The MTA Senior Discount Reduces Your Fare to Half Price

If you are 65 or older, you can ride the New York City subway, bus, and Staten Island Railway for half the regular fare. The MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority) calls this the Reduced Fare Program. A regular pay-per-ride fare costs $2.90; with the senior discount, you pay $1.45. If you use a MetroCard or the MTA's digital payment system, the discount applies automatically once your card is registered as a senior card.

You do not have to be a New York City resident to use the discount. You do not have to be retired. The only requirement is that you are 65 or older and you have proof of age that the MTA accepts. The discount works on every subway line, every bus route, and the Staten Island Railway. It does not cover the Long Island Rail Road or Metro-North Railroad, which have their own senior programs.

Key Takeaways

  • You pay half fare ($1.45 instead of $2.90 per ride) on all MTA subways, buses, and the Staten Island Railway once you register a senior MetroCard.
  • You must be 65 or older and bring an ID that shows your date of birth to an MTA station to register your card in person.
  • You can also register online at new.mta.info if you have a valid U.S. passport, passport card, or REAL ID driver's license and a MetroCard number.
  • A senior MetroCard works the same way as a regular one — you add money to it and tap it at the turnstile or on the bus reader.
  • If you cannot afford even the half fare, you may be able to ride free through the MTA's Reduced Fare Program for people with disabilities or the SNAP/food information connection program.

What ID You Need to Register

The MTA accepts a limited list of documents to prove your age. You must bring one of these in person to an MTA station: a U.S. passport, a passport card, a REAL ID driver's license, a REAL ID non-driver ID card, a New York State senior citizen ID card, or a Medicare card. A regular (non-REAL ID) driver's license does not work, even if it shows your date of birth.

If you do not have any of these documents, you can explore for a New York State senior citizen ID card at your local Department of Motor Vehicles office. It is free and requires only proof of age (a birth certificate, passport, or naturalization papers) and proof of residency (a utility bill or lease). The DMV will issue it on the spot or mail it to you within a few weeks.

If you want to register online instead of in person, you need a U.S. passport, passport card, or REAL ID driver's license. Online registration is faster and you do not have to travel to a station, but you must already have a MetroCard number ready.

How to Register Your Senior MetroCard in Person

Go to any subway station that has a booth with an MTA employee. Not all stations have staffed booths — smaller or less-used stations may not. You can find a list of stations with customer service booths on the MTA website at new.mta.info, or call 511 and ask which station near you has one.

Bring your ID and your MetroCard (or ask for a new one if you do not have one). Tell the employee you want to register for the senior reduced fare. They will scan your ID, record your date of birth, and register your card. The process takes about five minutes. Your card becomes a senior card when ready and you will pay half fare on your next ride.

If you do not have a MetroCard yet, the MTA will give you one for free when you register. You then add money to it at a vending machine or at the booth. You can add as little as $5.50 or as much as $100 at a time.

How to Register Online

Visit new.mta.info and look for the "Reduced Fare" section. You will need your MetroCard number (the 16-digit number on the front of your card), a valid U.S. passport, passport card, or REAL ID driver's license, and your date of birth. The website will ask you to upload a photo of your ID or enter your passport number.

Online registration usually takes one to three business days. You will receive an email confirmation, and your card will be registered as a senior card. You can then use it at any turnstile or on any bus. If you do not receive confirmation within three business days, call 511 to check the status.

How to Add Money and Use Your Senior Card

Once your card is registered, you add money to it the same way you would a regular MetroCard. Use a vending machine at any subway station (they accept cash and credit or debit cards) or ask an MTA employee at a booth to add money for you. You can also add money online at new.mta.info if you have registered your card there.

When you ride, tap your card at the turnstile (for subway) or on the reader as you board the bus. The machine will deduct $1.45 per ride. You do not have to do anything special — the discount is built into your card. If your card runs out of money, you can add more at any vending machine or booth.

Your senior card does not expire, but if you lose it, you can get a replacement at any booth. The MTA will charge you $1 for a replacement card, but your remaining balance will transfer to the new card.

What to Do If You Cannot Afford Half Fare

If you are 65 or older and your income is low, you may be able to ride the MTA for free through the Reduced Fare Program for People with Disabilities, even if you do not have a disability. This program is based on income, not age. You must have a household income at or below 100% of the federal poverty line (about $14,580 per year for a single person in 2024, though this amount changes yearly).

To explore, go to an MTA station booth with proof of income (recent tax return, Social Security statement, or a letter from a benefits program like SSI or SNAP) and proof of identity. The MTA will issue you a free Reduced Fare card that works like a senior card but costs nothing per ride. You still need to add money to it, but the fare is $0 instead of $1.45.

You can also ride free if you receive SNAP benefits (food information). The MTA's SNAP Connection Program lets you link your SNAP card to your MetroCard and ride free once per day on weekdays. Call 511 or visit new.mta.info for details on how to enroll.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to register my card every year?

No. Once your card is registered as a senior card, it stays registered for life. You do not have to renew it or re-register it. If you lose your card, you can get a replacement at any booth and it will still be registered as a senior card.

Can I use my senior card on the Long Island Rail Road or Metro-North?

No. The MTA senior discount only works on the subway, bus, and Staten Island Railway. The Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North have their own senior programs with different discounts. Call 511 or visit their websites to learn about those programs.

What if I do not have a MetroCard and do not want one?

You can use the MTA's digital payment system instead. read the MTA's app or use your phone's contactless payment (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay) at any turnstile or bus reader. You will need to register your digital payment method as a senior account on new.mta.info to get the half-fare discount.

Can someone else register a card for me if I cannot go to a station?

No. The MTA requires you to be present in person with your ID so they can verify your age. If you cannot travel to a station, you can register online if you have a valid passport, passport card, or REAL ID driver's license.

What if my ID does not have my date of birth on it?

Bring a second document that shows your date of birth, such as a birth certificate or Social Security card. The MTA employee will accept two documents together if one of them clearly shows your age.