No, MetroCards are no longer sold or refilled in NYC, but existing cards can still be used into 2026 and balances can move to OMNY.
New York City transit has moved past the yellow MetroCard era for new purchases and refills. For a visitor arriving now, the practical move is to tap a contactless credit card, debit card, phone, watch, or physical OMNY Card at the reader.
The change is simple at the turnstile but confusing if you still have an old card, need to pay with cash, or planned around a 7-Day or 30-Day Unlimited MetroCard. Here is exactly what still works, what no longer works, and the cleanest way to pay for subway and bus rides in NYC.
Buying A MetroCard Now: What Changed In NYC
MetroCard sales and refills ended in New York City on January 1, 2026. Subway station vending machines and booths no longer sell new MetroCards or add value to old ones.
The replacement is OMNY, the MTA’s tap-and-ride payment system. OMNY works with contactless bank cards, digital wallets on phones and watches, and physical OMNY Cards. Most riders do not need to sign up for an account before riding.
For tourists, the biggest change is the missing upfront pass decision. Instead of buying a weekly MetroCard, you use the same OMNY payment method every time and let the weekly fare cap handle frequent riding.
Can Existing MetroCards Still Be Used?
Existing MetroCards can still work into 2026, but the MTA has not posted the final stop date yet. Riders with value left should spend it down or transfer the remaining balance before the card expires.
A pay-per-ride MetroCard still functions like stored cash while the system accepts it. A 7-Day or 30-Day Unlimited Ride pass is different: the MTA says unlimited passes had to be started by March 31, 2026 to receive the full number of days.
Old MetroCards are now cleanup tools, not the right payment method for a new trip. Travelers who do not already have one should skip the chase and use OMNY from the first ride.
MetroCard And OMNY Choices At A Glance
New York City subway and bus riders now have one main fare system, with a few MetroCard cleanup options still open. The table below shows the choice that fits each common situation.
| Situation | Current Status | Best Move |
|---|---|---|
| Buy a new MetroCard | No longer available from January 1, 2026 | Use OMNY instead |
| Refill an old MetroCard | No longer available | Transfer value to an OMNY Card or spend remaining value |
| Use stored pay-per-ride value | Accepted into 2026 until the final date is announced | Use the balance soon |
| Use a 7-Day or 30-Day Unlimited pass | Full-use deadline was March 31, 2026 | Check refund or OMNY value options if unused |
| Pay with a phone or watch | Accepted at OMNY readers | Tap the same device every time |
| Pay with a contactless bank card | Accepted at subway gates and buses | Tap the same physical card every time |
| Pay with cash | Cash riders can use a physical OMNY Card | Buy and load an OMNY Card at a machine or retailer |
| Ride often in one week | OMNY caps subway and local bus fares at $35 in 7 days | Use one payment method for every ride |
The MTA states on its MetroCard retirement page that MetroCards can no longer be bought or refilled, while remaining balances can be transferred or reimbursed.
Where Can You Buy An OMNY Card?
OMNY Cards are the cash-friendly replacement for MetroCard, and travelers can buy or load them at subway vending machines and many retail locations. A physical OMNY Card is useful if you do not want to use a bank card, do not have a contactless card, or want to keep transit spending separate.
Visitors with a contactless credit card or debit card usually do not need a physical OMNY Card. Tapping a bank card or mobile wallet at the reader pays the same subway or local bus fare, and the fare cap works as long as every ride uses the same card or device.
Cash tip: A rider who pays with cash should use an OMNY Card, not hunt for a leftover MetroCard machine. MetroCard refills are over.
What To Do With Old Balances And Unlimited Passes
MetroCard balances should be spent, transferred, or claimed before the card’s expiration rules close the window. Each MetroCard has an expiration date printed on the back, and the MTA says the date is usually about one year from purchase.
For stored value, the cleanest option is to use the remaining fare value on subway or bus rides while MetroCards are still accepted. If you prefer to move the value, bring the MetroCard to an MTA Customer Service Center and transfer the remaining value to an OMNY Card.
For card problems, damaged cards, or refund claims, use the MTA claim process instead of asking a station agent to solve it on the spot. Pay-per-ride MetroCards are treated like cash if lost, while certain unlimited and reduced-fare cards have different protection rules.
- Damaged MetroCard: file a claim or mail the card to MetroCard Customer Claims.
- Expired MetroCard with value: ask about transferring the value to an OMNY Card.
- Lost pay-per-ride MetroCard: replacement is generally not available.
- Reduced-Fare MetroCard: use the MTA’s reduced-fare help process, since rules differ from regular cards.
Which Payment Option Fits Your NYC Trip
Most short NYC trips work better with contactless tap-and-ride than with a physical card. The main rule is to use one payment method for every ride, because OMNY’s weekly cap is tied to the same card or device.
A phone and a physical card that draw from the same bank account can still count as different payment methods. If you tap your phone on Monday and your plastic card on Tuesday, OMNY may not combine those rides toward the same cap.
Choose your payment method like this:
- One or two subway rides: tap any contactless card, phone, or watch.
- Several days of subway and bus rides: use the same OMNY payment method every time.
- Cash-only travel: buy and load an OMNY Card before your first ride.
- Old MetroCard with value: use or transfer the balance, then switch to OMNY.
- Family or group travel: expect each rider’s fare and cap tracking to work cleanest with a separate payment method.
MetroCard Answers For Airport And Regional Trips
MetroCard rules are not identical across every NYC-area ride, so check the payment method before leaving the airport or boarding a special service. The subway and local bus system now centers on OMNY, while commuter rail and airport services can have separate fare products.
Travelers landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, or Newark Liberty International Airport should plan the full route before tapping. Airport links, commuter rail tickets, and local subway fares are not always one fare system.
For a basic NYC stay, the usual pattern is easy: use OMNY for subways and buses, then buy separate tickets only when a route clearly leaves the subway and local bus network. That avoids old MetroCard confusion and keeps your fare history easier to track.
The Cleanest Choice For Most Riders
Visitors should use OMNY unless they already have a MetroCard with usable value. MetroCard is now a leftover-balance issue, not the payment system to build a NYC trip around.
Pick your payment method from this short verdict:
- Use a contactless card or phone if you want the easiest subway and bus payment.
- Buy an OMNY Card if you need to pay with cash or do not want to tap a bank card.
- Spend down an old MetroCard if it still has value and still works at the reader.
- Transfer old value at an MTA Customer Service Center if you want that balance moved to OMNY.
- Do not plan on buying a MetroCard for a new NYC visit, because sales and refills have ended.
The safest simple answer is this: tap with OMNY for new rides, handle any leftover MetroCard balance separately, and use the same card or device every time if you want the weekly cap to count correctly.
References & Sources
- Metropolitan Transportation Authority.“MetroCard.”States the current MetroCard retirement rules, balance-transfer options, and 2026 acceptance status.