PRESTO Frequently Asked Questions
General PRESTO questions
General PRESTO questions
Is PRESTO right for me?
PRESTO is now available on all streetcars, buses, including Wheel-Trans and accessible taxis (Sedan taxis will get PRESTO later in 2017) and at the entrances of the following stations:
- Bathurst (main entrance)
- Bay
- Bayview (main entrance)
- Bessarion
- Bloor-Yonge (main entrance)
- Broadview
- Castle Frank
- Chester
- Christie
- College
- Coxwell
- Davisville (main entrance)
- Donlands
- Don Mills (main entrance)
- Downsview (main entrance)
- Dufferin (main entrance)
- Dundas
- Dundas West
- Dupont
- Eglinton - Auto
- Eglinton West
- Ellesmere
- Finch (main entrance)
- Glencairn
- Greenwood
- High Park
- Jane
- Islington
- Keele (main entrance)
- Kennedy
- King (main entrance)
- Kipling (main entrance)
- Lansdowne
- Lawrence (main entrance)
- Lawrence East
- Lawrence West (main entrance)
- Leslie
- Main Street
- McCowan
- Midland
- Museum
- North York Centre (main entrance and northbound elevator entrance)
- Old Mill
- Osgoode
- Ossington (main entrance)
- Pape
- Queen (main entrance)
- Queen’s Park (main entrance)
- Rosedale
- Royal York (main entrance)
- Runnymede
- Scarborough Centre (main entrance)
- Sheppard-Yonge (Sheppard entrance)
- Sherbourne
- Spadina (main entrance)
- St Andrew
- St Clair
- St Clair West (Heath Street entrance)
- St George (main entrance)
- St Patrick
- Summerhill
- Union (main/Brookfield rotunda)
- Victoria Park (main entrance)
- Warden
- Wellesley
- Wilson (main entrance)
- Woodbine
- Yorkdale (main entrance)
- York Mills (main entrance)
If you use any of these station entrances or travel on a streetcar or a bus, PRESTO may be right for you now. If you are a Metropass user, we recommend that you continue to use your pass. A monthly pass option will be available on PRESTO in 2017. We will let you know with plenty of notice when you should transition to PRESTO.
Where can I buy a PRESTO card?
- Online at prestocard.ca
- By phone at 1-877-378-6123 (follow options 7-1-1 for TTY)
- Customer Service Centre at Davisville Station, 1900 Yonge Street
- Pre-loaded adult and a * limited quantity of pre-loaded senior PRESTO cards ($20 including $6 issuing fee) are available at the Gateway Newstands in the following stations:
- Bathurst*
- Bay*
- Bloor-Yonge*
- Broadview*
- Christie
- College*
- Don Mills (Bus Bay)
- Downsview*
- Dundas south / north*
- Dundas West
- Dufferin*
- Dupont*
- Eglinton
- Eglinton West
- Finch*
- High Park
- Islington*
- Jane
- Keele
- Kennedy
- King*
- Kipling*
- Lawrence West
- Main Street*
- Old Mill
- Osgoode*
- Ossington*
- Pape
- Queen’s Park*
- Queen south / north*
- Royal York
- Runnymede
- Scarborough Centre
- Sherbourne*
- Sheppard-Yonge*
- Spadina*
- St Andrew*
- St Clair*
- St Clair West
- St George* (Bedford St entrance)
- St Patrick*
- Union
- Victoria Park
- Warden
- Wellesley*
- Wilson
- York Mills*
- Yorkdale*
To pay a senior/student fare, you will need to set this concession on your PRESTO card. This can be done at the Customer Service Centre at Davisville Station, 1900 Yonge Street. Once the concession is set, you can load your senior/student fare. If you purchased a pre-loaded senior card from a Gateway Newstands location you do not need to travel to Davisville to set a senior fare. It is already on that card. More locations to buy, load and set a senior/student fare will become available as PRESTO is rolled out across the TTC.
Note: Senior’s must show government issued photo identification or a TTC senior photo identification card to set a senior concession on a PRESTO card. Students ages 13 to 15 are not required to show photo identification to set a student concession on a PRESTO card, however youths ages 16 to 19 must show high school photo identification or government issued photo identification, such as a driver’s licence or an Ontario Photo Card, to set a student concession on a PRESTO card.
Where can I use my card?
PRESTO can be used on all TTC streetcars, buses, including Wheel-Trans and accessible taxis (Sedan taxis will get PRESTO later in 2017) and at at least one entrance of every subway station. It can also be used on GO Transit, Union Pearson Express, eight other Greater Toronto Area transit agencies and on OC Transpo in Ottawa.
When do I tap my card when riding TTC?
You always need to “tap on” when you begin your trip. To tap on, touch your PRESTO card to the PRESTO reader located inside the vehicle on the turnstile / new fare gates in the subway station, or on the operator/driver’s hand-held PRESTO reader on Wheel-Trans buses and accessible taxis.
Transferring from streetcar to subway station
- Tap your PRESTO card on the card reader at the front or rear doors of the streetcar when you board.
- Tap your PRESTO card on the card reader at the fare gate or turnstile.
Only one fare will be charged*
Transferring from subway station to streetcar
- Tap your PRESTO card on the card reader on the fare gate when you enter the subway station.
- Tap your card again on the card reader located at the front or rear doors of the streetcar when you board.
Only one fare will be charged*
Transferring from streetcar to streetcar
- Tap your PRESTO card on the card reader at the front or rear doors of the streetcar when you board.
- Tap your PRESTO card on the card reader at the front or rear doors of the streetcar you are transferring to.
Only one fare will be charged*
Transferring from streetcar to streetcar when one has been short-turned
- Tap your PRESTO card on the card reader at the front or middle of the streetcar when you board.
- When you board the next streetcar do not tap your card.
Transferring from streetcar to bus
- Tap your PRESTO card on the card reader at the front or rear doors of the streetcar when you board.
- Tap your PRESTO card on the reader at the front when you board the bus.
Only one fare will be charged*
Transferring from bus to bus
- Tap your PRESTO card on the card reader at the front of the bus when you board.
- Tap your PRESTO card at the front of the bus, when you board the next bus.
- Only one fare will be charged*
Transferring from bus to subway station (if dropped outside of the paid area because no bus bay exists at the station)
- Tap your PRESTO card on the card reader at the front of the bus when you board
- Tap your PRESTO card on the card reader at the fare gate or turnstile
- Only one fare will be charged*
Transferring from Wheel-Trans to subway station (if dropped off outside of the station)
- Tap your PRESTO card on the hand-held device provided by the operator/driver when you board the Wheel-Trans bus and/or accessible taxi.
- Tap your card on the reader at the fare gate when you enter the subway station.
Only one fare will be charged*
Transferring from subway station to Wheel-Trans (if picked up outside of the station)
- Tap your PRESTO card on the reader at the fare gate when you enter the station.
- Tap your card on the operator /driver’s hand-held card reader when you board the Wheel-Trans bus and/or accessible taxi.
Only one fare will be charged*
Transferring from Wheel-Trans to TTC bus
- Tap your PRESTO card on the hand-held device provided by the operator/driver when you board the Wheel-Trans bus or accessible taxi.
- When you board the TTC bus, tap the card reader at the front of the bus.
Only one fare will be charged.*
* Standard TTC transfer rules apply.
How do I load money on to my PRESTO card?
Online at prestocard.ca .
Autoload - automatically loads money to your card whenever your balance falls below a set minimum balance chosen by you. If your card is registered, you can establish an Autoload contract using your credit card or bank account.
By phone at 1-877-378-6123, (follow options 7-1-1 for TTY), provided the card is registered and a Requested Reload agreement is in place.
Customer Service Centre at Davisville Station, 1900 Yonge Street.
Self-Serve Reload Machine located at the following subway stations:
- Bathurst
- Bloor-Yonge
- Broadview
- College
- Davisville
- Dundas
- Dundas West
- Dupont
- Eglinton West
- Finch
- Islington
- Keele
- King
- Kipling
- Main Street
- Museum
- North York Centre
- Osgoode
- Ossington
- Queen
- Queen’s Park
- Royal York
- Runnymede
- Scarborough Centre
- Sheppard-Yonge
- Sherbourne
- Spadina
- St Andrew
- St Clair
- St Clair West
- St George
- St Patrick
- Union
- Wellesley
- York Mills
The minimum amount that can be loaded at one time is $10 and the maximum that can be stored on a card is $1000. PRESTO transactions done online may take up to 24 hours to be available for use.
What is a Self-Serve Reload Machine?
A Self-Serve Reload Machine is a machine you can use to load money onto your card or check your balance. Self-Serve Reload Machines, located at the stations listed above, only accept debit or credit cards. If you need to load your card using cash, you must visit the Customer Service Centre at Davisville Station, 1900 Yonge St. or any of the 11 transit agencies’ customer service outlets that use PRESTO.
Are there other ways to check my balance, other than at the Self-Serve Reload Machines?
-
You can check your card history at prestocard.ca or by calling 1-877-378-6123.
-
A customer service representative at one of the other transit agencies that use PRESTO can check your balance and transaction history.
How do I register my card and why should I do so?
You can register your card online at prestocard.ca. Registration has many benefits. Registered PRESTO cards can be replaced if lost or stolen and the cash balance will be restored. Only registered cardholders will be able to access their Public Transit Usage Statement online to help with a claim for the Federal Public Transit Tax Credit. Registering your card also means that you can take advantage of the Autoload feature, which means you’ll never have to worry about not having money on your card. You can drop to a negative balance to pay any single fare if you don’t have enough money loaded on the card. You will be charged a $0.25 fee once your card goes into a negative balance and you will need to load funds in order to use it for further travel.
What do I do if my card is lost or stolen?
Telephone - 1-877-378-6123 (follow options 7-1-1 for TTY) immediately (Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
Visit a customer service outlet at one of the other transit agencies that use PRESTO.
If your card is registered, your money is protected. Your card will be cancelled and your money will be transferred to a new card. You are responsible for any costs incurred on your card up to the first 24 hours after reporting its loss. You will need to pay the $6 fee for a new card.
Can more than one person use the same PRESTO card?
PRESTO cards can be shared, but can only be used by one person to travel at a time. When using someone else’s card, be aware of the fare settings they may have, i.e. senior or student. You cannot use a card with a concession for which you are not eligible.
Does PRESTO have a mobile application?
No not at this time. PRESTO is actively investigating new customer interfacing systems such as mobile applications to further enhance the customer experience.
Can PRESTO cards be returned and the $6 issuing fee be reimbursed?
The $6 issuing fee covers administrative fees for the cost of the card and using the system and is not eligible for reimbursement. If you no longer require a PRESTO card but have funds on it, any amount can be refunded by completing a "Refund Form A (Mail-in)" and mailing in both your PRESTO card and the completed form to:
PRESTO Card Refund
c/o PRESTO Finance Back Office
20 Bay Street, 2nd Floor
Toronto, ON M5J 2N8
If the balance on your card is less than $50, you may complete "Refund Form B (Station)" and bring the form along with your PRESTO card to a Customer Service Outlet for a refund at the Customer Service Outlet.
A processing fee equal to 4% of the total value to be refunded will apply to all refunds. Expected processing time frame is 4-6 weeks upon receipt at the PRESTO office.
As part of the refund process, customers should provide their PRESTO cards when completing a refund to close down their account and complete the refund transaction.
Using PRESTO on the TTC
What fare will I be charged?
The adult fare is $3.00, senior/student is $2.05 and kids still ride for free! To pay a senior/student fare, you will need to set a senior/student discount on your PRESTO card. This can be done at the Customer Service Centre at Davisville Station, 1900 Yonge Street. Once the discount is set, your card will deduct your senior/student fare.
As a PRESTO card customer, do I still need to carry tickets, tokens or cash with me?
No, you no longer have to carry tickets, tokens or cash with you. If your card is declined however, you will be asked to pay your fare with something other than you PRESTO card.
Also, PRESTO card customers who use Wheel-Trans still need to carry tickets, tokens or cash in case a Wheel-Trans Sedan taxi arrives. Sedan taxis won’t have PRESTO until later this year.
Can I still use a Metropass, ticket, token or cash to pay fare on TTC?
Yes, Metropasses, tickets, tokens or cash are still accepted across the TTC. Metropasses, tickets and tokens will be available for sale and use throughout 2017.
When will I be able to buy a monthly TTC pass on PRESTO?
A monthly TTC pass will be available later in 2017. It will cost the same as the current Metropass does and will provide the same unlimited travel the Metropass does.
What other TTC passes will be available on PRESTO?
Later in the year, the TTC will introduce weekly and daily loyalty passes on PRESTO. These will replace the current week and day passes. We will also introduce student and post-secondary passes. Details are still be finalized and more information will be provided when available.
I’m a Metropass Discount Plan (MDP) customer, should I switch to PRESTO?
No, you should wait until later this year to switch to PRESTO. We will let you know with plenty of notice when you should make the switch.
I have VIP pricing, what happens when PRESTO is rolled out across the TTC?
The VIP program will eventually be discontinued. VIP customers will then have the option of participating in the Metropass Discount Program. The transition won’t happen until later this year. We will let you know - with plenty of notice - when the VIP program will end.
Will the TTC montly pass on PRESTO cost me more since it’s a pay-as-you go type of system?
No. The cost will be the same as the Metropass (adult, senior/student, post-secondary) it will provide the same unlimited travel as the current Metropass does.
Do I need to buy a PRESTO card if I only take a single ride or don’t use the TTC very often?
Eventually you will be able to buy a paper PRESTO card. This card will replace tokens and cash fares at subway stations and will primarily be used for single rides, although additional products such as round trip or multi-day travel may be offered. This paper PRESTO card will be available for sale from the Fare Media Vending Devices at subway station entrances as well as from PRESTO’s third-party retail network. More information about this will be shared when details have been confirmed.
How will social service agencies and other organizations who distribute tokens to clients provide TTC fare?
Social service agencies and other organizations will be able to purchase paper PRESTO cards to distribute to their clients. They will also be available for sale from the Fare Media Vending Devices at subway station entrances as well as from PRESTO’s third-party retail networks. More information about this will be shared when details have been confirmed.
Children ride for free. Will they need a PRESTO card?
Eventually children ages 6 to 12 will require a PRESTO card. It will not carry a balance but children will be able to tap on and enter the system. The timing of when these cards will be available is still being determined. More information will be shared when details have been confirmed.
How do I access the fare gates with small children?
Place your small child or children in front of you. Then tap your PRESTO card on the reader. When the gates open, your child or children should walk through first, and then you should walk through immediately behind.
What happens if my child (under 12) arrives at a TTC station or on a vehicle with a child concession on a PRESTO card (purchased from another transit agency where children under 12 are not free), what fare will he/she be charged?
The card reader will recognize the child is under 12 and no fare will be deducted. The paddles and/or turnstile will open and allow entry to the station. The card reader on the bus will beep twice and show a green check mark.
How will photo identification work on the children’s PRESTO cards?
Children ages 6 to 9 will not be required to have their photo on their PRESTO card. Photo identification will be required on PRESTO cards for children between the ages of 10 to 12 as well as youths between the ages of 13 to 15 and 16 to 19. These PRESTO photo cards are not available yet. More information about these will be shared when details are available.
Can I load daily or weekly passes on my PRESTO card?
Not yet. Monthly and weekly passes will be available later this year. The day pass, also expected later this year, will become a “daily cap” where customers will not pay more than a predetermined amount throughout the day.
When will the TTC stop selling and accepting tickets, tokens and TTC passes?
Tickets, tokens and TTC passes will be available for purchase and use throughout 2017. Tokens will no longer be available for sale by the end of 2017. We will stop selling these before we stop accepting them. No definitive date has been selected for when tickets and TTC passes will no longer be available. We will provide advance notice before this happens.
I have a lot of tokens. Can get a refund or exchange them?
You will not be able to get a refund or exchange. It is recommended that you use your tokens.
As a PRESTO card customer do I still need to take a paper transfer?
No, you are no longer required to take a paper transfer. When you tap your PRESTO card against a card reader at the start of your journey your transfer is written to the card at that time.
On the 512 streetcar route customers (including those using PRESTO) may request a time-based transfer.
How long do I have before my transfer is no longer valid?
You have two hours from the first tap to complete your one way journey.
I don’t have a credit card. Can I buy and load my card with cash?
Yes. You must come to the TTC’s Customer Service Centre at Davisville Station, 1900 Yonge St., or visit one of the customer service outlets at any of the 10 other transit agencies that use PRESTO, to buy and load a PRESTO card using cash. More locations to buy a card or load it by paying with cash will become available as PRESTO is rolled out across the TTC.
PRESTO on the subway
How do the new fare gates work with my PRESTO card?
To access a station you must tap your PRESTO card on the reader on top of the gate. The paddles will swing open, creating an unobstructed path into the station.
How do the new fare gates work with my TTC pass?
Swipe your TTC pass through the magnetic stripe reader at the top of the fare gate. The paddles will swing open, creating an unobstructed path into the station.
I don’t have a Metropass or a PRESTO card. How do I enter the station?
You can enter through the collector booth aisle using tickets, tokens, cash, or transfers.
Will there be a wide aisle gate at all stations?
Yes, all entrances will have at least one wide aisle PRESTO-only and TTC pass fare gate.
When will all subway stations have PRESTO readers?
At least one entrance of every subway station accepts PRESTO. Throughout 2017, the remaining subway station entrances that do not yet have the new paddle-style PRESTO-enabled fare gates will have them installed.
How do I access the new fare gates with a small child?
Place your small child or children in front of you. Then tap your PRESTO card on the reader. When the gates open your child or children should walk through first and you walk through immediately behind.
PRESTO on TTC buses
Is PRESTO available on buses?
Yes. PRESTO is available on all buses.
With card readers at the front and back of the bus, does this mean I can board at the backdoor?
No. All-door boarding is not available on buses - only streetcars. The only time you can board through the backdoors, other than in a station is if the bus is a shuttle bus or if it is operating on a streetcar.
When should I take a transfer?
If you are paying by cash, ticket or token you should take a transfer. Otherwise you just tap your PRESTO card on the reader and your transfer will be applied to the card.
Do I need to tap on a bus in the paid area if I have already tapped into a subway station?
No. But you will need to tap again if you transfer to another bus as part of your journey.
Do I need to tap into a subway station if the bus that I’m on doesn’t go into the paid area?
Yes. You will need to tap into the subway station however you won’t be charged a second fare.
How will operators know if my fare has been accepted from my PRESTO card?
There will be a green check mark on the card reader. The reader will emit one beep.
How will operators know if I have a senior/student concession fare on my PRESTO card?
There will be a green check mark on the card reader. The reader will emit two beeps.
How will operators know if my PRESTO card has been declined?
There will be a red X on the card reader. The reader will emit a horn-like sound.
What happens if my PRESTO card is declined?
Operators will ask you to tap your card on the reader at the back of the bus. If your card is declined again, you will need to pay by token or exact cash.
What if the PRESTO card readers are out-of-service on a bus?
If all PRESTO card readers are out-of-service, you will be allowed to board and asked to tap your PRESTO card on the next bus or at a subway station.
Can I use my PRESTO card to pay the double fare that is required on Downtown Express Buses?
You can use your PRESTO card to pay one of the two fares required on Downtown Express Buses. However, you will need to pay the other fare by ticket, token or exact cash. PRESTO is working on a solution to allow customers to pay a double fare by the tap of a PRESTO card, which we expect to be in place by the end of 2017.
Can I use my PRESTO card to pay my YRT, Mi-Way and TTC fare on a TTC bus that travels outside of Toronto?
PRESTO readers on TTC buses that operate in York Region or Mississauga are not currently set up to collect YRT and/or MiWay fares, only TTC fares. You can use your PRESTO card to pay your TTC fare if you board the bus in Toronto. When you leave the bus in York Region or Mississauga you must pay your YRT and/or MiWay fare as you do today (TTC fare plus a supplement, cash or YRT and/or MiWay fare product). The same applies for the reverse. When you board a TTC bus in York Region or Mississauga you must deposit your YRT and/or MiWay fare or cash in the fare box. If you want to pay your TTC fare by PRESTO, you must tap your card when you leave the bus in Toronto.
PRESTO on TTC streetcars
How will TTC Fare Inspectors check my card on Proof-of-Payment routes?
You will be required to tap your card on the handheld card reader carried by the Fare Inspector to verify that you have paid your fare (tapped on).
Do I need to enter through the front doors of a streetcar if I’m paying my fare using PRESTO?
No. Streetcars have all-door boarding. If you are paying your fare with a PRESTO card, you can enter through any door that is equipped with a card reader.
What happens if my PRESTO card is declined?
Tap on another card reader, if your card is declined again, you will need to pay by token or exact cash.
If a bus is operating on a streetcar route, will it open all of its doors?
Yes. But you must have a valid Proof-of-Payment to show that you have paid your fare.
What do I do if I use PRESTO and my streetcar has been short-turned?
If your streetcar has been short-turned, you will need to exit the streetcar you are on and wait for the next card to arrive. When you get onto the new streetcar do not tap your card.
What happens if all of the PRESTO card readers are not working on the streetcar?
If all card readers are out of service the operator should let you board and ask you tap your PRESTO card the next time you enter the system.
PRESTO on Wheel-Trans
When will PRESTO be available on Wheel-Trans vehicles, accessible taxis and sedans?
PRESTO is available on Wheel-Trans buses and accessible taxis. Details about when PRESTO card readers will be installed on sedan taxis are still being worked out and information will be shared when it is available.
Where will I tap my PRESTO card on a Wheel-Trans vehicle or accessible taxi?
Your Wheel-Trans operator or accessible taxi driver will have a hand-held PRESTO card reader. Once you are settled in the vehicle, you will tap your card on the back of the reader.
What if I need help tapping my card?
That is ok. Your Wheel-Trans operator, support person or family member may tap your card for you.
Will my support person require a PRESTO card?
Yes. All support people will be required to have a PRESTO card. But for the time being you should continue to carry your current support person card. We will let you know when you need a PRESTO card.
Do I need to tap into a subway station if my Wheel-Trans vehicle drops me off outside of an accessible station?
Yes. However you won’t be charged a second fare. If the Wheel-Trans bus does drop you in the paid area, you will not have to tap your card inside the subway station.
How will operators know if my fare has been accepted from my PRESTO card?
The screen on the card reader will be green. It will show the word accepted at the top with a green check mark in the middle. The reader will emit one beep.
How will operators know if I have a senior/student concession fare on my PRESTO card?
The screen on the card reader will be green. It will show the word accepted at the top with a green check mark in the middle. The reader will emit two beeps.
How will operators know if my PRESTO card has been declined?
The screen on the card reader will be red. It will show the word declined at the top with a red X in the middle. The reader will emit a horn-like sound.
What happens if my PRESTO card is declined?
You will need to pay by token, ticket or cash.
What if the PRESTO card reader is out-of-service on my Wheel-Trans vehicle or accessible taxi?
If the PRESTO card reader is out-of-service, you will be allowed to board and asked to tap your PRESTO card on the next vehicle.
Service Alerts
Social Media
Mobile Site
RSS Feeds