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PRESTO

PRESTO

​​​​​​​​​​​​PRESTO is an electronic payment system that makes travelling on transit faster and easier. With the tap of a card, you can securely pay your fare while travelling within and between participating transit systems across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) and Ottawa area.

Want to know more? For information on how to get started, FAQs and more, visit the PRESTO website.

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 PRESTO FAQ's

PRESTO uses smartcard technology to collect and process payments. With a single card, you can pay fares on several transit systems – no cash, or paper tickets/passes required.

The card stores a pre-loaded dollar amount called your card balance. Each time you travel, the cost of the trip is deducted from your card’s balance.

Brampton Transit passes can be loaded onto a PRESTO card at Brampton Transit terminals/facilities​, online at prestocard.ca, or through the PRESTO app​.

​PRESTO has many benefits. Below are just a few main ones:

  • Creating a PRESTO account helps protect your card balance. If your card is ever lost or stolen, the money can be transferred to a replacement card. 
  • Using a PRESTO card simplifies fare payments. No more cash, paper tickets or passes to worry about. Plus, you can use it across 11 transit agencies in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) and Ottawa area.

Step 1: Purchase a Card
Purchase a PRESTO card online or at one of the following Brampton Transit terminals/facilities: 
  • Bramalea Terminal - 160 Central Park Drive
  • Downtown Brampton Terminal - 8 Nelson Street
  • Brampton Gateway Terminal - 501 Main Street South
  • Clark Transit Facility - 185 Clark Boulevard
  • Sandalwood Transit Facility - 130 Sandalwood Parkway West

There is a $4 non-refundable issuance fee upon purchase.

You can get a new PRESTO card in your Apple Wallet or Google Wallet for free through the PRESTO app or directly from your phone’s Wallet app.

Step 2: Create a PRESTO Account
If you want to create a PRESTO Account, you must wait up to 24 hours after purchasing your physical PRESTO card from a Brampton Transit terminal or facility to register it. However, if you're using a Mobile Wallet, registration is instant.​

You can create your PRESTO Account online or by mail. PRESTO Account forms are available online or at Brampton Transit terminals.

24 hours after you create your PRESTO Account online, you must tap on to any PRESTO device* within 30 days to complete the PRESTO Account set-up.

*PRESTO devices include: Balance checkers at Brampton Transit terminals and facilities or fare payment devices on Brampton Transit buses. Use the fare payment device to activate your account only if it’s part of your trip, as it will deduct a fare upon tap.

Step 3: Set Discounted Fare Types 
Although it’s recommended that you create a PRESTO Account for your PRESTO card, cards without an account can be set with the youth or senior discounted fares.

Learn more about PRESTO Fare Types.

Step 4: Load your PRESTO card
You can load your PRESTO card instantly through the PRESTO app or in person at a Customer Service Outlet or vending machine. You can also load your PRESTO card online.

Step 5: How to Pay with PRESTO
Tap your PRESTO card, or your phone or watch if you’re using PRESTO in Mobile Wallet, on a PRESTO fare device at your station or when you board a vehicle. Tap again each time you transfer. If you’re taking GO Transit or UP Express, make sure to tap when you finish your trip as well.

PRESTO in Mobile Wallet is a digital PRESTO card saved into the Apple Wallet app on your iPhone smartphone. With PRESTO in Mobile Wallet, you can tap your smartphone or smartwatch to pay your transit fare. You can use PRESTO in Mobile Wallet to pay your fare anywhere you can use a physical PRESTO card in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. PRESTO in Mobile Wallet is not currently accepted by OC Transpo.

PRESTO in Mobile Wallet makes it even easier to pay for transit with your phone or watch.

PRESTO in Mobile Wallet also lets you:

  • Load funds and check balance instantly, without having to tap on a PRESTO device to add the funds
  • Set up Autoload and Autorenew
  • Set a GO Default Trip
  • Load transit passes
  • Protect your balance
  • Add a discounted fare type (Child fare types are not available with PRESTO in Mobile Wallet)
Learn more about PRESTO in Apple Wallet​.

PRESTO in Google Wallet is a digital version of your PRESTO card that is available for Android (Google) users. Android users may convert their existing Physical PRESTO card to a Digital PRESTO card (PRESTO in Google Wallet), or they may obtain a new Digital PRESTO card (PRESTO in Google Wallet). This is optional, and Android customers can continue to use a physical PRESTO card if preferred.

There are several benefits to PRESTO in Google Wallet, including Android (Google) customers being able to:
  • Pay their transit fare using their Android smartphone​
  • Make and see changes to their PRESTO card instantly
  • Utilize autoload and auto-renew features within the PRESTO app
  • Set up multiple fare types
  • Continue to enjoy the same discounts as on their physical PRESTO card​
  • Benefit from a $0 issuance fee for PRESTO in Google Wallet
Learn more about PRESTO in Google Wallet​.

You can transfer to another Transit Agency using your card balance or a Brampton Transit pass loaded on your PRESTO card. A 2-hour transfer is valid from the time of issue.

Your card can be loaded with both a card balance and one transit pass per Transit Agency. When travelling outside of Brampton with a transit pass, once the 2-hour transfer has expired, you’ll be required to pay with your card balance or transit pass of that Transit Agency for your return trip.

Tap the PRESTO payment device each time you board a bus. Transfers are valid for two hours from the time of your first tap. If you board other vehicles within two hours, your tap counts as a transfer, and no money is deducted.

PRESTO will calculate and deduct the One 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.​

For PRESTO customer service, call 1.8.PRESTO.123 (1.877.378.6123), or visit prestocard.ca for more information and answers to frequently asked questions​.

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