Tap the PRESTO device each time you board a bus or at the station before you board your train. Tap again when you exit.

GO Transit fares are calculated based on distance travelled. If you don’t have a default set on your card and you forget to tap off at the end of your trip, you’ll be charged to the end of the line at the adult cash fare price (not at the PRESTO discounted rate). Your trip also won’t count towards your GO loyalty discounts, transfers to other GO routes or any discounts with connecting transit, so don’t forget to tap off!

There is a 3 hour travel window to complete your GO trip. Transfers are automatically applied when transferring between GO Buses, from GO Buses to GO Trains, or from GO Trains to GO Buses. Transfers between GO Transit and other transit agencies also have to take place within 3 hours.

GO Transit PRESTO fares

Adult Rides 1-35: 15.7% discount from adult paper ticket

Rides 36-40: 88.3%

Rides 41+: 100% See the GO Transit fare calculator to calculate the cost of your trip. Child (0-12) Free Student (13-19 and full-time post-secondary) Rides 1-30: 22.5% discount from adult paper ticket

Rides 31-40: 95%

Rides 41+: 100% Senior (65+) Rides 1-40: 55% discount from adult paper ticket

Rides 41+: 100%

*Fares and discounts are subject to change and loyalty discounts are based on the same route for each trip within a calendar month. Actual discount may be .1% lower due to rounding. See the GO Transit website for more details.

Setting and overriding a default trip

You can set a default trip for GO Train travel between two stations. The full fare is charged automatically when you tap on to a default trip so you do not have to tap off.

See a GO Station attendant or Customer Service Outlet to set a default trip. Default trips only apply to travel by GO Train, not GO Bus.

If you want to travel from one of your default stations to a different station, press the Override button on the PRESTO device before tapping at the start of your trip.

Tap off at the end of the trip. Your default trip will be automatically reset when you tap off.

You do not need to override your default when you start a trip at a different station or when travelling by GO Bus.

See the Default Trip with GO Transit page for more information about setting and using default trips.

Transferring to/from local transit agencies

Pay a reduced fare on your local transit service for trips that connect with GO Transit. The discount is applied automatically when you tap on to the connecting vehicle.

You have a 2-hour window to transfer at the discounted rate if you start your trip on local transit - 3 hours if you start on GO Transit.

Brampton Transit: GO fare + $0.80

Burlington Transit: GO fare + $0.70

Durham Region Transit: GO fare + $0.80

Hamilton Street Railway: GO fare + $0.60

MiWay: GO fare + $0.80

Oakville Transit: GO fare + $0.80

York Region Transit/Viva: GO fare + $1.00

Companion fares

You can use your PRESTO card to pay for paper tickets for additional passengers. Visit a Customer Service Outlet or GO Station attendant to purchase paper tickets with your card.

Using PRESTO

GO Transit fares are calculated based on the distance travelled. When you tap on at the start of your trip on GO Transit, an initial fare of $4.40 will be charged to your card. When you reach your destination and tap off on the GO bus or at the GO train station, PRESTO will calculate the total fare for your trip and apply the loyalty discount and the discounts for seniors and students if applicable.

If your total fare is less than $4.40, the difference will be refunded to your card when you tap off. If the total fare for your trip is more than $4.40, the rest of your fare will be charged to your card. You need to make sure that you have enough funds on your PRESTO card when you tap off to cover the total cost of your trip.

If your card has been added to a My PRESTO Account, you can go into a negative balance to pay for one trip as long as you have at least $4.40 on your card to pay the initial fare.

Always remember to tap off at the end of your trip to ensure you’re charged the correct fare. If you forget to tap off, you could be charged a higher fare which will be deducted from your card balance when you tap on for your next GO trip.

If you are taking a trip for which you have a Default Trip set on your card, the entire fare will be charged to your card when you tap on.