About reduced fares
- The reduced fare for subways and local, limited, and Select Bus Service buses is $1.45 (half the $2.90 base fare) at all times of the day for eligible customers.
- On express bus trips, the reduced fare is $3.50 (half the $7 base fare). You will pay the reduced fare anytime except during weekday peak periods, 6 to 10 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m.
- On Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North, you can save up to 50% off the full one-way peak fare. You will pay the reduced fare anytime except weekday mornings from 6 to 10 a.m. if traveling in the direction of NYC terminals. Read more about railroad fares, including reduced fare.
- If you have a Reduced-Fare MetroCard, you can switch to OMNY. Just use the digital assistant to link your Reduced-Fare benefit to your smart phone with digital wallet enabled, or a contactless card. It’s quick and easy.
Who qualifies for Reduced Fare?
Any person aged 65 or over, or any person with a qualifying disability:
- Receiving Medicare benefits for any reason other than age
- Serious mental illness and receiving Supplemental Security Income
- Blindness
- Deafness or Hearing Loss
- Ambulatory Disability
- Cognitive Disability
- Other Physical Disability
How to apply for a Reduced-Fare MetroCard
You can submit an application online, by mail, or in person. Learn more about how to apply. For customers who are non-English speakers or have limited English proficiency, interpreter services are available free of charge.
How to apply for a Reduced-Fare MetroCard
Switch to OMNY for auto-refills
Link your Reduced-Fare benefit to a smartphone, wearable decide, or a contactless debit or credit card and you won’t have to reload your card with fare value. Plus, you get free rides after 12 fares within seven days using the same device or contactless card.
How to refill your Reduced-Fare MetroCard
At a MetroCard Vending Machine
- Insert your reduced-fare card into the MetroCard Vending Machine in stations.
- Refill it using credit, debit, or cash.
- When the machine returns your card, you can swipe it at a subway turnstile or dip it in the bus farebox and the reduced fare will be automatically applied.
At a mobile sales bus or van
Transferring value from an expired MetroCard
You have two years from the expiration date to transfer any remaining value to a new MetroCard. Within the first year, you can transfer the balance in person at a mobile sales bus or van, our Customer Service Center, or selected subway stations. After a year, you'll need to mail your MetroCard to us to transfer the balance.
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.
At our Customer Service Center
You can also visit our Customer Service Center at 3 Stone St in Lower Manhattan. For customers who are non-English speakers or have limited English proficiency, interpreter services are available free of charge.
At a station booth
Some station booths are making reduced-fare transactions.
The Bronx
- 161 St-Yankee Stadium , Booth N203, 161 St and Grand Concourse
- E 180 St , Booth R325, E 180 St and Morris Park Av
- Fordham Rd , Booth R289, Fordham Rd and Jerome Av
- Parkchester , Booth R417, Hugh J. Grant Circle and Westchester Av
- Pelham Bay Park , Booth R423, Pelham Bay Park and Westchester Av
Brooklyn
- Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr , Booth R610, near the Manhattan-bound and LIRR
- Coney Island-Stillwell Av , Booth G1, at the Stillwell Av and Surf Av entrance
- Crown Heights-Utica Av , Booth R626, at Eastern Parkway and Utica Av
- Kings Hwy , Booth B24, between E 15 and 16 Sts
- Myrtle-Wyckoff Avs , Booth H26, Gates Av and Wyckoff Av
Manhattan
- 125 St , Booth R258, Lexington Av at E 125 St
- 168 St , Booth N13, 168 St at St. Nicholas Av
- 34 St-Penn Station , Booth R138, mezzanine at 7 Av and 33 St
- 96 St , Booth R169, Broadway between W 95 and W 96 Sts
- Fulton St , Booth N95, on the line at the Broadway entrance
- Times Sq-42 St , Booth R147, east side of 42 St and 7 Av and Booth R151, west side of 42 St and 7 Av
Queens
- Flushing-Main St , Booth R533 at the Main St and Roosevelt Av entrance and Booth R534 at the entrance on Roosevelt Av between Union St and Main St
- Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Av , Booth N324, at the entrance on 74 St and Broadway
- Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer , Booth N606, Parsons Blvd and Archer Av
- Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport , Booth N605, Sutphin Blvd and Archer Av
Staten Island
- St. George
By mail
After a year, you will need to mail your MetroCard to:
New York City Transit
Attention: MetroCard Customer Claims
130 Livingston Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201-9875
You can also ask a for a postage-paid envelope in any subway station.