CharlieCard | Fares Overview - MBTA

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CharlieCards are reusable cards that can be loaded with cash value or passes to pay bus and subway fares. CharlieCards are available at fare vending machines in most subway stations.

If you don’t have a CharlieCard, you can also pay your fare with:

• Contactless payment by tapping your contactless debit/credit card, phone, or watch with a mobile wallet on bus and subway
• CharlieTicket, a tappable ticket that can be loaded with subway, bus, Commuter Rail, and ferry tickets or passes
• mTicket, an Android and iPhone app for Commuter Rail and ferry tickets or passes
• Cash at onboard fare boxes on buses or load a CharlieCard onboard with in the event you expect change

Note: For street-level Green Line and Mattapan trolleys, we encourage riders to use exact change, contactless payment, or to load a CharlieCard at their nearest fare vending machine prior to travel as change will not be provided.

Auto-pay

Get a monthly subway or bus pass that renews automatically.

Sign up for Auto-pay

MyCharlie

Already have a CharlieCard? Register your card with MyCharlie to protect it against loss, theft, or damage.

Register your CharlieCard

Should I get a CharlieCard?

The type of MBTA pass you use depends on which modes you take and how often you take them.

CharlieCard

Best for frequent subway and bus riders Easily tap into stations and vehicles Online card management and protection Activate at fare gates Not valid on Commuter Rail or ferry, except for the Fairmount Line

CharlieTicket

Great for visitors Great for Commuter Rail and ferry riders who also take the subway and bus Available at all fare vending machines  Commuter Rail and ferry passes also valid on bus and subway Activate at purchase Limited or no transfers when loaded with cash value  No online management or protection

Please note, CharlieTickets with stored value expire 18 months from the purchase date. 

Contactless payment

Best for visitors and regular bus and subway riders  Easy to tap and go Can connect with reduced fare benefits Online card management Not valid on Commuter Rail or ferry Not compatible with daily, weekly, or monthly passes  

Valid on:

subway Subway Bus Bus Silver Line Silver Line Mattapan Line Mattapan Line

mTicket

Best for Commuter Rail and ferry riders who don’t often take the subway or bus  $10 discount on monthly passes  Instant purchase on smartphone  Online account management  No transfers to other modes

Learn more about transfers

Where can I get a CharlieCard?

You can get a CharlieCard from any of our fare vending machines, or from MBTA staff at most subway stations and select bus stations.

Note: CharlieCards are not available at the following fare vending machines:

• Boston Convention & Exhibition Center
• Fenway Park
• Lynn Busway
• Museum of Fine Arts
• Woburn Anderson
• Worcester Union Station

You can also get a CharlieCard from any of the locations below.

Select municipalities and organizations

You can get a free, blank CharlieCard at these locations:

City of Boston 1 City Hall Square Boston, MA 02201

• City Hall main lobby
• First floor entrance
• Entrance to mayor’s office

• Cambridge City Hall
• City Clerk
• 795 Massachusetts Avenue, 1F
• Cambridge, MA 02139

Cambridge City Hall Annex Community Development Department 344 Broadway, 3rd Floor Cambridge, MA 02139

• Cambridge Multi Service Center
• 362 Green Street, 1st Floor
• Cambridge, MA 02139

Hours:

• Monday, 8:30 AM – 8 PM
• Tuesday – Thursday, 8:30 AM – 5 PM
• Friday, 8:30AM – 12 PM

• Cambridge Parking Services
• 344 Broadway
• Cambridge, MA 02139
•  
• Cambridge Veterans Services
• 51 Inman St
• Cambridge, MA 01239

Chelsea City Hall 500 Broadway Chelsea, MA  02150

Greater Ashmont Main Street 1914 Dorchester Ave Dorchester, MA 02124

Lynn City Hall 3 City Hall Square Lynn, MA 01901

Mattapan Square Main Streets 1594 Blue Hill Ave Mattapan, MA 02126

Revere Healthy Community Initiatives City Hall 281 Broadway Revere, MA 02151

Salem Public Library 370 Essex St Salem, MA 01970

Salem Parking Department Within the Downtown Parking Garage 1 New Liberty Street Salem, MA 01970

Mayor Jean A. Levesque Community Life Center 401 Bridge St Salem, MA 01970

Watertown Town Hall Administration Building 149 Main Street Watertown, MA 02472

• Clerk's Office (Ground floor)
• Treasurer's Office (1st floor)
• Community Development and Planning Department (3rd floor)

Watertown Free Public Library 123 Main Street Watertown, MA 02472

Winthrop Public Library 2 Metcalf Square Winthrop, MA 02152

Boston public libraries

You can get a free, blank CharlieCard at any Boston public library location.

Find a Boston public library near you

Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston

You can get a free, blank CharlieCard at these Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston:

• Edgerley Family South Boston Club
• 230 West Sixth Street
• Boston, MA 02127
• Yawkey Club of Roxbury
• 115 Warren Street
• Roxbury, MA 02119
• Jordan Club
• 30 Willow Street
• Chelsea, MA 02150

• Sumner Club
• 15 Basile Street
• Roslindale, MA 02131
• Berkshire Partners Blue Hill Club
• 15 Talbot Avenue
• Dorchester, MA 02124

• Charlestown Club
• 15 Green Street
• Boston, MA 02129
• Franklin Hill Club
• 5 Shandon Road
• Boston, MA 02124
• Orchard Gardens Club
• 2 Dearborn Street
• Roxbury, MA 02119

Retail stores

Stores throughout Greater Boston offer blank CharlieCards. You can also buy passes for any mode or load value onto your CharlieCard at these locations. 

Find a store near you

Charlie Service Center

Visit the Charlie Service Center at 296 Washington St to get a free, blank CharlieCard, load cash value or passes to a card, replace a lost or damaged card, or apply for a reduced fare card.

View Charlie Service Center hours

CharlieCard Services

Register your CharlieCard with MyCharlie to protect it against loss, theft, or damage. The MBTA can also help you replace your card or consolidate multiple cards.

Replace an Expired Card and Transfer a Balance

Standard CharlieCard

CharlieCard expiration dates are located on the lower right-hand corner, across from the serial number. If an expiration date is not printed on your card, you can check at your nearest fare vending machine.

We can transfer stored value and passes from an expired CharlieCard to a new one. Visit the Charlie Service Center at 296 Washington St.

Or, mail your expired card to the MBTA Revenue Department—you’ll receive your new CharlieCard in 7 – 10 business days.

MBTA Revenue Department 10 Park Plaza Room 4730 Boston, MA 02116

If you registered your CharlieCard online, log into your MyCharlie account, or call CharlieCard Support at 888-844-0355 for more information.

Senior, Blind Access, or TAP CharlieCard

Eligible riders can renew or replace their Senior, Blind Access, or TAP CharlieCard online or can do so by calling Customer Support at 617-222-3200.

Learn more about reduced fares

Riders can also visit the Charlie Service Center. After you apply, you’ll get a 30-day temporary reduced fare CharlieCard while your new pass is mailed to you.

Or, mail your expired CharlieCard to the center, and your new card will be mailed within 7 – 10 business days.

Charlie Service Center 296 Washington St Boston, MA 02108

Corporate Perq Card

First, contact your program administrator for a new card.

We can only transfer stored value—passes cannot be transferred. To transfer a balance, bring your old and new cards to the Charlie Service Center at 296 Washington St.

Or, mail your expired card to the MBTA Revenue Department—you’ll receive your new CharlieCard in 7 – 10 business days.

• MBTA Revenue Department
• 10 Park Plaza
• Room 4730
• Boston, MA 02116

Note: If you are no longer with your employer, we can instead transfer stored value from your Corporate Perq Card onto a standard CharlieCard.

Youth Pass or Student CharlieCard

We can transfer stored value and passes from an expired Youth Pass or Student CharlieCard to a new one. To transfer a balance, bring your old and new cards to the Charlie Service Center at 296 Washington St.

Or, mail your expired card to the MBTA Revenue Department—you’ll receive your new CharlieCard in 7 – 10 business days.

• MBTA Revenue Department
• 10 Park Plaza
• Room 4730
• Boston, MA 02116

Note: Semester passes cannot be replaced at the Charlie Service Center. Please contact your administrator for assistance.

Other Services

Replace a damaged, lost, or stolen card

Standard Fare CharlieCard

If your card is registered, call 888-844-0355 to get it replaced.

If your card is not registered, the MBTA can replace it if it’s damaged or malfunctioning. The MBTA cannot replace lost or stolen CharlieCards that are not registered. 

Register your CharlieCard

Senior, Blind Access, or TAP CharlieCard

To replace your card, visit the Charlie Service Center at 296 Washington St or call Customer Support at 617-222-3200.

Corporate, Semester, or Student CharlieCard

Contact your pass program administrator to learn more about replacement cards.

Order cards in bulk

You can order fares of $25 or more in advance by using our Group Orders program. You can purchase 1-way or round trip bus and subway fares, 1- or 7-day passes, or monthly passes for the bus and subway system.

Orders need to be placed at least 3 – 5 business days before your trip. Advance tickets and passes are not refundable or replaceable if lost or stolen.

Learn more about group orders

Please note, there is no way to check your CharlieCard balance online. To check your balance, visit the nearest fare vending machine.

Sales Programs

Corporate Program: Perq Work

Tax-advantaged benefits for employees and employers

Retail Sales Network

Help ensure equal access for MBTA riders by selling CharlieCard fares and passes in your store

Semester Program

Colleges and universities can order semester passes for their students

Student Pass

Middle and high schools can order passes with savings for their students

Auto-pay

Get a monthly subway or bus pass that renews automatically.

Sign up for Auto-pay

MyCharlie

Already have a CharlieCard? Register your card with MyCharlie to protect it against loss, theft, or damage.

Register your CharlieCard Call Us

Information & Support

Monday thru Friday: 6:30 AM - 8 PM Main: 617-222-3200 711 for TTY callers; VRS for ASL callers

Emergency Contacts

24 hours, 7 days a week Transit Police: 617-222-1212 TTY: 711

Report a Railroad Crossing Gate Issue

To report a problem or emergency with a railroad crossing, call 800-522-8236