 What is PRESTO? |
PRESTO is an electronic fare system being introduced to transit systems across the Greater Toronto Area, Hamilton and Ottawa. PRESTO uses smartcard technology to give riders the most convenient fare payment possible. For more information about PRESTO, visit www.prestocard.ca |
| How does PRESTO Work? |
PRESTO uses smartcard technology and special reading devices to collect and process payments. With a single card (about the size of a debit card), you can pay fares on a number of transit systems – no cash fare, tickets or passes required!
The card stores a pre-loaded dollar amount (called e-purse). Each time you travel, the cost of the trip is deducted from your card’s e-purse. All it takes is the tap of a PRESTO card and your fare is paid!
Brampton Transit period passes (weekly or monthly) for Adults, Child/Students and Seniors can be loaded onto a PRESTO card.
Important: PRESTO cards loaded with period passes can only be used in Brampton.
Brampton Transit fares using PRESTO
Click here for information about the Senior Identification Card available for Brampton residents. |
| How do I use PRESTO? |
1. Purchase a Card
Purchase a PRESTO card online at www.prestocard.ca or at one of the following Brampton Transit terminals/facilities:
• Bramalea Terminal
• Downtown Brampton Terminal
• Shoppers World Terminal
• Trinity Common Terminal
• Clark Transit Facility
• Sandalwood Transit Facility
There is a $6 non-refundable issuance fee upon purchase.
Note: A minimum load of $10 is required upon purchase and at each load. This minimum load of $10 can be used towards the purchase of a Brampton Transit period pass (weekly or monthly).
The maximum amount of money that you can load onto your PRESTO card is $1000. You can load money onto your card as frequently as you need to.
2. Register Your Card
Register your card online at www.prestocard.ca or by mail (registration forms are available online or at Brampton Transit terminals).
Note: 24 hours after you register your PRESTO card online, you must tap on to any PRESTO device* within a seven day period to complete the registration.
Students and Seniors – You must have a registered PRESTO card in order to receive the appropriate discounted fare.
Note: If you are an adult and do not want to register your PRESTO card, it will remain a default anonymous adult card (see Benefits of Registering Your Card).
*PRESTO devices include: Balance checkers at Brampton Transit terminals and facilities or fare payment devices on Brampton Transit buses.
3. Setting Discounted Fares
Students and Seniors – Once you have registered your card, you must visit a Brampton Transit terminal or facility to get the card set with the student or senior classification to receive the appropriate discounted fare.
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| What are the benefits of registering your card? |
Lost or stolen cards: Report a missing card to PRESTO and have it blocked. You will be responsible for the value spent within 24 hours of reporting the loss. You must purchase a replacement card and load a minimum of $10 on to the card. Before you register your new card, call the PRESTO Call Centre and ask that the funds be transferred from your old card.
Autoload: Set up autoload and never be left without bus fare. Autoload automatically reloads your PRESTO card using your bank account or credit card when your e-purse value drops below a dollar amount chosen by you. The minimum autoload amount is $20, up to a maximum of $980. For more information, visit www.prestocard.ca
Federal tax credit: Only registered cards are eligible for the federal tax credit. You must use your PRESTO card for at least 32 one-way trips within a single transit system during an uninterrupted period not exceeding 31 days. You will be able to print off a usage statement from the PRESTO website for tax purposes.
IMPORTANT NOTE for Registered Cardholders: If your PRESTO card is loaded with a period pass (weekly or monthly) and it becomes lost or stolen, you cannot transfer the value onto a new PRESTO card through the PRESTO Customer Service Centre or at Brampton Transit terminals and facilities. You will need to purchase a replacement card from the PRESTO website. Through this purchase, your registration, period pass and any e-purse funds remaining on the lost or stolen card, will be transferred onto the replacement card. It can take up to seven business days to receive your new card.
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| How do I transfer? |
With PRESTO, you no longer have to ask the bus operator for a paper transfer.
PRESTO’s smartcard technology recognizes your continuous travel each time you tap your card and allows you a two-hour transfer period from the time of issue.
If you are connecting to or from GO Transit, the GO co-fare is automatically calculated on the card. |
| How does the GO co-fare payment work with PRESTO? |
PRESTO will calculate and deduct the co-fare discount for your local transit trip to or from a PRESTO activated GO Train station or GO Transit bus. The local transit system must also be PRESTO active to receive the co-fare discount when travelling with your PRESTO card.
Click here for more information on how co-fares work with PRESTO. |
| I loaded value onto my card, why is my card not working? |
If you load your PRESTO card online or over the phone, you must wait 24 hours before your purchase can be validated. You must then tap onto a fare payment device onboard a bus or a balance checker located at Brampton Transit terminals, within seven days to complete your transaction.
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| Will PRESTO affect Brampton’s bus fares? |
No. Fare increases are determined and established system-wide based on cost versus revenue ratios. City of Brampton Council approves all fare increases based on the costs associated with providing transit service and the revenues required to maintain, improve and offer additional service. |
| Can I still apply for the Federal Tax Credit for Public Transit Passes? |
Yes. However, you must register your card and use it for at least 32 one-way trips within a single transit system during an uninterrupted period not exceeding 31 days. You will be able to print off a usage statement from the PRESTO website ( www.prestocard.ca) for tax purposes. |
| Should I register my PRESTO card? |
It is your choice. Registering your PRESTO card has numerous benefits. Registered cards that are lost or stolen can be reported to have future transactions blocked. You will be responsible for the value spent within 24 hours of reporting the loss. The remaining value can be transferred to a new card.
Students and seniors must register their card in order to receive the appropriate discounted fare.
IMPORTANT NOTE for Registered Cardholders: If your PRESTO card is loaded with a period pass (weekly or monthly) and it becomes lost or stolen, you cannot transfer the value onto a new PRESTO card through the PRESTO Customer Service Centre or at Brampton Transit terminals and facilities. You will need to purchase a replacement card from the PRESTO website. Through this purchase, your registration, period pass and any e-purse funds remaining on the lost or stolen card, will be transferred onto the replacement card. It can take up to seven business days to receive your new card.
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| How is my privacy protected? |
The PRESTO system meets all legislation and applicable guidelines designed to protect your privacy. Your name will not appear on your PRESTO card nor is any personal information stored on it.
Click here for more information. |
| Which transit systems are participating in PRESTO? |
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| Who can I contact for more information? |
For PRESTO customer service, call 1.8.PRESTO.123 (1.877.378.6123), or visit www.prestocard.ca for more information and answers to frequently asked questions. |
| What should I do if my PRESTO card has been lost or stolen? |
- Contact the PRESTO Customer Service Centre immediately to have your card blocked at 1.8.PRESTO.123 (1.877.378.6123) Monday to Friday from 6am to 10pm; Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 9am to 9pm.
- Call Brampton Transit’s Lost and Found at 905.874.2732 to find out if your card has been returned. If your card is registered, you must provide verification to obtain your lost card, if found. If your anonymous card is lost, you must provide the transaction history to prove the card belongs to you, if found.
- If your card is registered, your money is protected. PRESTO Customer Service can cancel your card and transfer your stored value to a new card. You are responsible for any costs incurred on the card up to the first 24 hours after reporting it lost. There will be a $6 issuance fee to replace the card.
We recommend that you record the serial number of your PRESTO card to help us determine if a lost or stolen card is yours, should it be found and returned to us.
IMPORTANT NOTE for Registered Cardholders: If your PRESTO card is loaded with a period pass (weekly or monthly) and it becomes lost or stolen, you cannot transfer the value onto a new PRESTO card through the PRESTO Customer Service Centre or at Brampton Transit terminals and facilities. You will need to purchase a replacement card from the PRESTO website. Through this purchase, your registration, period pass and any e-purse funds remaining on the lost or stolen card, will be transferred onto the replacement card. It can take up to seven business days to receive your new card.
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| How do I register my PRESTO card? |
Registering your PRESTO card is easy!
Click here for details.
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