Fares FAQ

Currently, the only way to check the balance on your CharlieTicket or CharlieCard is at fare vending machines located in subway stations.

Additionally, when you tap your CharlieCard at a fare gate or fare box, the LED screen will show your remaining balance.

You cannot check your balance online.

You can combine the cash value on 5 or more CharlieCards and/or CharlieTickets onto a single card using our mail-in process.

Yes, EBT cards with cash value on them can be used to load value or passes onto a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket at fare vending machines, at the CharlieCard store in Downtown Crossing, and at MBTA retail sales locations that accept EBT cards.

Learn how to pay with your EBT card

Unfortunately, the MBTA does not refund any fare products.

Yes. There are fare vending machines located inside/outside of all terminals at Logan Airport, which sell all MBTA tickets and passes other than Interzone and Zone 9-10.

Visit our Pass Programs website to learn how you can purchase CharlieCards in bulk as a corporation, university, or school. Anyone can also make online purchases of more than $25 through our Group Sales department.

No. All fares are the same no matter what time of day or day of the week you ride.

Parking fees and rules vary by station. Visit our parking area for more information on parking fees and rules.

CharlieTicket fares include 1 transfer within 2 hours of the initial fare payment in the following directions:

• Subway and SL 1, 2, or 3 to SL 4 or 5
• Local Bus to/from Local Bus
• Local Bus to/from SL 4 or 5
• Blue Line to/from SL 3 at Airport Station
• Red Line to/from Mattapan Trolley at Ashmont Station

There are no other transfers on stored value CharlieTickets. 

Cash fares do not include any transfers.

Stored value CharlieTickets expire 18 months from the purchase date.

Yes, if you use stored value (pay as you go) on a CharlieCard. You can pay for up to 4 one-way fares at once using a single CharlieCard at the same station. You can also store 1 pass of any type on the same card.

This feature is not available with CharlieTickets.

Currently, there is no mobile app to pay your fare on the bus and subway, but we’re overhauling how you’ll be able pay your fare on the T.

Learn more about our Fare Transformation program

No. We encourage you to use exact change if you pay in cash on the bus or trolley. If you pay $0.50 or more over the required fare, instead of change in coins, you’ll receive a CharlieTicket with stored value. If you pay less than $0.50 over the fare, you won’t receive any change at all.

Local Buses only travel within Boston and the communities in the immediate area. Express buses make stops in suburbs and communities outside the city and then drive directly to downtown Boston.

Express Bus passes include travel on all Local Buses, subway, Commuter Rail Zone 1A, and the Charlestown ferry when printed on a CharlieTicket. The CharlieCard version is only valid on bus, subway, and the Fairmount Line.

Beginning July 1, 2022, riders can transfer for free between two Express Buses.

Historically, MBTA Express Bus routes were separated into two categories: Inner Express ($4.25/ride) and Outer Express ($5.25/ride). On July 1, 2021, we eliminated Outer Express bus fares. All Express Bus routes now charge the lower Inner Express fare and accept Monthly Inner Express Bus Passes.

Call 617-222-3200 for assistance.

Call 617-222-3200 for assistance.

No. CharlieCards can only be used to pay bus and subway fares. (The one exception is that some monthly Commuter Rail pass holders do receive their passes on CharlieCards. These cards are printed with the month and zone of the pass and can be used to pay for both bus/subway and Commuter Rail.)

Yes, unless your pass is on mTicket. mTicket passes are only valid for travel on the Commuter Rail. All Commuter Rail passes above Zone 1A can be used on Express Buses as well.

Yes, up to your designated zone. For example, if you have a Zone 6 pass and and your regular commute is from Greenbush to South Station, you can use your pass to travel to stations on any line up to Zone 6, like Salem, Concord, and Mansfield. 

If you want to travel beyond the zone number on your pass, you’ll pay a one-way Interzone fare for the extra zones. For example, if you wanted to travel to a Zone 8 station on your Zone 6 pass, you’d pay an Interzone 2 fare.

You can request an upgrade to a higher Zone level at the ticket booths at North and South Station or at the CharlieCard Store in Downtown Crossing. You’ll be charged for the difference in price between the passes. 

Refunds are not issued for downgrades to lower Zones.

One-way and round trip Commuter Rail tickets expire 90 days from the purchase date, whether they were bought at a fare vending machine, ticket booth, or on mTicket.

Tickets purchased with cash onboard the train are only valid for travel on the day of purchase.

In accordance with the Fare is Fair program, MBTA or Keolis staff members may ask to see your ticket at any time during your trip on the Commuter Rail, including before you board or after you get off the train. 

In addition to ongoing checks at North, South, and Back Bay stations, we also perform random checks at a variety of Commuter Rail stations.

We recommend using our Commuter Rail fare finder. Enter your origin station and destination station, and your zone and prices for all available tickets and passes will be automatically generated. You can also view maps displaying all stations by zone (at the bottom of the page).

No, unless you board the train at a station where you can pre-purchase your ticket (for example, stations with fare vending machines or ticket booths). In that case, there is a $3 surcharge for purchasing your ticket onboard.

If you have a Zone 6 – 10 pass on mTicket or printed on a CharlieTicket, you can use it on any MBTA ferry.

If you have a Zone 1A – 10 pass on mTicket or printed on a CharlieTicket, you can use it on the Charlestown ferry.

mTicket passes are only valid for travel on the mode for which they were purchased.

While there are no weekly passes specific to the ferry, a 7-Day LinkPass printed on a CharlieTicket is valid on the ferry.

You can buy monthly passes at fare vending machines starting on the 15th of the month prior. For example, August passes may be purchased beginning on July 15.

Pass orders placed online work slightly differently:

• Bus & subway (add pass to existing CharlieCard): From the 15th of the month prior
• Commuter Rail & ferry (order pass to be shipped): Between the 15th and 22nd of the month prior
• Commuter Rail & ferry mTicket: From the 15th of the month prior

You can buy a monthly pass up until the end of the day on the 14th of the month. For example, August passes may be purchased up until August 14. On August 15, all outlets would switch to selling September passes.

Keep in mind, MBTA passes are not pro-rated, so there is no discount for purchasing a pass after part of the month has passed. Weekly or 10-ride passes may be a more economical option in that circumstance.

All monthly passes for modes other than Interzone Commuter Rail are available at fare vending machines and retail sales locations around Greater Boston. You can purchase any Commuter Rail or ferry pass on mTicket, but keep in mind those passes aren’t valid for travel on any other mode. You can also purchase any Commuter Rail pass at the ticket booths at South Station and North Station.

You can sign up for our Auto-pay program, currently available for bus and subway monthly passes (coming soon for Commuter Rail). You will be billed on the 22nd of each month and your pass will renew automatically.

Unfortunately, no. The MBTA does not offer refunds on any fare products. If you are a member of our auto-pay program, you can cancel or pause your subscription free of charge up until the 22nd of the month prior. For example, you won’t be charged for an August pass if you pause your subscription before July 22.

No. The monthly LinkPass includes travel on the subway and Local Bus.

No, but you can sign up for automatic billing and renewal of your bus and subway pass through our Auto-pay program.

Yes, the MBTA offers monthly passes in addition to 1-Day, 7-Day and 5-Day passes for both local and Zone 1A travel. Passes vary with permitted travel on the various modes: .

1-Day, 7-Day, and Monthly LinkPass:

• Local Bus
• Subway

1-Day, 7-Day, and Monthly Commuter Rail Zone 1A Pass:

• Local Bus
• Subway
• Commuter Rail Zone 1A
• Charlestown and East Boston Ferry

5-Day Flex Pass:

Note: This pass may be used for five non-consecutive 24-hour periods.

• Commuter Rail Zone 1A
• Charlestown and East Boston Ferry

Yes, by visiting the CharlieCard Store in Downtown Crossing.

All 1-day passes are valid for 24 hours. Those purchased on CharlieTickets are valid from the purchase time, while those purchased on CharlieCards are valid from the first tap at a fare gate.

7-day LinkPasses on CharlieCards activate when tapped at a subway station fare gate. This pass is valid for seven 24-hour periods after activation.

7-day Commuter Rail Zone 1A  passes on CharlieTickets activate once purchased and are valid for seven 24-hour periods after activation.

Monthly passes are valid for 1 calendar month. For example, an August pass is valid from August 1-31. Passes expire at the end of service on the last day of the month.

No. Currently there is no way to check your CharlieCard balance online. You can only check your balance at fare vending machines located in stations.

Once you’ve loaded it, your CharlieCard will activate automatically the first time you tap it at a fare gate. Please note, fare boxes will not activate your card.

CharlieCards last for years, but they do eventually expire. The expiration date of your card should be printed in the lower right-hand corner, across from the serial number. If no expiration date is printed on your card, you can look it up using a fare vending machine.

If you’re enrolled in Auto-pay, just visit your account home to pause or cancel your subscription.

If you’re enrolled in automatic billing through MyCharlie, log in to your MyCharlie account to stop payments.

If you’re an Auto-pay customer, you will be emailed a receipt automatically each month. You can also download copies of your receipts from the billing area.

If you’re a MyCharlie customer, you can find receipts in the account area.

Visit the CharlieCard Store in Downtown Crossing to have any remaining balance or passes transferred to a new CharlieCard.

No.

We sell CharlieCards online through our Group Sales department. Orders must be valued at more than $25. You can select CharlieCards loaded with stored value or 1-day, 7-day, or a monthly LinkPass. Please note that the card will not come with gift wrapping.

Alternatively, you can visit a station where blank CharlieCards are available and load one with stored value or the pass of your choice at a fare vending machine.

The serial number is located in the bottom left corner of the front of your card. It should be formatted like this: X - XXXXXXXXXX (1 digit followed by a hyphen and 10 digits).

There is a processing delay. Your stored value will be available starting at 5 AM the next day, once you tap your card at a fare gate. (Fare boxes on buses and trolleys will not work.)

You can load stored value onto your CharlieCard online on the MyCharlie site.

If you have a MyCharlie account:

Phone

• Call 888-844-0355 for CharlieCard Support. Hours are 7 AM – 8 PM Monday – Friday and 9 AM – 5 PM Saturday – Sunday.

Email

• Email charliecardonline@mbta.com.

If you’re an Auto-pay customer, you can reset your password from the billing portal login area.

If you have a MyCharlie account:

Phone

• Call 888-844-0355 for CharlieCard Support. Hours are 7 AM – 8 PM Monday – Friday and 9 AM – 5 PM Saturday – Sunday.

Email

• Email charliecardonline@mbta.com.

If you’re an Auto-pay customer, you can change your email address from the billing portal.

You may need to get a new CharlieCard. You can get your balance transferred from your old card to a new one at the CharlieCard Store in Downtown Crossing.

Visit the CharlieCard Store in Downtown Crossing to get a new CharlieCard and have any balance or passes transferred to it.

Standard Fare CharlieCards

• If your card is registered with MyCharlie or Auto-pay, call 888-844-0355.
• If your card isn’t registered, unfortunately the MBTA cannot replace it.

Reduced Fare Cards

• Visit the CharlieCard Store in Downtown Crossing or call Customer Support at 617-222-3200.

Corporate, Semester, and Student CharlieCards

• Contact your program administrator at your company or school. 

There is no lost and found for CharlieCards. You can give any found cards to an MBTA employee, T Ambassador, or station attendant. If the card has been reported lost, our staff can take action.

CharlieCards are not recyclable due to the chip contained in them.

You can download mTicket on your Apple or Android smartphone from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

 

Yes, for one-way and round trip tickets. You should purchase a separate ticket for each passenger 12 and older in your group, and activate each ticket when you board the Commuter Rail or ferry. You can’t load more than 1 monthly pass on the same mTicket app or device.

Most tickets are valid for 90 minutes after being activated.

Unfortunately, once you activate a ticket, you cannot deactivate it.

Email customerservice@keoliscs.com or call 617-222-3200 (option 3 after selecting language) with your account details and wallet number. A customer service representative will respond to you.

Please note that there are limits to the number of device transfers accounts may have over time.

You can add or change your credit card information in the Account Settings area from within the mTicket app.

Email customerservice@keoliscs.com or call 617-222-3200 (option 3 after selecting language) with your request. A customer service representative will respond to you.

Yes. First, you must submit your reduced fare card’s serial number on the Reduced Fares page of the Account Details area in your mTicket app.

Active duty military members ride all MBTA services for free. If you’re in uniform, no identification is needed. If you’re in plainclothes, just show your military ID to the conductor or driver.

There are no reduced fares for veterans.

Children age 11 and under ride the MBTA for free. Groups including 10 or more children (regardless of the number of chaperones), must register their travel using the field trip form. 

Young adults with low income who live in participating communities may be eligible for the Youth Pass. 

Middle and high school students at participating schools benefit from reduced fares on the MBTA. Check with your school to find out about eligibility and participation.

College students at participating universities can join the MBTA’s Semester Pass Program but do not benefit from the same reduced fares as middle and high school students. Check with your school to find out more information.

No, there are no reduced fares for visitors.

Yes. As of July 1, 2022, reduced fare monthly passes are available for all modes. Reduced Commuter Rail passes can be purchased on either a CharlieTicket or through the mTicket app.

Learn more about Reduced Commuter Rail passes

Senior and TAP cardholders can load reduced fare monthly passes to their cards online via the MyCharlie website. Other reduced fare cardholders cannot.

Yes. First, you must submit your reduced fare card’s serial number on the Reduced Fares page of the Account Details area in your mTicket app.

You can renew your Transportation Access Pass (TAP card) by visiting the CharlieCard Store in Downtown Crossing or calling 617-222-3200.

You can get a replacement pass by visiting the CharlieCard Store in Downtown Crossing or calling 617-222-3200.

Yes, you can add stored value to your Transportation Access Pass on the MyCharlie website.

You can renew your Senior CharlieCard by visiting the CharlieCard Store in Downtown Crossing or calling 617-222-3200.

You can get a replacement pass by visiting the CharlieCard Store in Downtown Crossing or calling 617-222-3200.

Yes, you can add stored value to your Senior CharlieCard on the MyCharlie website.

Visit the CharlieCard Store in Downtown Crossing or call 617-222-3200 for assistance with your pass.

The Department of System-wide Accessibility offers a comprehensive guide to The RIDE online, including information about how to apply, adding funds to your account, and what to expect.

The MBTA is also running a pilot with Uber and Lyft to provide subsidized on-demand transportation to RIDE customers.