Presto Card Monthly Pass Price And Cost 2024

ByJonathan Kennedy

The PRESTO card Monthly Pass offers a convenient way to pay for your monthly public transit pass in certain regions of Canada. If you’re a frequent rider, a monthly pass can be a cost-effective option compared to paying per trip. Let’s explore how you can load a monthly pass onto your PRESTO card and what to consider before purchasing one.

Presto Card Monthly Pass

What TTC Monthly Passes are Available on PRESTO?

There are two main TTC monthly passes you can load onto your PRESTO card:

  • Adult Monthly Pass: This pass provides unlimited travel on regular TTC services (buses, streetcars, subways) for the entire month. It’s a good choice for frequent riders who travel throughout the TTC network.
  • Post-Secondary Monthly Pass: This pass is priced lower than the adult pass and is available for students with a valid TTC post-secondary student photo ID. It offers the same benefit of unlimited travel on regular TTC services for a month.

Where can I Buy a TTC Monthly Pass?

You can’t directly purchase a TTC monthly pass itself, but you can load it onto a PRESTO card from several places:

  • PRESTO Fare Vending Machines: These machines are located at all TTC subway station entrances. They allow you to load an adult monthly pass directly onto your PRESTO card.
  • Shoppers Drug Mart: Many Shoppers Drug Mart locations sell PRESTO cards and allow you to load both adult and post-secondary student monthly passes. You’ll need to have your PRESTO card and any necessary ID (government ID for youth/senior fare or TTC post-secondary ID for student pass).
  • Online at prestocard.ca: This option lets you load both adult and student monthly passes onto your registered PRESTO card.

Why Your TTC Monthly Pass May Take Time to Load on PRESTO?

Even though it seems like a quick process, there can be a short delay for your TTC monthly pass to be available on your PRESTO card. The TTC explains this is due to the processing time needed to update your card.

While online transactions through prestocard.ca are usually processed within a few hours, it can take up to 24 hours for the pass to be fully loaded. To be safe, it’s recommended to load your pass well before you need it to ensure it’s ready for your next TTC trip.

Presto Card Monthly Pass Toronto

If you’re a frequent TTC rider in Toronto, a PRESTO card loaded with a monthly pass can be a budget-friendly way to travel. The TTC offers two main monthly passes on PRESTO: the Adult Monthly Pass for unlimited travel and the Post-Secondary Monthly Pass for students with a valid ID, both priced differently.

You can’t directly buy the pass itself, but you can load it onto your PRESTO card at various locations like fare vending machines or Shoppers Drug Mart. Keep in mind there might be a delay of up to 24 hours for the pass to become active on your card, so plan to load it beforehand to avoid any hiccups during your commute.

When to Buy Your TTC Monthly Pass on PRESTO?

To ensure your TTC monthly pass is ready when you need it, you’ll want to plan your purchase window.

The TTC offers monthly passes for sale from the last twelve days of the current month until the eighth day of the following month. This means you can’t buy a pass for next month until quite late in the current month, but you also have a buffer period after the month starts to get it loaded.

Remember, it can take up to 24 hours for the pass to be active on your PRESTO card, so factor that processing time into your purchase decision.

Presto Card Monthly Pass Price

The price of a PRESTO card monthly pass depends on whether you’re an adult, senior, or post-secondary student traveling on the TTC. Here’s a quick breakdown:

  • Adult Monthly Pass: This pass offers unlimited travel for adults (ages 19-64) and costs $156.
  • Senior Monthly Pass (65+): Seniors can enjoy unlimited travel for a discounted price of $128.15.
  • Post-Secondary Monthly Pass: Students with a valid TTC post-secondary ID can purchase this pass for $128.15, providing the same benefit of unlimited travel on regular TTC services throughout the month.

PRESTO Monthly Pass Online

Ditch the fare vending machines and opt for the convenience of loading your PRESTO card with a monthly TTC pass online. The PRESTO website (https://www.prestocard.ca/en/sign-in) allows you to manage your registered card and directly add either an Adult Monthly Pass or a Post-Secondary Student Monthly Pass.

This online method is perfect for busy schedules and eliminates the need to carry cash. After setting up your My PRESTO Account, simply choose your pass type, pay securely, and the pass will be loaded onto your card within a few hours.

While it’s a faster option, there can still be a delay of up to 24 hours for activation. Plan your purchase to ensure your monthly pass is ready to roll when you tap your PRESTO card for your next TTC journey.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a PRESTO card with a monthly TTC pass can be a cost-effective and convenient way to navigate Toronto’s public transit system for frequent riders. With two pass options for adults, seniors, and students, along with various reload locations and the online option, you can easily find the method that suits your needs. Just remember the purchase window and potential 24-hour activation delay to ensure your pass is ready when you need it. By planning, you can tap and ride with ease on the TTC network.

FAQS

Q: How to get unlimited PRESTO?

Unfortunately, there’s no official way to get unlimited travel on PRESTO. PRESTO offers monthly passes that provide unlimited travel for a set period within a specific region (like the TTC in Toronto), but these aren’t truly unlimited and need to be reloaded every month.

Q: How do I load a PRESTO monthly pass?

There are three ways to load a TTC monthly pass onto your PRESTO card:

  1. PRESTO Fare Vending Machines: Located at all TTC subway station entrances, these machines allow you to load an adult monthly pass directly onto your card.
  2. Shoppers Drug Mart: Many Shoppers Drug Mart locations sell PRESTO cards and allow you to load both adult and post-secondary student monthly passes. Bring your PRESTO card and any necessary ID (government ID for youth/senior fare or TTC post-secondary ID for student pass).
  3. Online at prestocard.ca: This option lets you load both adult and student monthly passes onto your registered PRESTO card. You’ll need to create a My PRESTO Account first.

Q: Is a PRESTO monthly pass worth it?

Whether a PRESTO monthly pass is worth it depends on your travel habits. If you’re a frequent rider who makes multiple trips per day or week, a monthly pass can be more cost-effective than paying per ride. However, if you’re an occasional rider, you might be better off just paying for each trip.

Here are some things to consider:

  • Frequency of travel: How often do you use the TTC?
  • Cost per trip: Compare the cost of a monthly pass to the cost of individual fares.
  • Travel zones: Does your travel stay within a single fare zone, or do you travel across multiple zones? Monthly passes are typically zone-specific.

Does a PRESTO monthly pass work on GO Transit?

No, a PRESTO monthly pass loaded for the TTC is not valid on GO Transit. GO Transit is a separate regional transit system with its fare structure and PRESTO pass options.