Complete Guide to NYC Unlimited Ride Passes

Travelling a lot is very good to plan your trips. Our use of Unlimited Ride Passes in New York City is different as the old yellow cards have been phased out. The city now has a smart system known as OMNY fare capping that can save you money. You no longer need to purchase a pass to use throughout the entire week at the beginning, you can simply tap and ride with your phone or card. After you redem your 12 rides in a week at a price of 35, any additional ride will be free until the end of the week. This is awesome since you are only charged what you are using and the system automatically stops charging you when you hit the limit. You have to use the same device/card each time so the computer can count your rides properly. That is how to receive unlimited transportation by buses and subways without any stress or money wasting.

Unlimited Ride Passes NYC Highlights

Types of Unlimited Ride Passes NYC

The 7-Day OMNY Fare Cap (The New Weekly Pass)

This is the most popular way to ride now. You don't buy a physical pass anymore. Instead, the system automatically makes your rides free.

• How it works: Pay for 12 rides in any 7-day period using the same phone or card.
• The Benefit: After the 12th ride, all other rides for the rest of that week are 100% free.
• Price: You spend a total of $35 (or $17.50 if you have Reduced Fare).

Express Bus Plus Cap

If you take the big, comfortable Express Buses, the city has a special limit for you too.

• The Cost: Once you spend $67 in a week on any combination of Express Buses, local buses, and subways, your rides become free for the rest of the week.

LIRR and Metro-North Day Passes

For the big commuter trains that go outside the city, they don't have the same "tap" system yet.

• The Day Pass: In 2026, you can buy an Unlimited Day Pass. This lets you ride that specific train line as many times as you want for one full day (until 4 a.m. the next morning).

Commuter Rail "Pay-As-You-Go"

On the LIRR and Metro-North mobile app, if you take 10 trips within 14 days, your 11th trip is free. This is like an unlimited reward for people who travel a lot but not every day.

Note on 30-Day Passes: In 2026, the old 30-Day Unlimited MetroCard is being retired. The MTA now wants everyone to use the Weekly Fare Cap because it is more flexible, and you don't have to pay a big $132 bill all at once!

7-Day Unlimited Ride Pass (OMNY)

This is a special way to ride where the city automatically gives you free rides. You don't have to buy a paper pass at the machine anymore.

• How to Start: Just tap your phone, smartwatch, or bank card at the turnstile. Your "week" starts the very first time you tap. It doesn't have to be a Monday!
• The 12-Ride Rule: You pay $3.00 for each ride. Once you pay for 12 rides (totaling $35) using the same card or phone, you have reached the “cap.”
• Free Rides: After that 12th ride, every other ride for the rest of those 7 days is 100% free.
• No Risk: If you only travel 5 times in a week, you only pay for 5 rides ($15). With the old paper pass, you would have lost money!
• Reduced Fare: If you are a senior or have a disability, your limit is even lower. You only pay for 12 rides at $1.50 each, so your week of free rides starts after you spend only $17.50.

Important Rule: You must use the same device every time. If you tap with your phone in the morning and your plastic card in the evening, the computer thinks you are two different people and won't count them together!

Where to Buy Unlimited Ride Passes NYC

Even though you don't buy a "paper pass" anymore, you can get your unlimited rides by using an OMNY card or your own device. Here is where to get them:

• Subway Vending Machines: Every station now has new OMNY vending machines. You can buy a plastic OMNY card here for $2.00. You can pay with cash, credit cards, or even your phone.
• Retail Stores: You can buy OMNY cards at many local shops like 7-Eleven, CVS, Walgreens, and many neighborhood bodegas. Just look for the OMNY sign in the window!
• Customer Service Centers: If you want to move money from an old MetroCard to a new OMNY card, you can go to these centers inside big stations like Grand Central or Times Square.
• Your Own Pocket: This is the easiest way! You don't actually need to "buy" anything. If you have a contactless bank card (with the little wave symbol) or Apple/Google Pay on your phone, you already have an unlimited pass. Just tap it at the gate!
• Mobile Sales Vans: The MTA has special white buses and vans that travel to different neighborhoods. They can help you buy cards or apply for a Reduced Fare.

Important Reminder: Once you have your card or phone ready, just keep using the same one. After you pay for 12 rides in a week ($35), the system automatically makes all your other rides free.

How Unlimited Ride Passes Work (OMNY Fare Capping)

The way it works now is called fare capping. This means the city "caps" (limits) how much money they take from you in one week.

1. Just Tap and Go: You use your phone, bank card, or a plastic OMNY card. You pay $3.00 for your first ride.
2. The Rolling Week: Your "7-day week" starts the very first time you tap. If you tap for the first time on a Wednesday, your week goes until next Tuesday night.
3. The 12-Ride Rule: Every time you ride, the system counts it.
   • Rides 1 to 11: You pay $3.00 each.
   • Ride 12: You pay only $2.00 (to reach the $35 limit).
   • Ride 13 and more: Every ride after this is totally free until your 7 days are over!
4. No Pre-Paying: Unlike the old cards, you don't have to give the MTA $35 at the start. If you only take 4 rides all week, you only pay $12. You never waste money!

The Most Important Rule

You must use the same device every time. If you use your iPhone in the morning and your Apple Watch or plastic card in the afternoon, the computer thinks you are two different people. It will not add the rides together, and you will not get your free rides!

30-Day Unlimited Ride Pass NYC

In the past, you could buy a plastic card for the whole month. But in 2026, the MTA has mostly stopped selling the 30-Day Unlimited MetroCard.

• The Big Change: You no longer pay a big amount of money (like $132) all at once at the start of the month.
• OMNY Weekly Cap: Instead of a monthly pass, the city uses a Weekly Fare Cap. Once you spend $35 in a week, the rest of your rides for that week are free.
• Monthly Math: If you ride every day for a month, you will hit the cap 4 times. This means you will spend about $140 a month.
• If you still have a card: If you bought a 30-Day MetroCard before the end of 2025, you must start using it by March 31, 2026. After April, these cards will not work anymore.
• Refunds: If you have an old monthly card that you cannot use, you can go to the MTA office and they will move that money to an OMNY card for you.

This new way is better because if you go on vacation for one week, you don't lose money on a "monthly" pass. You only pay for the weeks you actually travel!

Cost of Unlimited Ride Passes in NYC

You don't always have to pay a big amount of money before you start your week. The city now uses fare capping to give you unlimited rides.

• 7-Day Weekly Cap: This costs $35. You just pay $3.00 per ride. Once you hit 12 rides in a week, all other rides are free.
• Reduced Fare Weekly Cap: If you are a senior or have a disability, the cap is only $17.50. You pay $1.50 per ride, and after 12 rides, you ride for free.
• Express Bus Weekly Cap: If you take the big coach buses, the limit is $67. This covers all your express buses, local buses, and subways for the week.
• 30-Day "Monthly" Cost: There is no single "Monthly Pass" anymore with OMNY. If you hit the weekly cap 4 times in a month, you will spend about $140 total.
• New OMNY Card: If you want a plastic OMNY card instead of using your phone, the card itself costs $2.00 in 2026.

Remember: You must use the same phone or card for every trip. If you switch between your phone and your plastic card, the system won't know it's you and will charge you more!

FAQs

Q. Do I need to buy a weekly pass at the machine?

No. In 2026, you don't have to pay $35 at the start of the week. You just tap and go with your phone or OMNY card. The system counts your rides and stops charging you once you hit the $35 limit.

Q. When does my "unlimited week" start?

It starts the very first time you tap. If you tap on a Thursday, your "week" goes for 7 days until the next Wednesday night. It is not like the old system that always started on Monday.

Q. Can I use one card for my whole family and get free rides?

No. You can tap for up to 4 people, but only the first tap counts toward your unlimited limit. For everyone to get free rides, each person must use their own card or phone.

Q. What happened to the 30-Day Unlimited Pass?

The old 30-day card is being retired in 2026. The city now wants everyone to use the Weekly Fare Cap. This is better because if you don't travel for a few days, you don't lose money as you did with the monthly pass.

Q. Does the $35 cap include Express Buses?

No. The $35 cap is only for subways and local buses. If you take Express Buses, there is a different $67 cap that covers everything (Express, Local, and Subway).