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.

PRESTO FAQ's

How does PRESTO Work?

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 or online at prestocard.ca.

What are the benefits of PRESTO?

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.

How do I use PRESTO?

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 $6 non-refundable issuance fee upon purchase.

Step 2: Create a My PRESTO Account
If you want to create a My PRESTO Account, you must wait 24 hours after you purchase your card from a Brampton Transit terminal/facility.

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

24 hours after you create your My PRESTO Account online, you must tap on to any PRESTO device* within 30 days to complete the My 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 MY PRESTO Account for your PRESTO card, cards without an account can be set with the youth or senior discounted fares.

How do PRESTO transfers work?

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.

How much time do I have to transfer using PRESTO?

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.

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.

Who can I contact for more information?

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.