Getting Started With CharmCard™
To get started, you must decide if you want to add cash value or a pass product (1-Day, 7-Day or 30-Day Pass) to your CharmCard™. Although there is no perfect profile of who should load cash value versus who should load a pass product, it is generally advised that a customer who rides MTA infrequently (less than every day) should consider loading cash value. Customers who ride MTA every day or multiple times daily should consider purchasing a pass product. Whatever you decide, you may add up to $200 of cash value to your card at a ticket vending machine, and $20 of cash value at a Bus farebox. Or, at a ticket vending machine you may load a 1-Day, 7-Day or 30-Day pass product for unlimited rides during the designated pass period. At a Bus farebox you may load a 1-Day pass.
Types of Fares:
Cash Value - Cash Value is the amount of cash you have loaded on your card. Maximum amount that can be loaded on your card is $200. REMINDER: Metro Subway ticket vending machines allow up to $100 per transaction loaded on your CharmCard™. Local Bus farebox allows loading a maximum of $20 or four bills onto your CharmCard™. The cost of riding Metro Subway and Local Bus remains the same!
Pass Products (1-Day, 7-Day or 30-Day Pass) - Pass products provide unlimited use of Local Bus, and Metro Subway for the duration of the designated pass period – 1 day, 7 days or 30 days. The pass validity begins the day you first use it, and continues for the specified number of days on your pass. Please note that the time of day of your first use is not applied to the pass validity period: for example, if you begin using a 7-Day Pass on Monday at 8:00 a.m. or 11:30 p.m., the pass is only valid until the following Sunday at 11:59 p.m. REMINDER: Ticket vending machines allow purchase of 1-Day, 7-Day and 30-Day pass products. Bus farebox allows purchase of 1-Day pass only. Pass products will not be accepted outside the MTA system. You must use stored value to ride in the Washington DC region.
CharmCard™ Use Policies:
- Use your CharmCard™ to pay for fares on MTA Local Bus fareboxes and Metro Subway ticket vending machine, faregates and where the SmarTrip® logo is found.
- Only stored value may be used when paying for trips in the DC area.
- The card contains sensitive electronics. Do not bend, perforate or expose it to extreme temperatures.
- Only you are authorized to use this card. It is not transferrable.
- Be prepared for a card inspection by an MTA employee or Transit Police Officer.
- If your card is not working for any reason, a ticket must be purchased to ride. To report a problem with your card call the Regional Customer Service Center at 1-888-SmarTrip.
- Your card is registered for balance protection. Immediately report a lost, damaged or stolen card. Call 1-888-SmarTrip.
- For CharmCard™ information visit www.mtacharmcard.com.
- CharmCard™ is currently not accepted on Light Rail (coming soon).
- Metro Subway TVMs accept credit card payments.
- MTA Disclosure Statement: Information collected during the test period may be used for current or future MTA programs. MTA will disclose information pursuant to applicable laws or law enforcement purposes. MTA will not share or sell this information for any other purposes.
Lost/Stolen Cards:
Your MTA CharmCard™ when registered provides balance protection in case your card is lost, damaged or stolen. The MTA will replace your card including the existing balance at the time of the loss or damage minus a $5 card replacement fee. If you need to report your card lost, damaged or stolen, please contact the Regional Customer Service Center at 1-888-SmarTrip.
Defective Cards:
Call 1-888-SmarTrip immediately.
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