Interac helps Canadians stay in charge of their everyday transactions. Now, many transit systems across Canada are accepting Interac Debit as a contactless method for paying your adult fare. That means you can pay using your debit card, mobile phone, or wearable device — without having to carry a dedicated fare card issued by the transit authority.
Sound convenient? Here’s what you need to know.
*Note that images and user screens displayed are for illustrative purposes only, appearance will differ based on the device you are using and your financial institution.
Before you begin, you’ll need:
- Confirmation that the transit system you’re riding has enabled transit payments using Interac Debit. See a full list of participating systems across Canada below.
- A Canadian bank account with a participating financial institution
- A debit card associated with your bank account, or a debit card provisioned in the digital wallet of your mobile phone or wearable device
Want to know how to add your debit card to your digital wallet? Click here.
Here’s what to do:
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When you enter the station or board the vehicle, hold your debit card, mobile phone or wearable device over the fare reader to pay your adult fare.
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Depending on the transit system, you will get an audible confirmation (beep) and/or visual on-screen confirmation of your payment.
At some stations, automated gates may open once your payment is accepted.
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Pay attention to the requirements of your transit agency: Some systems require you to tap the same card on a fare reader when you get off a vehicle, leave your destination stop or continue your journey on a new vehicle or in a new station.
The length of time you have to transfer to another vehicle or station to continue your journey may vary. For further details and to learn where fare transfers are accepted, reach out to the transit agency.
And that’s it – enjoy the ride!
To learn more about how Interac Debit can help make your everyday life more convenient, click here.
Check your local participating transit agency for fare information:
- Brampton Transit
- Burlington Transit
- Durham Region Transit
- Fredericton Transit
- GO Transit
- Hamilton Street Railway
- Lethbridge Transit
- MiWay (Mississauga)
- Oakville Transit
- Para Transpo (Ottawa)
- Société de transport de Laval
- Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)
- Translink (Metro Vancouver)
- Union Pearson (UP) Express
- York Region Transit
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay for transit using Interac Debit?
Yes, you can pay for your adult transit fare using Interac Debit contactless payments on select transit authorities in Canada. For a list of transit authorities that accept Interac Debit, click here.
Can I use my physical debit card to make transit payments?
Yes, if you have Interac Debit contactless payments enabled, you can use your physical debit card to pay for your adult transit fare on select transit agencies.
Can I use the digital wallet on my phone to make Interac Debit transit payments?
Yes, if your financial institution allows you to add your Interac Debit as a method of payment in your phone, you can pay for adult transit payments using your Interac Debit on your phone on select transit agencies.
Which transit fares can I pay using Interac Debit?
You can pay for your adult transit fare using Interac Debit on select transit agencies.
How much will my ride on the TTC cost when I tap with Interac Debit?
When you use Interac Debit to tap to pay when using the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), you’ll be charged the same regular adult fare for your trip as you would with a PRESTO card. Visit this page to see the current single fare price when using a debit card.
How much will my GO Transit ride cost when I tap with Interac Debit?
When you use Interac Debit to pay for your GO Transit ride, you will be charged an adult fare.** When paying with Interac Debit, you will be charged the same amount you would if you were using a PRESTO fare card***.
Note that GO Transit uses a variable fare system, where the cost varies depending on the distance you travel. Use the GO Transit trip planner to find out what your fare will be, and learn more about tapping with Interac Debit to ride GO Transit here.
How much will my UP Express ride cost when I tap with Interac Debit?
When you use Interac Debit to pay for your UP Express ride, you will be charged an adult fare.** When paying with Interac Debit, you will be charged the same amount you would if you were using a PRESTO fare card (see the current fares here). Note that UP Express uses a variable fare system, where the cost varies depending on the distance you travel.
How much will my ride cost when I tap with Interac Debit (elsewhere where available)?
The amount you pay when you tap to pay on a fare reader with Interac Debit depends on the transit agency you’re travelling with. To learn about the fare structure, check with the transit agency you’re travelling with.
Do the free transfer rules apply when I pay with Interac Debit?
In most cases, including the TTC, GO Transit, TransLink and more, you receive the same transfer window as you would receive if paying by transit card or with purchasing a ticket.
When transferring from one route, vehicle or station to another, make sure to use the same Interac Debit method to tap again when you transfer. If you initially boarded using your phone or watch’s digital wallet, tap using the same phone or watch with your digital wallet set up to pay with the same Interac Debit card.
Does Ontario’s One Fare program work with Interac Debit?
Yes, you can take advantage of the One Fare program discounts when paying with Interac Debit.
Ontario’s One Fare program allows you to just pay once when you transfer to and from the Toronto Transit Commission [TTC] to other local transit systems, so that part of the journey is free. Visit this page for more details and to learn how it works.
When you pay with Interac Debit, you’ll receive the same discount as you would when using a PRESTO card. So for example, for trips connecting between TTC and GO Transit, the TTC component of the trip will become free, regardless of travel direction (cost of TTC trip is discounted from overall trip cost).
What if I want to tap in multiple riders? Can I tap multiple times?
No, the fare reader will not accept multiple taps as an attempt to pay for multiple riders using the same payment method.
Each rider will need to use a separate Interac Debit card when paying to board (just as each rider needs their own payment method when using dedicated fare cards).
Why do transit staff need to see my debit card during payment checks?
Some transit agencies employ fare inspectors who perform spot checks to ensure that everyone aboard a vehicle or in a station has paid the required fee. An inspector may ask to see your debit card so they can use a device that can confirm whether you’ve paid your fare to use that transit system.
Note that the fare inspector (and the transit agency or city they work for) will not have access to any of your personal or account data during this process and they will not ask you to share your bank statement as proof of payment. Their card reader will only verify whether you’ve paid for your transit ride.
How can I prove to a fare inspector that I paid?
Tap the fare inspector’s verification device with the same Interac Debit payment method that you originally used to pay your fare. If you initially boarded using your phone or watch’s digital wallet, tap using the same phone or watch with your digital wallet set up to pay with the same Interac Debit card.
Note that the fare inspector (and the transit agency or city they work for) will not have access to any of your personal or account data during this process. Their card reader will only verify whether you’ve paid for your transit ride. You will not be asked to share your bank statement as proof of payment.
Can I still access senior or student discounts if I use my debit card?
When you use Interac Debit to tap to pay on a fare reader, you will be charged an adult fare.
However, depending on where you live, it may be possible to use Interac Debit as your payment method to reload a dedicated fare card that you use to pay reduced (e.g. student or senior) fares.
If I pay with Interac Debit, do I need to tap off my debit card at the end of my trip?
With some transit system, you will be required to tap off at the end of your trip (such as GO Transit and UP Express), you will need to tap off when you pay with Interac Debit with the same card or digital wallet.
It’s important to use the same Interac Debit method to tap on and off to avoid paying duplicate fares. If you tap on using your phone or watch’s digital wallet, tap off with the same phone or watch, with your digital wallet set up to pay with the same Interac Debit card.
What happens if I pay with Interac Debit and forget to tap off at the end of my trip?
If you forget to tap off, your card could be charged the fare for the longest possible journey on the transit system you used. Please connect with your transit agency for more details.
If you travel between the same two GO Train stations consistently, you can have a default trip set on with your Debit card and PRESTO account. Learn more here.
Will the transit system store any of my banking information after I tap my debit card?
No, neither the transit system nor Interac gains access to, or stores, your banking information when you tap your debit card or digital wallet to pay (just like when you pay at a store)
When you make a payment, the only data transmitted consists of payment transaction codes, not confidential details about your bank account.
Whom can I contact if there’s an issue with my Interac Debit transit payment?
If you encounter an issue or have a specific question about your Interac Debit transit payment, please contact the transit authority directly with questions.
Where can I check my transaction history? How will I recognize an Interac Debit charge for transit on my bank statement?
Your transit payment transactions will show up differently depending on the transit system you’re travelling on. For specific details, please connect with your financial institution or the transit authority directly.
* Contact your transit agency if you have questions or need more information about using Interac Debit to pay your fare.
** The Contactless Symbol is a trademark owned by and used with permission of EMVCo, LLC.
***Note: Use the same Interac Debit method to tap on and off to avoid paying duplicate fares. If you tap on using your phone or watch’s digital wallet, tap off with the same phone or watch with your digital wallet set up to pay with the same Interac Debit card.
**** To be eligible for the GO loyalty discount program, you must use the same card for each trip. Learn more here.