The Presto card helps you travel throughout the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) and beyond. Follow these steps to get one.
A Presto card is a contactless card used as a payment method on public transportation systems in Ontario. This reloadable card allows commuters to pay for their fares electronically by tapping the card on specific card readers when getting on and off transit or when passing through fare gates at stations.
Presto Card is used by Go Station and TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) for trains, buses, street cars, etc. It is used outside of Toronto, as well, in cities like Hamilton and Ottawa.
Your card can be purchased, managed and loaded online.
In this post, you will learn the ins and outs of the Presto Card, Toronto’s all in one commuter pass. It will help you get around the city, but also use Go Transit to explore other areas of Ontario, like Hamilton, Niagara, Barrie and more.
The Presto card helps you commute and travel throughout the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) and beyond. This includes the TTC buses, streetcars, and subways, as well as, GO Transit trains and UP Express (Toronto Union Station to Toronto Pearson Airport). With a Presto card, you can easily transfer between these systems without needing separate tickets or tokens.
This system allows for fare integration between different transit agencies. This means that if you use multiple transit services during your journey, such as taking a TTC subway and then transferring to a GO train, the fare is calculated automatically based on the distance traveled. You are then charged accordingly. It simplifies the payment process for you and ensures that you pay the correct fare for your trip!
Having a Presto card eliminates the need to carry cash or tokens for fare payment. You can simply tap your Presto card on the card readers located at the entrance and exit of transit vehicles or stations. This makes the boarding process faster and more efficient.
Presto cardholders may be eligible for fare discounts and benefits, depending on the transit system they are using. For example, with a Presto card, you can take advantage of TTC’s discounted fares for older people, students, and children if you are eligible to do so.
You can also manage your card balance, view transaction history if you set up your card online! Here, you will also be able to set up autoload that will automatically add funds to your card when the balance is low. It provides convenience and control over your transit payments.
