What is SmarTrip^®?

SmarTrip is a rechargeable farecard that you can use on many public transportation systems throughout Northern Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia including Metrorail and Metrobus.  Having one farecard makes bus and train transfers easy, and with SmarTrip there’s no need to carry bus tokens or worry about having exact change for your fare.

Where Can I Get a SmarTrip Card?

Your SmarTrip card will cost $2 to purchase.  Some sales locations sell cards with pre-loaded amounts already on them; therefore, the cost would be $2 plus the pre-loaded amount.  You may purchase a SmarTrip card at:

LOCAL AREA

PRTC Transit Center OPEN 6am - 8pm, Monday - Friday Transactions processed 7am - 7pm 14700 Potomac Mills Road Woodbridge, VA 22192 (703) 730-6664 OR (888) 730-6664 Senior SmarTrip cards also on sale at this location.	CVS Stores 9200 Centreville Road Manassas VA 8041 Sudley Road Manassas, VA 12890 Touchstone Circle Woodbridge, VA
Todos Markets 13905 Jefferson Davis Highway Marumsco Plaza Woodbridge, VA 17782 Dumfries Shopping Plaza Dumfries, VA
NORTHERN VIRGINIA & WASHINGTON DC
The Commuter Stores Rosslyn Center, Mall Level 2 1700 N. Moore Street, Suite 225 Arlington, Virginia (703) 525-1995	Other Outlets SmarTrip cards may also be purchased at Giant and CVS stores throughout the Washington Metropolitain area.  Visit SmarTrip.com for a complete listing of sales locations.
Crystal City Underground Mall 1615-B Crystal Square Arcade Arlington, Virginia (703) 413-4287	Vending machines in Metro stations with large parking facilities, including Franconia – Springfield, West Falls Church and Vienna Metro Stations.
Ballston Common Mall Mall Level 2, Glebe Road Wing 4328 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1244 Arlington, Virginia (703) 528-3541	Online at SmarTrip.com or CommuterPage.com

 

How Do I Register My Card?

SmarTrip cards must be registered in order to receive SmartBenefits or to have value from a lost, stolen, or damaged card transferred to a new card.  To register your card, visit SmarTrip.com.  If you purchased your card online or by mail, it is already registered.

How Do I Pay My Fare?

• Each passenger must have their own SmarTrip card.
• Simply touch your SmarTrip card to the SmarTrip target on top of the electronic farebox.  The appropriate fare will be automatically deducted from your card. 
• OmniRide and Metro Direct passengers who pay with a SmarTrip card receive discounted fares. 
• All passengers may pay with cash ($1, $5, $10 or $20 bills and coins - no pennies).
• OmniLink passengers may pay with tokens.
• Those who qualify for reduced fares on PRTC buses must pay with cash or with a Senior (65+)/Disabled SmarTrip card (available through the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority) in order to receive the discount.
• Local bus Day and Weekly passes are only available on SmarTrip cards.
• OmniLink off-route surcharges must be paid for with cash.

How Do I Pay a Reduced Fare?

PRTC offers reduced fares all day on OmniLink and Cross County Connector buses, and during non-peak hours (9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and after 7 p.m.) on OmniRide and Metro Direct buses.  Passengers qualify for reduced fares on PRTC buses if they are at least 60 years old, or if they have a disability or a valid Medicare card.  Riders eligible for reduced fares on PRTC buses must pay with cash or with a WMATA-issued Senior SmarTrip card or a Metro Disability ID/SmarTrip card.

If you have a WMATA-issued Senior SmarTrip card or Metro Disability ID/SmarTrip card, simply tap your card to the SmarTrip target.  The farebox on PRTC buses and on all other regional carriers will automatically deduct the reduced fare, if applicable.  For more information about Senior SmarTrip cards or Metro Disability ID/SmarTrip cards, please call (202) 962-1558 or visit this page on Metro’s website: www.wmata.com/fares/reduced.cfm.

How Do I Make a Transfer with a SmarTrip Card?

Transfers ARE ONLY AVAILABLE FOR FARES PAID WITH SMARTRIP. They are good for 3 hours on the day issued. The electronic farebox will calculate and automatically deduct the correct fare from your SmarTrip card.

• No credit will be given when transferring between PRTC buses and Metrorail.

How Do I Add Money To My SmarTrip Card?

To load value on the bus:

• Before you tap your card to the target, push the ADD VALUE button on the farebox.  (If you touch the card to the target prior to pushing the ADD VALUE button, the farebox will deduct your fare).
• Touch your card to the SmarTrip target.
• Insert cash $1, $5, $10 or $20 bills or coins (no pennies) to load up to a maximum of $300 total value on the card.  To prevent delays, please limit on-board loading of your card to three bills. 
• Touch your card to the SmarTrip target again to upload the value.
• Touch your card once more to deduct the fare for your trip.

To load value at a Metrorail station using a Passes/Farecard machine, follow the machine instructions.  You may load value to your SmarTrip card using Metrorail paper farecards, credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover), and ATM/debit cards. 

To check the available balance on your SmarTrip card, push the CHECK VALUE button before you tap the card to the target.  Your card balance will appear on the display screen.

 

How Do I Buy A Pass Product?

You can buy a Weekly Pass and Day Pass on all PRTC buses.  To buy a pass on a PRTC bus, be sure to have enough money on your SmarTrip card and inform the operator that you want to purchase a pass before tapping your card.  To prevent delays, please do not load more than three bills to your SmarTrip card at one time.

If you qualify for reduced fares on PRTC buses, you can buy a Weekly Pass or Day Pass using your SmarTrip card.

• If you have a WMATA issued Senior SmarTrip card or Metro Disability ID/SmarTrip card, tell the operator that you want to buy a pass, show the operator your SmarTrip card and then tap it to the farebox.
• If you qualify for reduced fares on PRTC buses but DO NOT have a WMATA issued Senior SmarTrip card or a Metro Disablity ID/SmarTrip card, visit the PRTC Transit Center (M-F, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.) and bring proof of your age and/or disability and your SmarTrip card.  PRTC will place a sticker on your SmarTrip card so bus operators will know that you are eligible to pay reduced rates for passes.  When boarding, tell the operator that you want to buy a pass, show the operator your SmarTrip card with the sticker and then tap it to the farebox.

To use your pass, simply tap your SmarTrip card to the farebox.

 

What If I Have a Problem With My SmarTrip Card?

If you have trouble using your SmarTrip card on the bus, you will have to pay for your trip with cash.  If you have questions or problems using your SmarTrip card, contact Metro at (888) 762-7874 or visit SmarTrip.com.

Where Can I Use a SmarTrip Card?

Along with PRTC, these regional carriers also accept SmarTrip:

• ART – Arlington County
• CUE – Fairfax City
• DASH – Alexandria
• DC Circulator
• Fairfax Connector
• Loudoun County Transit
• Metrorail and Metrobus
• Ride On – Montgomery County

Can I Transfer My SmartBenefits to My SmarTrip Card?

Those receiving SmartBenefits – the electronically paid transit benefit provided by some employers – can quickly download their monthly benefit at Metrorail stations using a Passes/Farecard machine.  With SmartBenefits, your monthly benefit is loaded onto your registered card in one transaction, eliminating the time spent feeding bills one-by-one into the electronic farebox or having to use a credit card to load value.  Visit SmarTrip.com for more information on downloading benefits.

Learn more about SmarTrip and SmartBenefits:

(888) 762-7874
Weekdays from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

SmarTrip -- www.SmarTrip.com

SmartBenefits -- www.WMATA.com