged if you just tap your wallet. You should continue to use the same card you tapped if you will be transferring vehicles or entering a station, so that you aren’t charged more than one fare within your two-hour transfer period.

Can I tap on a PRESTO device without unlocking my phone on the TTC?

Yes, customers with a credit card added to Apple Pay can use Express Mode in Apple Wallet to pay their fare at TTC subway stations and on buses, streetcars and accessible taxis. You can also use Express Mode in Apple Wallet on GO Transit, UP Express and other participating transit agencies.

Express Mode in Apple Wallet does not currently support debit cards.

Can more than one person use the same debit or credit card to travel at the same time?

No. Each person needs to tap their own debit or credit card, including those in a mobile wallet when travelling.

Is the two-hour transfer available through debit and credit card payment?

Yes. The two-hour transfer is available to debit and credit card, PRESTO card and PRESTO Ticket customers.

What do I show as my Proof-of-Payment if I use my debit or credit card to pay?

You would show the card (physical or the one in your mobile wallet) you used to pay your fare. Your tapped card is your Proof-of-Payment. If you are approached by a Fare Inspector, you will need to tap the card, phone or smartwatch you used and on the inspection device. The device will check your card information to make sure that you tapped to pay your fare. If the system finds that you did not tap your card at the start of your trip, you may receive a fine.

Are youth, senior and Fair Pass Discount Program fares available on debit and credit payments?

No. Debit and credit payment is tied to the adult single ride PRESTO fare on the TTC. Youths, seniors, Fair Pass Discount Program and monthly pass customers should continue to pay their fare using a PRESTO card set to deduct their specific fare type.

Will youth, senior and Fair Pass Discount Program fares be available on debit and credit payments on the TTC?

Not at this time. This is something we will look at as part of our long-term fare strategy.

Can I use debit and credit to pay my YRT or Mi-Way fare on a TTC bus across the boundary?

You can, however you’ll end up paying more than if you continued to use your PRESTO card when travelling on a TTC bus that crosses the boundary. That is because these agencies charge the same as the adult cash fare and not the adult PRESTO fare.

If you’ve tapped with a debit card in a mobile wallet, you can check your bank account to see your charges. Your transaction history is not available on the PRESTO App or website.

Will I see my debit or credit card payment fare when I tap on a reader?

No. You won’t be able to see your fare on the PRESTO reader when you tap your debit or credit card. You can check your transaction history later in the day on the PRESTO App, through the PRESTO website or check your credit card statement or bank account to see how much you were charged for the fare.

Why doesn’t the screen show a transfer tap, when I pay with my debit or credit card, like I see when I paid with a PRESTO card?

This functionality is not currently available with debit or credit card payment. You can check your transaction history later in the day on the PRESTO App, through the PRESTO website or check your credit card statement or bank account to see how much you were charged for the fare.

How will a Fare Inspector know I paid my fare with my debit/credit card?

They will be able to query your card on their handheld device and can see your transaction history. You should be prepared to show your tapped card to TTC staff at any point in your journey. Make sure to show the card you’ve used during your journey, or else you’ll be charged another fare.

Will my card be charged when I tap on a fare inspection device?

As long as you use the same card or mobile wallet that you tapped on with, you will not be charged twice. If you tap the wrong card for a fare inspection, you may receive a fine because that card will show no fare paid, so make sure to tap the same payment method that you used when you boarded. If the Fare Inspector finds that you did not tap, you may receive a fine.

How will I know if my debit or credit card has been charged?

A charge will appear on your credit card statement or in your bank account. This charge may take a few days to appear and multiple trips may be combined into one or more charges.

On your credit card statement, your charges will be listed as “PRESTO” followed by a series of letters/numbers and the type of charge (such as: fare, inspection, unpaid fare).

For your debit card, your charges will be listed as “PRES” followed by a series of letters/numbers in your bank account.

If you’ve tapped your credit or debit card to travel, later in the day, you can check your transaction history on the PRESTO App or website later in the day. If you’ve tapped with a mobile wallet debit card, please check your bank account to see your charges, as they are not available on the PRESTO website or app.

Before your credit card is charged, a pre-authorization of up to $1 may appear on your statement. Before your debit card is charged, a pre-authorization will appear on your bank account statement. Once your fare is calculated and charged to your bank account, the difference between your fare and the pre-authorization amount will be released by your bank. For agencies that charge a flat fare, the pre-authorization will be in the amount of your fare.

What is an unpaid fare?

An unpaid fare will appear in your transaction history if you used a card to travel but PRESTO was unable to charge a fare to that card. This can happen if you used a card that did not have enough funds to pay your fare.

How do I pay an unpaid fare with my registered credit card?

You can pay the unpaid fare through the PRESTO App, website or automated phone system at any time, with the same card the unpaid fare is associated with. You must do this before you can use that card again to travel.

You can also pay your unpaid fare at any time by tapping your card on a PRESTO device. If you are taking a trip at the same time, you need to tap to pay your unpaid fare, wait 5 seconds and then tap again to pay your fare for the new trip.

If you have an unpaid fare, the PRESTO system will automatically try to recover that fare from your method of payment for up to 30 days.

Once your unpaid fare is paid, either by you or by the PRESTO system automatically collecting the fare, you can use that card again to travel.

How do I pay an unpaid fare older than seven days, if I haven’t registered my credit card?

If you have an unpaid fare associated with your credit card, the PRESTO system will automatically try to collect that fare from your method of payment for up to 30 days.

If you want to pay your unpaid fare immediately, you can pay it through the PRESTO App, website or automated phone system.

You can also pay your unpaid fare at any time by tapping your card on a PRESTO device. If you are taking a trip at the same time, you need to tap to pay your unpaid fare, wait 5 seconds, and then tap again to pay your fare for the new trip.

Once your unpaid fare is paid, either by you or by the PRESTO system automatically collecting the fare, you can use that card again to travel.

How do I pay an unpaid fare on my debit card?

If you have an unpaid fare associated with your debit card, the PRESTO system will automatically try to collect that fare from your method of payment for up to seven days, or the next time you tap that card on a PRESTO fare payment device, the unpaid fare will be deducted from your bank account. If you are taking a trip at the same time, you need to tap to pay your unpaid fare, wait a few seconds, and then tap again to pay your fare for the new trip.

Once your unpaid fare is paid, either by you or by the PRESTO system automatically collecting the fare, you can use that card again to travel.

Why is there a hold on the funds in my bank account when I use my debit card?

Before your debit card is charged, a pre-authorization, or notice that that amount is on hold, will appear on your bank account statement, if your bank applies a hold on pre-authorized funds. Once your fare is calculated and charged to your bank account, the difference between your fare and the pre-authorization amount will be released by your bank.

What happens if I don’t have enough money for the pre-authorization?

If you don’t have enough money in your account for the pre-authorization amount, but you still tap to pay your fare, an unpaid fare will be associated with your card. You will have to pay that unpaid fare, by tapping on a reader once you have more money available, before you are able to use that card again to travel.

How can I verify my debit or credit transaction history and charges?

You can enter your card details in the PRESTO contactless section of the PRESTO App or website to see your transaction history. If you’ve tapped recently, it can take up to the end of the day for that tap to appear in your transaction history. When checking your credit card statement or bank account, your trip history may take a few days to appear and multiple trips may be combined into one or more charges.

Can I see my transaction history on the PRESTO website or app if I pay with my debit card on my phone or smartwatch?

No. At this time, only the physical version of the debit card can be accessed from PRESTO’s website or the app.

Can I register my debit and credit cards and what are the benefits of registering my cards?

Yes, you can register your debit and credit cards. When you register your debit or card and add it to your PRESTO Account, you can see your transaction history for the last 180 days on the PRESTO App or website. If you don’t add your credit or debit card to a PRESTO Account and you sign-in anonymously, you can only see transactions for the last seven days.

When you add a credit or debit card to a PRESTO Account you will also:

• Receive notifications related to your contactless card through the PRESTO App.
• You’ll be able to manage your trips and PRESTO contactless payments.
• You can sign into the PRESTO App or website with your email address and password instead of your credit or debit card number.

If you’ve used a debit or credit card at least once to pay your fare, you can add it to your PRESTO Account and see more of your transaction history.

If you’ve tapped with a debit card in a mobile wallet, you can check your bank account to see your charges. Your transaction history is not available on the PRESTO App or website.

How do I register my debit/credit card to my PRESTO Account?

Once you use your debit or credit card to travel at least once, you can add it to your PRESTO Account. If you don’t already have a PRESTO Account, you can create one on the PRESTO App or website, then choose the “Add a Card” option and follow the prompts under “Add a contactless card.” Make sure that you enter the correct card information.

How do I know if my debit or credit card has been added to my PRESTO Account?

You can check to make sure your credit or debit card was added to your PRESTO Account by signing out and signing back in. If your card was added successfully, it will show up as one of the cards in your account.

Why can’t I add a debit or credit card to my PRESTO Account?

You can only add a debit or credit card to your PRESTO Account if it has been tapped on a PRESTO device at least once to pay for transit. Make sure that you enter the correct card information when registering your card. If you’ve tapped with a debit card in a mobile wallet, you can check your bank account to see your charges. Your transaction history is not available on the PRESTO App or website.

Can I unlink / remove from debit or credit card from my PRESTO account?

Yes, you can unlink (or remove) your contactless credit or debit card from your PRESTO Account through the PRESTO website or app. However, when you do you will no longer have the benefits of having your credit/debit card in an account.

• You will only be able to see 7 days or transaction history instead of 180 days.
• You’ll no longer receive notifications related to your contactless card through the PRESTO App.
• You will have to sign in to the PRESTO App or website using your credit/debit card number instead of your email address and password.

What happens to my account history if I lose my debit/credit card associated with my PRESTO Account?

You will still be able to check your account history, as long as you know your card number. If you added your credit/debit card to your PRESTO Account, you can sign in with your username or email address and password to check your account history. If you’re checking your last transaction for your debit card by smartphone, you will also need a recent confirmation ID from a PRESTO contactless transaction. You can find this through your bank account. The confirmation ID needs to be from the last six months.

What is a Confirmation ID or Contactless Card ID, where do I find it and when do I need to use it?

Your contactless card ID is a unique number assigned to your debit or credit card by PRESTO. A confirmation ID is a unique code assigned to each debit or credit transaction. You can find your contactless card ID by signing into the PRESTO App or website with the details of the card you used to pay your fare. Your 10-digit confirmation ID can be found in the transaction description on your credit card statement or bank account.

How do I verify my card information?

For credit cards, sign-in through the PRESTO App or web and follow the instructions online. For anonymous credit cards (cards that are not registered), you can verify your card through PRESTO’s automated smartphone system. You can verify your debit card when you tap on a PRESTO device. Your card will not be charged when verifying.

Why do I need to verify my card information?

Your card may need to be verified to make sure that it is valid and has enough money to travel.

Why do I have to sign in to the PRESTO App or website with my debit or credit card information? How is PRESTO keeping my information safe?

In order to check your transaction history for a specific card, you need to enter the details of that card into the PRESTO App or website so that the system knows which card’s information to show you.

PRESTO is committed to keeping your information protected. PRESTO never sell customers’ personal information and it ensures that staff that handle personal customer information receives the necessary training so that you can be confident your information is protected and used appropriately. This applies to all PRESTO and Metrolinx employees and agents.

Why does the PRESTO device keep showing 'Tap Again' when I try to pay with a debit or credit card in my mobile wallet?

It may be because of how you are holding your phone. Hold your phone still and move it closer to the reader for a few more seconds. You can also try and move your phone out of range of the reader for a few seconds and try again. Your NFC antenna could be near the top or bottom of your device.

Why doesn't my credit card work?

Make sure you’re using an accepted payment method. 

If you’re experiencing an issue with your card, you can sign into the PRESTO App or website for more information. For example, if there is an unpaid PRESTO fare associated with your card, you will not be able to use it to travel with PRESTO until your fare is paid. You may also need to verify your card with PRESTO. Please contact your bank if your card does not work.

After three failed Inspection Fare charges your contactless payment media will be permanently blocked for travel for all Transit Agencies. If you wish to dispute an Inspection Fare or fine please contact the relevant issuing Transit Agency.

Why doesn't my debit card/mobile wallet work?

Make sure you’re using an accepted payment method.

If there is an unpaid PRESTO fare associated with your card, you will not be able to use it to travel until your fare is paid. You may also need to verify your card. 

After three failed Inspection Fare charges your contactless payment method will be permanently blocked for travel for all Transit Agencies. If you wish to dispute an Inspection Fare or fine please contact the relevant issuing Transit Agency.

What will happen if I tap to pay an unpaid fare and the PRESTO reader says, “Tap again | Trying to clear unpaid fares”?

If the reader, you tapped says “Tap again | Trying to clear unpaid fares” that means PRESTO is trying to collect an unpaid fare. If you are taking a trip at the same time, you need to wait a few seconds to tap to pay your fare for the new trip. If you see an “Accepted” screen once you tap to take your next trip, it means that your unpaid fare was paid successfully and your tap for your new trip has been recorded.

If you tap to pay an unpaid fare and then take a trip at the same time, you will see two different charges on your account: one for the unpaid fare and one for the fare for the new trip.

Sometimes PRESTO readers operate offline. If you see a “Tap again later” message when you tap on a device to pay an unpaid fare, that means the device you tapped was offline at the time and the system won’t collect your unpaid fare from your bank account until the device is back online. If this happens, you won’t be able to use your debit card to travel until that device is back online.

I tried to tap my debit card on a PRESTO device to verify it and the message says “Tap again| Trying to clear unpaid fares.” What does this mean?

If you see a “Tap again | Trying to clear unpaid fares” message when you tap on a device to verify your card, that means the device is verifying your card. If you’ve paid your unpaid fare, you will be able to tap again to pay for your next trip.

I tried to tap my debit card on a PRESTO device to verify it and the message just says “Tap again later.” What does this mean?

Sometimes PRESTO devices operate offline. If you see a “Tap again later” message when you tap on a device to verify your card, that means the device you tapped was offline at the time and you won’t be able to use your debit card to travel until that device is back online and sends your card verification to the PRESTO system. You can try another reader or try to pay your fare with another card. It could also mean that you do not have enough funds in your account.

Why do I keep getting an error message when I tap my iPhone/Apple Watch?

Older Apple devices – iPhone 8 and earlier models – may experience an error message when tapped on a PRESTO device. If you tap an older Apple device with PRESTO contactless and see a message saying that multiple cards were detected, simply tap your device again and the PRESTO device should accept your tap.

Why am I not able to tap my titanium and/or stainless-steel credit card on PRESTO devices?

If you are using a plastic, titanium, or stainless-steel credit card to tap on a PRESTO device, please make sure you tap with the chip side facing the card reader and hold your card there until you see a green accepted screen.

Visit our Fares and Passes page to learn more ways to pay on the TTC.