SmarTrip®

  • What is a SmarTrip® Card?

    What Is a SmarTrip® Card?

    A SmarTrip® card is a permanent, rechargeable farecard. It's plastic, like a credit card, and is embedded with a special computer chip that keeps track of the value of the card.

    Using a SmarTrip® card is fast and easy. Instead of inserting a farecard through the Metrorail faregate slot, you simply touch the SmarTrip® card to the circular targets on top of or inside station faregates. Likewise, you can tap the SmarTrip® farebox on Metrobus to pay your fare with SmarTrip®. En espanol.

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    Creating or Managing a SmarTrip® Account

    With an online account, it's easy to add value and passes, view your card balance and usage history, manage associated cards, and register new cards. Both SmarTrip® and CharmCard® users may use these online card management features.

    Now it’s more convenient to report a lost/stolen card, transfer the remaining balance to your replacement card and reset passwords through your online SmarTrip® card account. It's all available at your finger tips online - no need to call SmarTrip® customer service for any of it!

    Once you complete the request process online, you will receive an email notifying you when the balance or fare product is ready to be loaded to your new card. You may also check on the status of the transfer by visiting your Account Summary. To load the value to your new card, touch the card to the target on a Metrorail faregate, Farecards and Passes machine, bus farebox, or MTA ticket vending machine.

    Remember, transferring a balance to a replacement card may still take several business days, as all pending transactions must be verified and processed.

  • SmarTrip® Card Benefits

    SmarTrip® Card Benefits

    You may add up to $300 in Metro value on a SmarTrip® card, so it can last a long time between charging. See how to add value to a SmarTrip® card.

    You may transfer the value of a used farecard (worth $7 or less) or an unused farecard of any value onto a SmarTrip® card. Each trade-in requires a separate transaction.

    If you lose a registered card, you don't lose the value. For a $5 fee to replace the card itself, we'll issue you a new SmarTrip® card with the value on the card at the time you notified us it was lost. You can register your SmarTrip® card online.

    SmarTrip® also has the advantage of allowing you to pay fares on numerous providers with just one card. The following area transit providers accept SmarTrip® cards: DASH, Ride On, Fairfax Connector, ART, CUE, Loudoun County Transit, Omniride, TheBus, DC Circulator, and registered van pools. The remaining commuter buses and rail systems will eventually accept SmarTrip® cards.

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    Purchasing a SmarTrip® Card

    It's easy to buy a SmarTrip® card. Purchase your card online with your Visa, Mastercard or Discover card.

    Purchase at Metro sales offices, retail outlets and commuter stores for $5. SmarTrip® cards are also sold through vending machines at all stations where parking is available.

    Note: Senior citizens (65 and older) must have proof of age to purchase a reduced fare Senior SmarTrip® card. Persons with disabilities must have a valid Metro Disability ID card to purchase the reduced fare SmarTrip® card.

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    Using the MTA CharmCard® on SmarTrip®

    The CharmCard® is a rechargeable fare card issued by the Maryland Transit Administration. CharmCard®CharmCard® users may use the web services offered on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority website to manage aspects of their card. CharmCard® users can follow the links below to:

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If you have questions or comments, please call
888-762-7874
7 am - 8 pm Mon-Fri
or use our online contact form.


© 2012 Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority