How To Use METRO Fare Cards
***UPDATE***
To prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), METRO has temporarily suspended collection of fares on local bus, light rail, Park & Ride, METROLift, and Community Connector services.
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As always, METRO Customer Service can be reached at 713-635-4000.
Your METRO Q® Fare Card is
the quick and convenient way
to pay for METRO services and
enjoy other outstanding benefits:
- 5 free trips for every 50 paid trips
- Faster boarding
- Free transfers (valid for three hours any direction)
- Card balance protection with registration
- Students and seniors can now obtain
their METRO Q® Fare Card online. Disabled citizens and Medicare
cardholders with requisite documentation will need
to visit the METRO RideStore at 1900 Main to
change their card to discounted status.
- Enjoy discounts at select businesses along METRO bus routes and the METRORail lines with METRO's Rider Rewards program
How To Use the METRO Day Pass
The METRO Day Pass offers the best value for
frequent local bus and rail riders who travel three
or more times daily.
Valid only on the day of activation –
expires 2 a.m. the following morning.
Free Transfers (up to three hours in any direction) for the first two paid fares.
Enjoy unlimited travel, in any direction, after your
third paid fare - same day only.
50% discount for students, seniors and disabled
riders. Riders can preload up to $500 per card.
Frequent users are rewarded the same
day, offering unlimited local bus and rail
service.
Activates after three paid taps of your card.
Never pay more than $3 a day – no matter how
often you ride.
Valid on METRO Park & Ride service; however,
paid fares will not count toward the unlimited
local bus and rail travel benefit.
Reuse and Reload
Not only is the METRO Q® Fare Card your quick and convenient
form of payment for METRO buses and rail, it's also reusable.
Reload your METRO Q® Fare Card at locations throughout the
city, or directly on a rail platform or bus. Customer should maintain possession of the METRO Q® Fare Card or any other fare item upon boarding the bus or train as proof of paid fare.
Ticket Vending Machines (TVM)
TVM – Located on rail platforms, for getting a rail tickets; NOTE: some versions of these TVMs are for reloading your METRO Fare Card, some you can purchase a $5 METRO Fare Card or $5 METRO Money, paying with only cash, debit or credit.
Credit Vending Machine (CVM)
CVM – Located at
Park & Ride locations, at 1001 Travis and 1900 Main RideStores, these machines allow
you to reload your METRO Fare Card with a
credit/debit card only.
On-board Reloader - Back of Bus Reloader (BBR)
BBR – Found at the
rear of all local METRO buses, the BBR allows
you to reload your METRO Fare Card using
cash only - no coins.
- Insert your money in the slot
- No coins please
- Only one bill at a time
- Accepts $1, $5, $10, $20
- Place Q Card in Q Card holder
- Value is automatically put on Q Card
Information on Ticket Vending Machines, Credit Vending Machine & Back of the Bus Reloader
Machine Type |
Locations |
Change Provided |
Payment Types |
Services |
TVM 1 |
Most Red and Green
Line Station Platforms |
Yes |
Cash
Debit/Credit |
Rail Ticket
Fare Card Reload |
TVM 2 |
Most Green and Purple Line Station Platforms |
Yes |
Cash
Debit/Credit |
Rail Ticket
$5 METRO Q Fare Card
$5 METRO Money |
TVM 3 |
Most Red, Green and Purple Line Station Platforms |
No |
Cash
Debit/Credit |
Rail Ticket Only |
| CVM |
Park & Rides/Select Transit Centers |
No |
Debit/Credit |
Fare Card Reload Only |
| BBR |
Majority of METRO Local Buses |
No |
Cash - no coins |
Fare Card Reload Only |