New York City’s transportation system is closing a historic chapter with the final retirement of the MetroCard, the iconic payment card in use since 1994, and fully adopting the OMNY (One Metro New York) contactless payment system. Starting December 31, 2025, traditional MetroCards will no longer be sold or reloaded, and riders will be required to use contactless cards, smartphones, or smart devices to pay for subway and bus rides.
The new technology is already widely implemented, with more than 90% of trips currently paid using OMNY, allowing passengers to simply tap and go without swiping physical cards.
This transition not only improves efficiency and speeds up boarding times, but also aligns New York with other major global cities that have embraced modern, digital payment solutions for public transportation.
What will happen to MetroCards that still have remaining balance?
Existing cards will remain valid through part of 2026, and riders will be able to transfer unused balances to OMNY or request a refund before MetroCards are fully phased out.
