Reduced-Fare

What to do if your Reduced-Fare MetroCard is lost or stolen

Call us at 511, which is a voice-recognition system, and say "MTA," then say "Subway and Buses" and follow the prompts. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, use your preferred relay service provider or the free 711 relay.  We are available 7 days a week, between the hours of 6 AM and 10 PM.

You may also visit our MetroCard Customer Service Center at 3 Stone Street in Lower Manhattan) or a MetroCard Bus or Van  to report the loss of your card.

What we’ll do: We will deactivate your card and send you a new one, with the same value that was remaining on the lost or stolen MetroCard at the time of deactivation. Please note that we do not issue a temporary card if your Reduced-Fare MetroCard is lost or stolen.

Please allow four weeks to receive your replacement Reduced-Fare MetroCard.

Travel options until your new Reduced-Fare MetroCard arrives in the mail.

You can still travel by bus or subway at a reduced fare without a MetroCard, if you show valid identification (ID) to a subway Station Agent or Bus Operator.

Valid ID includes: a NYC Department of Aging ID card, a Medicare card (Medicaid not accepted), an Access-A-Ride ID card, a MTA Reduced Fare ID card (pre-1995).

Follow these instructions for riding the subway or bus:

In the Subway: Show your authorized ID to a station agent and pay the full $2.50 fare, and you will be issued a Reduced-Fare, Round-Trip MetroCard. One trip will be deducted for each use ($1.25 per ride) and the $1.00 new card fee does not apply. Please note that paper return-trip tickets will no longer be issued, but current paper return-trip tickets will be honored until further notice.

This 2-trip MetroCard will be accepted at all subway stations, local buses and Staten Island Railway. It cannot be refilled, is non-negotiable, non-transferable and non-redeemable.

Note: Until further notice, Reduced-Fare customers whose employers provide transit benefits via a debit card must continue to purchase their MetroCard at the MetroCard Vending Machines and then visit the station booth to obtain a paper return-trip ticket.

For a more convenient way to use your transit benefits, we encourage you to get a Reduced-Fare MetroCard which can be refilled at MetroCard Vending Machines using your transit benefits debit card; or sign up for the EasyPay Reduced-Fare MetroCard and link your transit benefits card to the account.

On the Bus: Show your ID to the Bus Operator and pay $1.25 in coins, exact change; no pennies or dollar bills accepted.  You can request a transfer from the Bus Operator.  The transfer is valid for two hours and can be used to transfer to another local (not express) bus; the transfer cannot be used in the subway.