You can use different payment methods to pay for your fare on the STL bus network.
Debit card
Can be used to instantly pay for a single regular fare on all our buses. Transfer automatically included. Only valid on STL buses.
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- Requires a contactless-enabled debit card : all you have to do is tap your card on the terminal when you get on board (debit cards without chip are not accepted).
- The exact amount for a single regular fare is debited (no additional fees).
- No receipt is issued.
- Transfer is included on the STL bus network only (no ticket issued). Simply tap the same card on the next bus within 120 minutes (from the time you tapped your card on the first terminal). Find out more about transfers
- Option to pay for a group of up to five people, boarding at the same time, using the same debit card. You need to tap the card according to the number of people boarding with you, with a 3-second pause between each payment (up to five payments only).
IMPORTANT : A debit card payment incurs an $18.75 pre-authorization charge on your bank account. To pay for a single fare using your debit card, you need at least an $18.75 balance in your bank account.
The pre-authorization amount will appear on your bank statement the same day, and be gone the next morning. Only the amount equivalent to the number of fares paid on the day you actually made the trips will be debited from your bank account. This is similar to how pre-authorization works when motorists fill up at the gas station.
Debit card payment declined
The pre-authorization is debited from your account 15 minutes after you tap your card on the terminal when boarding the bus. This delay explains why the terminal may indicate that your debit card payment is initially accepted, even if your bank account balance is below $18.75. It’s only when you tap your debit card again on another terminal (once the 15 minutes has elapsed) that the payment will be declined. In such case, you need to use another payment method for your fare.
Collection on your account
Note that the system will try to recover the declined fare amount the next time you board the bus and pay by debit card until the required funds are available in your bank account. This debit card will be declined on the bus as long as the system is unable to withdraw the amount owing.
Solution made possible thanks to the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM).
Credit
Can be used to instantly pay for a single regular fare on all our buses. Transfer automatically included. Only valid on STL buses.
Find out more
- Requires a contactless-enabled credit card : all you have to do is tap your card on the terminal when you get on board. Only the exact amount for a single regular fare would be charged (no additional fees).
- No receipt is issued.
- Transfer is included on the STL bus network only (no ticket issued). Simply tap the same card on the next bus within 120 minutes (from the time you tapped your card on the first terminal). Find out more about transfers
Valid cards or payment methods :
- Visa or Mastercard credit cards
- Mobile payment app on iPhone (Wallet)
- Google Pay Visa on Android devices
American Express and foreign credit cards are not accepted.
Solution made possible thanks to the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM).
© Visa. Trademark of Visa International Service Association. Used under licence.
© Mastercard. Registered trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. Used under licence.
Opus card
You can load up to four different types of fares on your OPUS card. All Modes AB, ABC or ABCD, 1-, 2- and 10-trip fares can be loaded on an OPUS card or an Occasionnelle smart card. A second OPUS card may be needed in some cases. To learn more, talk to an agent at one of our metropolitan ticket offices or call our Customer Contact Centre at 450 688-6520.
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Occasionnelle chip card
Can be loaded with 1-, 2- and 10-trip Bus, All Modes AB, All Modes ABC or All Modes ABCD fares, as well as 24-hour, 3-day, Unlimited Evening, and Unlimited Weekend passes for occasional use if you do not have an OPUS card.
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- Recyclable in your home bin and valid for the number of fares loaded (cannot be reloaded once all the fares are used up).
- Non-refundable.
- Tap the card reader when boarding.
Quickly see what fares are loaded on your Occasionnelle smart card using the Chrono mobile app. Learn more about this feature.
Cash and transfer ticket
Can be used to pay for a single regular fare by dropping the exact change in the farebox. A 120-minute transfer ticket is issued upon request.
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- Exact change or higher amount accepted in the farebox.
- The driver does not give out change, paper money not accepted.
- Transfer : ask the driver for a transfer as soon as you get on the bus. Transfers are not automatically issued. A transfer allows you to change bus routes at no additional cost during your journey within a 120-minute period. The next time you get on the bus on the same journey, insert the transfer ticket in the validation slot on the farebox. Find out more about transfers
Fare collection boxes, card readers and terminals
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FAREBOX
The farebox located at the front of every bus is used for :
- cash payment
- transfer tickets
CARD READER
The card reader located to the right of the farebox is used for :
- OPUS cards
- Occasionnelle chip cards
- STL magnetic cards (issued directly by the STL in special cases)
TERMINAL
Terminals located above the card readers are used for :
Find your fare
What type of ticket do you need for using public transit in Laval, Montreal and the northern suburb? It depends on your travel habits and your age category..
Find out about the validity of transit fares
Accepted payment methods for paratransit
Do you use STL paratransit? Find out about fares and accepted payment methods
