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How to pay your fare

Your guide to the Capital Metro fareboxes and magnetic farecards.

Day Pass

Request a Day Pass from the bus operator BEFORE YOU INSERT YOUR MONEY.
  • The day pass will print and issue from the top of the farebox (fig.1) with date and time you boarded and the expiration time.
  • Use the Day Pass on your connecting bus or on your return trip by swiping it through the card reader (fig. 2). The farebox will alert you and the bus operator if the card has expired.
  • Day Passes are valid for unlimited rides for up to twenty-four hours.
image of barebox to insert pass

Stored Value Card

$15 worth of rides for $12.
  • Insert card into the top of farebox (fig.1).
  • The unit will deduct the value of your fare and print your current balance on the back of the card.
  • You always know how much value remains.
image of barebox to swipe pass

Monthly passes

Unlimited rides - one low price.
  • Swipe the pass with magnetic stripe down, facing you (fig. 2).
  • The farebox will accept the pass or alert you and the bus operator if the pass has expired.
  • Passes are still good for unlimited rides for a full calendar month.

University of Texas

Students, faculty and staff ride free with current ID.
  • Swipe ID with magnetic stripe down, facing you (fig. 2).
  • The farebox will accept the ID or alert you and the bus operator if ID has no magnetic stripe.
  • Use ID as a "Flash" pass on UT shuttle routes.

City of Austin Employees

City of Austin employees ride free with a valid city-issued Capital Metro card. Swipe ID with magnetic stripe down, facing you (fig 2).

Cash fares

Still $.75 on most routes.
  • Insert coins or bills one at a time.
  • Exact change required. Bus operator cannot give change.
  • Capital Metro does not issue transfers. If you need to transfer to another bus, a Day Pass is the way to go!

Capital Metro-issued IDs for Seniors, Medicare and Disability Fare Card holders

Passengers with eligible disabilities, Medicare card holders and Seniors 65 and over can ride free on any regular fixed route service with a valid Capital Metro-issued ID, which can be purchased for $5 at the Capital Metro Transit Store.
  • There’s no need to swipe these cards at the farebox. Simply touch the card to the “bull’s-eye” area on the front of the farebox.


line seperatorCapital Metropolitan Transportation Authority
2910 East 5th Street | Austin, Texas 78702 | (512) 389-7400
Specific Route Information | (512) 474-1200