After more than three decades, New York City’s iconic MetroCard is entering its final chapter. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has announced that MetroCard sales and distribution will end on December 31, 2025 as part of a complete transition to the contactless OMNY (One Metro New York) fare system. MTA
OMNY has been rolling out across buses and subways since 2019 and now serves as the primary way riders pay their fare. Instead of swiping a card, commuters now tap a contactless credit or debit card, smartphone, smartwatch, or physical OMNY card at entry points. The goal is to simplify the system and encourage modern fare payment methods, with all 472 subway stations expected to have OMNY vending machines by late 2025.
For riders who still want a physical card, an OMNY card currently ranges from about $1 to $5, depending on where and when you get it, with free OMNY cards being offered at select stations for the first customers who exchange their MetroCard balances. amNewYork
OMNY also introduces automatic fare capping — once you pay for 12 rides within seven days using the same contactless method, the rest of that week’s rides are free.
MetroCards will continue to be accepted into 2026 while the MTA finalizes the full transition, and riders can transfer unused MetroCard balances to OMNY or request reimbursement.
