How to buy a NYC MetroCard | Unlimited or Regular Subway Card

Should you buy a pay-per-ride or an unlimited New York City Subway MetroCard? There are several factors to consider before making a purchase.

There are some important rules to be aware of that apply to the UNLIMITED METRO CARD

Each card can only be used by 1 person.
Once you have swiped the card, it cannot be used again for 18 minutes.

You get unlimited transfers, including between buses and subways.

TIP: Your unlimited MetroCard can be used on other transportation systems in and around New York City. It is accepted by:

The Staten Island Railway
The Roosevelt Island Tram
New Jersey PATH trains.

This PAY AS YOU GO option has some important differences compared to the unlimited card.

1 ride costs $3. You will most likely never buy this card.
2 or more rides cost $2.75 per ride.
Up to 4 people can use one MetroCard ($2.75/person/ride).
You can transfer for free between subway lines
You can transfer for free between subway and buses or between buses within 2 hours of using your card for the first time.

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Thanks for watching our video! Let us know if you have any comments or questions below 👇

[osagiee.guobadia-secondytc]

Welcome to NY and for teaching us how to earn a new MTA MetroCard in parts of New York. 😀

[colinpatterson]

Thank you so much for making it clear that you cannot share a 7 Days Card👍😃Big hug Colin💕

[ThorOdinsonTMHiddenMonster]

Omg thank you so much! I needed this for my trip and well despite being a new Yorker, I was used to the student metrocard rather than the orange one

[richt.]

Thanks for sharing Katherine, I’ve got friends and family coming over after me, so I’m hoping to help them walk through this process trouble free.

[jasoncrabtree]

This was the best video I’ve seen on Metro Card Machines in the subways.

[johnmuschaweck]

They have changed the program in most machines so some say add time or add value instead and you can also put in other amount and add a specific amount

[luisaperez]

This was a life-saver, thank you so much.

[MillerMeteor]

I have a collection of NYC tokens and MetroCards (I don't live in NYC). I have four different regular cards, a Student Pass card (for grades 7-12), a SingleRide card (no subway-bus transfer, valid only within 2 hours of purchase, and not shareable), and a 2-trip card, which is not refillable.

[danielarodriguezminsky]

Taking notes: 2.50 dollars each metro ride. Can be shared within 4 people. Useful for less than 12 rides

[randhyamusapratikto]

thank you for sharing, really helpful and informative

[Richard-pfxs]

Regular metrocard is no longer needed if you have a contactless card

[diontaedaughtry]

Thank you this was very helpful and informative 👍👍

[lordteabelly]

great video and very helpful. im planning on visiting in the near future, ideally for a week, so one of those 7day unlimited metro cards would be ideal, as i plan to visit many places, including out to coney island etc

[DTD]

I have three regular MetroCards that I had to send to the MTA by snail-mail in order to get merged into one. That was back in August 2022, and I still haven't received the new replacement for all three.

BTW, i was hoing to address this isdue on MTA's official YT channel.

[anthonyd]

why buy just dont pay as i see everyday people do

[kh-xdrp]

Great info. Now how about today 12/23. Can you use pay per ride card for up to 4 people and also can the cards be used for path trains and sky tram?

[mohammadgholamian]

Thank you for the video, so the machine does not receive bills (example: 20 dollars) ? The only cash available to pay is coin?

[sebastiaan]

If you use the 7 day unlimited option, is the fare from JFK using the JFK airtrain to Jamaica also included? Or would that be a separate charge?

[mszabo]

I have debit VISA card with PIN code is possible buy with this card ??

[correa-reia]

Thanks 😊is there a app that can help.me to choose the correct train, please?