About Auto-pay
With Auto-pay, MBTA customers can sign up for automatic billing for their monthly passes, so they don’t need to wait in line at a fare vending machine or sales location every month to renew their pass.
Monthly passes are available for all modes.
Reduced fare monthly passes are available for Senior and TAP program participants.
When the MBTA validates your credit card information when you sign up for Auto-pay, your name and billing address must match the information your credit card provider has on file. If the information does not match, you’ll see a message reading “Restricted Card—Fraud AVS Filtering Service” when you try to sign up. Please check that the information you entered is correct.
If you continue to have problems:
- … and your credit card is a commuter benefits card, you may need to contact the provider to verify the billing address.
- … and you have verified that the billing address and ZIP code match and continue to receive errors, please contact Customer Service at 1-888-844-0355.
Yes. For each payment, we provide an account statement that includes the date and the amount paid. We will send you an email when we process your payment.
No, we are unable to split a monthly payment across more than 1 card. Your full monthly payment will be billed to 1 credit card.
You can cancel your current Auto-pay subscription and sign up for a new one anytime.
Be sure to resume billing before the 21st of the month prior to when you'll need your monthly pass again. For example, if you plan to use your pass in September, resume billing before August 21.
We do not currently provide the ability to switch from one type of pass to another, such as from a bus pass to a LinkPass. To switch pass types, cancel Auto-pay for your current pass, then sign up for the new pass.
Please ensure that you do this before our monthly deadline of the 22nd of the month at 5 PM.
Auto-pay users can manage their subscription through MyCharlie and should no longer use the old billing portal.
The only exception is for Auto-pay users with reduced fares, who can access the billing portal here.
To report problems or get additional help, please call 1-888-844-0355 or email autopay@mbta.com. Please do not include your credit card details or personal information in any communications.
Subway and Bus Passes
No. You will be mailed a special CharlieCard for Auto-pay.
Your new CharlieCard will be mailed prior to the month you plan to use it for. For example, if you sign up in August (before the deadline of 5 PM on the 22nd) for a September pass, you should receive your pass around the 27th or 28th of August.
Please note: Cards are shipped late in the month, after the monthly billing date.
No, you will receive a new CharlieCard once. After that, your monthly LinkPass or bus pass will auto-renew on that same card.
Auto-pay LinkPasses and bus passes do not provide transfer privileges to Commuter Rail. For the same price as a monthly LinkPass, you can sign up for a Zone 1A pass. Zone 1A passes are valid for Commuter Rail travel in Zone 1A and trips on the Charlestown Ferry, as well as subway and Local Bus.
Auto-pay Express Bus passes do not provide transfer privileges to the Commuter Rail or ferry.
No, there is no need to tap your card at a vending machine or fare gate to receive your monthly pass. Passes auto-renew every month, unless you pause or cancel Auto-pay.
Auto-pay CharlieCards are deactivated if you cancel or pause your participation in the Auto-pay program, so we recommend that you use a separate CharlieCard if you want to add value. If your card has been deactivated and you had stored value on it, please call Customer Service at 1-888-844-0355 and we will issue a refund.
If your Auto-pay CharlieCard is lost, stolen, or damaged, please call Customer Service at 1-888-844-0355. We will deactivate your old card and mail you a new Auto-pay CharlieCard with your monthly pass. Please note that we cannot reimburse you for any travel expenses you may incur while you do not have your pass.
Commuter Rail and Ferry Passes
Yes. Auto-pay Commuter Rail passes come on a CharlieCard or a CharlieTicket and may also be used on the subway and Local and Express buses.
Note: Zone 1A passes are not valid on Express Bus.
Yes. Auto-pay ferry passes come on a CharlieCard or a CharlieTicket and are also valid on the subway and bus:
- Charlestown Ferry passes are sold as Commuter Rail Zone 1A passes and are valid on subway and Local Bus.
- Hingham/Hull Ferry passes are valid on subway and Local and Express buses.
Yes, all Auto-pay Commuter Rail passes may be used on the Charlestown Ferry. And Commuter Rail passes for Zone 6 and higher may also be used on the Hingham/Hull Ferry.
No, existing CharlieCards may not be used with Auto-pay. You will receive your monthly Commuter Rail or ferry pass by mail each month. It will have the eligible pass type and month printed on it.
You will receive your monthly Commuter Rail or ferry pass by mail each month. You should receive it before the month for which it is valid. For example, you should receive your pass for September around the 27th or 28th of August.
Please note: Cards are shipped late in the month, after the billing date.
Your pass will be loaded on a CharlieCard or a CharlieTicket. It will have the eligible pass type and month printed on it. You can also use your pass for subway and bus trips.
Please be careful with your pass. We are unable to replace or provide refunds for lost or stolen Commuter Rail or ferry passes.
If your pass is not working, please take the damaged or malfunctioning pass to the Commuter Rail ticket counter at North Station, South Station, or Back Bay, or to the CharlieCard store at Downtown Crossing. We will issue a replacement pass.
We must receive your pass before the 5th of the month in order to provide a refund.
You may return your unused monthly pass for a full refund as soon as you receive it. Please mail your pass to the return address on the envelope your pass arrived in.