You can now tap your credit card on Presto machines to pay GO Transit fares

A little over two years after GO Transit first began testing new Presto card readers, the transit agency is rolling out a long-awaited tap payment method — credit card.

The move comes after a successful pilot program on the UP Express that was launched last year.

Customers can now pay their GO fares by tapping their credit cards on Presto devices at the beginning of their trip and when they get off at their destination — the same tap on-tap off system they are used to, except without the need for a separate, preloaded Presto card.

If they prefer, customers can also tap their phones or watches on Presto readers to pay through the credit card attached to their mobile wallets. The transit agency says it’s important to use the same card, phone or watch to tap on and tap off to avoid possibly paying twice.

The same applies to the GO loyalty discount program, which gives customers an automatic 15 per cent (or more) discount every time they pay with their credit cards, based on the number of trips they make in a calendar month. Customers who use their credit cards must use the same device to pay each time throughout the entire month to qualify for the discount program.

If a physical card is used one week but a phone is used the next week, they will be seen as separate entities and one week of travel will be recorded on each, even if the mobile wallet is connected to the same credit card being used. In other words, trips taken on a Presto card, a mobile wallet or a credit card cannot be combined for the purposes of the discount.

A Presto account isn’t required to tap credit cards for payment, but Metrolinx says there are some features you may find useful if you create one.

For example, with an account customers can view their transaction history on the Presto website or app. Those with an account can see detailed histories while those without only have access to one week’s worth of transactions.

As of now, contactless payment with credit cards has been rolled out on GO Transit, Brampton Transit, MiWay and Oakville Transit. Metrolinx says the option will be extended to more transit agencies in a phased manner, including the TTC, and debit payment options are also coming soon. Currently, no specific timelines are available for those expansion plans.

Metrolinx says you can still use your Presto card if preferable and in most cases, frequent travellers will still benefit from using it regularly with access to concessions like youth, student and senior discounts.

They say introduction of credit card tapping gives people another way to pay and they hope it will add to the ease of use for their customers.

“We’ve heard customers when they’ve asked for more flexible and convenient ways to pay their fare, and Presto contactless payment is just the latest customer improvement to deliver this,” Metrolinx said in a statement.