About reduced fares
- The reduced fare is half the base fare. (For example, the base fare for subways and local buses is $2.75, so the reduced fare is $1.35.)
- Your reduced-fare card will have your name and photo on it. If you don’t have your card with you, you can pay the reduced fare in cash.
- There is also a Reduced-Fare AutoGate MetroCard for riders who use mobility aids or have service animals. With this card, you can enter and exit the system using the AutoGate.
- We have resumed processing MetroCard claims, following a pause in processing because of the pandemic. We’re addressing claims as quickly as we can.
Transferring value from an expired card
At a mobile sales bus or van
To transfer value from an expired card to a new one, visit one of our mobile sales buses and vans.
Note: We’re not making cash transactions right now.
At our Customer Service Center
You can also make an appointment to visit our Customer Service Center at 3 Stone Street in Lower Manhattan.
At a station booth
Only a few station booths are making reduced-fare transactions. You can visit these locations.
The Bronx
- 161 St-Yankee Stadium
- E 180 St
- Pelham Bay Park
Brooklyn
- Atlantic Av Barclays Center , Booth R610, near the northbound lines
- Crown Heights Utica Av , Booth R626, at Eastern Parkway
- Kings Highway , Booth B24, between East 15th and 16th streets
Manhattan
- 42 St-Times Square , Booth R151
- 96 St
- Fulton St , Booth N95, on the line at the Broadway entrance
Queens
- Flushing Main St , Booth R533, at the Main Street and Roosevelt Avenue entrance
- Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Av , Booth N324, at the entrance on 74th Street and Broadway
- Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer , Booth N606, at the Archer Avenue entrance
Staten Island
- St. George
How to apply for a Reduced-Fare MetroCard
You can submit an application by mail or in person. See how to apply.
Where and when you can use reduced fares
- On the subway and on local buses: Anytime
- On express buses: Anytime except weekday rush hours, from 6-10 a.m. and 3-7 p.m.
- On the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North: Anytime except weekday morning rush hours to NYC terminals, from 6-10 a.m.
Other options for paying reduced fares
- How to pay with cash
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You must already be part of the reduced fare program and have valid photo ID with you.
Accepted forms of ID:
- A valid driver's license from any state (or legal equivalent issued to nondrivers)
- A valid passport from any country
- A NYC Department of Aging ID card
- A Medicare card
- An Access-A-Ride ID card or an MTA Reduced-Fare ID card (pre-1995)
Paying with cash on the bus
Show your ID to the operator and pay $1.35 in coins, exact change. No pennies or bills are accepted. You can request a transfer from the operator. The transfer can be used on local buses only, within two hours. It cannot be used for the subway or express buses.
- Set up automatic refills with EasyPay
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Use our EasyPay program to link a credit or debit card to your MetroCard. Your card will be refilled automatically.
You can use a pre-tax transportation benefit card with EasyPay.
Setting up refills for pay-per-ride cards:
- Apply for a Reduced-Fare MetroCard. When you’re applying, you can sign up for an EasyPay option.
- When you create your EasyPay account, you’ll link a credit or debit card.
- You start your account with $10. Your card will automatically refill when the balance falls below $10. (You can set a higher refill amount if you would like.)
Setting up refills for unlimited cards:
- Follow the steps above to apply for a reduced-fare card and set up an EasyPay account.
- Set your refill balance to $63.50.
- Your card automatically converts to an Unlimited Ride Card when you spend more than $63.50 in a 30-day period. Trips on subways and local buses will be free until the next billing cycle. At the end of the 30-day period, your card reverts back to Pay-Per-Ride. Trips on Express buses do not count towards the unlimited ride conversion.
You can log into your EasyPay account here. If you need help, call our EasyPay support number. And you can see more about EasyPay options for MetroCards.