August 9, 2024

Back-to-school season is busy, but getting your PRESTO card ready for the new school year is easy and will help you save on transit. Let's make sure you're all set to use PRESTO to pay your transit fare in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) and Ottawa!

How to get a PRESTO card

There are several easy ways to get a PRESTO card:

• Buy a PRESTO card in Apple Wallet or a PRESTO card in Google Wallet for $0 through the PRESTO App. You can also convert a physical PRESTO card you already have to a mobile wallet card using the PRESTO App. Visit the PRESTO in Apple Wallet or the PRESTO in Google Wallet pages for instructions. Note: Mobile wallet cards are not accepted on OC Transpo.

• Buy a physical PRESTO card for $4 at select Shoppers Drug Mart locations, Fare Vending Machines in all TTC subway stations, Ticket Vending Machines in all GO Transit and UP Express stations, or a PRESTO customer service outlet. Find out where to buy a physical PRESTO card.

Set a fare type to save on transit

Make sure you’re paying the right fare by setting up a fare type on your PRESTO card.

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

If you’re 20 to 64 years old and 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:

• GO Transit and UP Express: You’ll get a 40% discount over the cash fare. Apply online on GO Transit’s website. And if you take the same GO train trip regularly, you can set a default trip on your PRESTO card to save you time.

• TTC: TTC offers a discounted monthly transit pass for full-time post-secondary students in a recognized degree or diploma program located in the City of Toronto. You’ll need to get a TTC Student ID before buying your discounted monthly pass. If you are a post-secondary student but aren’t using a monthly pass, you’ll pay the regular adult fare. Find out more.

• DRT: Durham College, Trent University Durham GTA, Ontario Tech University students qualify for a Durham Region Transit (DRT) U-Pass. Speak to your school about getting a PRESTO E-Ticket to get your U-Pass.

• HSR: McMaster, Mohawk, or Redeemer students qualify for a Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) U-Pass. Speak to your school about getting a PRESTO Voucher code to get your U-Pass on your PRESTO card.

• MiWay: University of Toronto Mississauga Campus students qualify for a MiWay U-Pass. Speak to your school about getting a PRESTO E-Ticket to get your U-Pass.

• OC Transpo: Carleton, Saint Paul, Algonquin, or uOttawa students qualify for an OC Transpo U-Pass. Speak to your school about getting a U-Pass. Find out more at OC Transpo.

For more information on fare types and eligibility, visit our Fare Types page.

Loading your PRESTO card

Never worry about running out of funds with these quick and easy loading options:

• With PRESTO in Apple Wallet and PRESTO in Google Wallet, load funds instantly through your phone’s wallet app or the PRESTO App.

• For physical PRESTO cards, use the ‘Load Now’ feature on the PRESTO App, visit a participating Shoppers Drug Mart, a customer service outlet, or a PRESTO self-serve machine. Click here for a list of locations.

• Set up Autoload on your PRESTO in Mobile Wallet card or physical PRESTO card. Autoload automatically adds funds whenever the balance falls below the minimum amount that you set.

If you have a U-Pass and only use PRESTO with your local transit agency, you don’t need to load funds onto your PRESTO card. However, if you plan to travel outside the area covered by your U-Pass, you’ll need to make sure you have enough funds on your card to pay your fare for other transit agencies.

Ontario’s One Fare discounts

Did you know you can save money when transferring between transit agencies in the GTHA? With One Fare you can travel across multiple transit systems within the transfer window with a single fare, making commutes more affordable with a PRESTO card. To make sure you’re getting a One Fare transfer discount, you’ll need to use a physical PRESTO card, or a PRESTO in Mobile Wallet card.

One Fare discounts are not available with PRESTO Tickets, PRESTO E-Tickets, and GO Transit E-Tickets. For more details, visit our Ontario One Fare page.

Save even more with PRESTO Perks

Your PRESTO card isn’t just for transit – it also gives you access to discounts and offers with PRESTO Perks! As a PRESTO cardholder, you can enjoy deals on sports, restaurants, special events and popular attractions like 20% off the Toronto Zoo and 15% off Ripley’s Aquarium. Visit our PRESTO Perks page often to see the latest offers and make the most of your PRESTO card!

Stay informed

Keep an eye on our website and follow us on social media for the latest updates and promotions. There’s always something new happening with PRESTO!

Safe travels and have a great school year!

Enjoy even more discounts.