TTC fare capping starts on September 1, 2026. After you pay for 47 TTC trips in one calendar month, the rest of your TTC trips that month are free. You don't need to register. You do need to use the same card or the same phone for every tap.
Our verdict is simple. Fare capping is better than the old monthly pass for most riders because you can't overpay. If you take fewer than 47 paid trips, you only pay for what you use. If you reach 47, the cap protects you. The biggest trap is changing payment methods halfway through the month. The TTC will not combine taps from your PRESTO card, credit card and phone.
The short answer
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| When does TTC fare capping start? | September 1, 2026 |
| What is the cap? | 47 paid TTC trips in one calendar month |
| What happens after trip 47? | Later TTC trips that month cost $0, but you must still tap |
| Do transfers count as extra trips? | No. Taps inside the two-hour transfer window stay part of the same paid trip |
| Do GO Transit trips count? | No. Only journeys that start on the TTC count toward the TTC cap |
| Can I mix a card and phone? | No. Each card, device and payment method keeps a separate count |
| Do cash fares count? | No |
| Does the count roll into next month? | No. It resets on the first day of each month |
The cap is automatic. There is no form, membership or special fare product to buy.
Our honest take
This change fixes the worst part of the old monthly pass. Riders used to gamble at the start of every month. Buy the pass and you could waste money if you got sick, worked from home or went away. Skip the pass and a busy month could cost more.
Fare capping removes that gamble. You pay as you go until the cap. That is the right system.
It is not perfect. Forty-seven trips is still a lot for someone who works part time or travels only three days a week. Open payment users also do not get a clear TTC alert when they hit the cap. The TTC should make that easier to see.
What counts as one paid trip?
Your first tap starts a two-hour transfer window. You can change between TTC buses, streetcars, subway trains and LRT lines during that window. Those extra taps do not create extra paid trips.
For example, you tap onto a bus at 8 a.m. You enter the subway at 8:20 a.m. You tap onto a streetcar at 9:15 a.m. All three taps are inside two hours of the first one. That is one paid trip toward the monthly cap.
If you tap again after the transfer window ends, that starts another paid trip.
The important number is paid trips, not taps. You may tap 80 times and have only 40 paid trips.
The same payment method rule matters more than anything else
Use the exact same payment method all month. That means the same physical PRESTO card, the same credit card, the same debit card or the same card in the same mobile wallet.
A physical credit card and that card in Apple Wallet are treated as different payment methods. A credit card in your phone and the same card in your watch can also be treated as different devices. Two PRESTO cards on the same account keep separate counts.
This is the easiest way to lose the benefit by accident.
Pick one method on the first day of the month. Keep using it. Put a note in your phone if you need to.
Which payment types qualify?
These payment methods can earn the cap:
- a physical PRESTO card
- a digital PRESTO card in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet
- an Interac debit card
- a credit card accepted by the TTC
- an eligible debit or credit card in a mobile wallet
- the reduced Fair Pass fare on a PRESTO card, if you are approved for the program
Cash fares do not count. Paper transfers do not count. PRESTO Tickets do not count.
If you often pay cash, fare capping gives you a strong reason to switch to a reusable PRESTO card or open payment. Cash also does not include the TTC's two-hour transfer.
How much can you spend before the cap?
The total depends on the fare category attached to your payment method. Multiply the current single fare by 47 to understand the most you will pay for eligible TTC trips in a calendar month.
For an adult using PRESTO or open payment at $3.30 per paid trip, 47 trips cost $155.10. The 48th and later TTC trips in that month cost nothing.
That is a ceiling, not a fee. If you take 30 paid trips, you pay for 30. The TTC does not charge the difference at the end of the month.
Check the current TTC fares page before relying on any dollar amount. Fare prices can change even when the 47-trip rule stays the same.
Who will hit 47 trips?
Someone who pays for two trips on five workdays each week will usually make about 40 to 46 paid trips in a month. That person may fall just short of the cap.
Someone who commutes five days a week and adds a few weekend trips will usually reach it. A rider who goes to work three days a week probably will not.
Here are simple examples. Real months vary because they have different numbers of weekdays.
| Travel pattern | Approximate paid trips | Likely result |
|---|---|---|
| Office 2 days a week, two trips each day | 16 to 20 | Far below the cap |
| Office 3 days a week, two trips each day | 24 to 28 | Below the cap |
| Office 5 days a week, two trips each day | 40 to 46 | Often just below the cap |
| Daily commute plus weekly weekend outing | 48 to 54 | Likely to hit the cap |
| Two paid trips every day | About 60 | Several free trips after the cap |
The cap helps frequent riders most. It still helps occasional riders because they no longer need to guess whether a pass will pay off.
What happened to TTC monthly passes?
The TTC discontinued Adult, Youth, Senior and Fair Pass monthly passes on August 31, 2026. Youth and Senior 12-month passes also ended.
The Adult 12-month pass and Post-secondary monthly pass remain available. That creates a real choice for those riders.
Do not assume an existing pass will renew as before. Check your PRESTO account and the official TTC notice. If you used autoload for a monthly pass, confirm what is now active on your card.
Fare capping versus the Adult 12-month pass
For most adults, pay as you go with fare capping is safer. It adjusts to your actual travel. A 12-month pass makes you commit even when your life changes.
The Adult 12-month pass may still suit someone who travels heavily every month and wants a fixed transit budget. Read the cancellation and commitment terms before choosing it. Do not lock yourself in based only on one busy month.
Our pick is fare capping for anyone with an uneven schedule. Choose the 12-month pass only when your TTC use is high, steady and unlikely to change.
How the cap works with One Fare
Ontario's One Fare program and the TTC monthly cap are separate.
If a journey starts on the TTC, that paid TTC journey can count toward the cap. If a journey starts on GO Transit or another participating local transit agency, it does not count as a paid TTC trip toward the cap, even when your TTC connection is included through One Fare.
That detail can change how a regional commuter reaches 47. Two people taking the same vehicles may build their counts differently because they begin their trips on different agencies.
Always tap with the same payment method when using One Fare. On GO Transit, remember to tap off unless your trip has a valid default trip setting.
Does Wheel-Trans count?
Eligible Wheel-Trans trips count when you tap using a qualifying payment method. You still need to use the same card or device for the entire month.
If a trip includes a conventional TTC connection, keep tapping as required. The transfer window still matters.
Do children count toward a family cap?
No. There is no household or family cap. Each eligible payment method keeps its own trip count.
Children age 12 and under ride the TTC free, but they may be asked for proof of age. Older family members each need their own payment method. You cannot tap the same card several times to build separate caps for several people.
How to check your progress
Registered PRESTO users have the clearest view. Sign in to your PRESTO account or app and look for the TTC loyalty or fare-capping summary.
If you pay with a debit or credit card, the TTC says you need to track your paid trips yourself. There is no automatic notification promised for open payment users.
A basic note in your phone works. Count only first taps that create a new fare, not every transfer. Your bank statement can help, but pending and grouped transactions may make it harder to read in real time.
The easiest method is still a registered PRESTO card. It gives you a travel record and protects the balance if the card is lost.
Five mistakes that can stop you from reaching the cap
1. Switching between a card and a phone
The system sees two payment credentials. The counts do not join.
2. Using two PRESTO cards
Even if both cards belong to you, each card builds its own count.
3. Paying cash on some days
Cash trips do not count. They also do not move you closer to 47.
4. Thinking every tap is a paid trip
Transfers inside two hours do not add another paid trip. Do not expect to hit the cap after 47 taps.
5. Forgetting the calendar reset
The count goes back to zero on the first day of the month. It is not a rolling 30-day cap.
What happens after you reach 47?
Keep tapping every time you enter a station, board a bus or streetcar, or use a Line 5 or Line 6 platform that requires a tap. Your fare should display as free for the rest of that calendar month.
The tap is still your proof of payment. Fare inspectors need to see the same card or device you used. A free trip after the cap is not permission to skip the reader.
If you are charged after you believe you reached 47, first check whether you changed cards or devices. Then review your paid trip history. Contact PRESTO or the TTC with the dates, payment method and trip details if the charge still looks wrong.
A better way to plan your month
Do not chase the cap by taking trips you do not need. The cap is a limit on spending, not a prize.
Use one payment method. Tap normally. Check your count once a week. That is all most riders need to do.
For a rider with a changing schedule, this is the best TTC fare option. For a rider who travels every day, it behaves like a monthly pass without the risk of buying one too soon.
Keep exploring Toronto
- Why Uber can take so long in Toronto and the best backup options
- The best walkable GO Train day trips from Toronto
- Where to find public washrooms across Toronto
Official pages to check
Prices, rules, hours and project details can change. Check these primary pages before you spend money or make a special trip:
Frequently asked questions
Does TTC fare capping mean the 47th trip is free?
No. You pay for the first 47 eligible trips. The 48th and later eligible TTC trips in that calendar month are free.
Do I need to register my PRESTO card for fare capping?
No. An unregistered PRESTO card can earn the cap. Registration is still smart because it lets you review travel and protect your balance if the card is lost.
Can the TTC combine trips from my PRESTO card and credit card?
No. Each card or device has its own count. Pick one and use it for every TTC tap that month.
Do two-hour transfers count as more than one trip?
No. Taps within the two-hour window are part of one paid trip. A new paid trip begins only after that window ends.
Do GO Transit trips count toward the TTC cap?
No. Only eligible journeys that start on the TTC count toward the TTC cap. One Fare can make a connection free without turning it into a paid TTC trip.
Do I still tap after my trips become free?
Yes. Tap every time. The tap confirms your free fare and acts as proof of payment.
Does the TTC cap reset 30 days after my first trip?
No. It resets on the first day of every calendar month, no matter when your first trip happened.