What Is a SmarTrip® Card?

A SmarTrip® card is a permanent, rechargeable card used to pay Metrorail and local bus system fares. 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. 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®.



How to Use a SmarTrip® Card

SmarTrip® Customer Service

(888) SMARTRIP (888-762-7874)

Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

or use our online contact form.

Purchasing a SmarTrip® Card

It's easy to buy a SmarTrip® card. Purchase your card online with any major credit or debit card.

You can also purchase a SmarTrip® card at any Metrorail station or at Metro sales offices, retail outlets and commuter stores.

A reduced fare SmarTrip® card is available for senior citizens and people with disabilities. To purchase a Senior SmarTrip® card, you must provide proof of age. People with disabilities must submit a completed Reduced Fare Program Application or valid Medicare card with photo ID to the Transit Accessibility Center at 600 5th St NW, Washington, DC 20001.

Creating or Managing a SmarTrip® Account

With an online SmarTrip® account, it's easy to:

Add value and passes to your card and take advantage of our Auto Reload process

View your card balance and usage history

Register and manage multiple cards (e.g., cards of family members)

Report a lost/stolen card and transfer the balance to a replacement card

Once you have your SmarTrip® card, create an account.

Learn more about SmarTrip® online accounts »

SmarTrip® Card Benefits

Use SmarTrip® on the following area transit providers: DASH, Ride On, Fairfax Connector, ART, CUE, Loudoun County Transit, Omniride, TheBus, DC Circulator, Maryland Transit Administration Local Bus, Light Rail and Metro Subway and registered van pools

Use SmarTrip® to pay for parking at Metro facilities

If your registered card is lost or stolen, you don't lose the value. For a $2 card replacement fee, we'll issue you a new SmarTrip® card with the value on the card at the time you notified us it was lost or stolen

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.

SmarTrip® Replacements, Refunds, and Exchanges

SmarTrip® Terms and Conditions