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If you’ve been dragging your feet on switching from the trusty MetroCard to OMNY, today might be the nudge you needed. The MTA is giving out free OMNY cards—no activation fee—for one day only.
Today, all you have to do is transfer your remaining MetroCard balance at any of the system’s 16 customer service centers. The first 400 customers at each location score a free card and transfers happen on the spot.
With MetroCard sales officially ending on December 31, OMNY will take over completely in 2026. The MTA is trying to make the transition a little smoother (and a little less expensive) as riders tap their way into the future. The cards won’t come preloaded with free rides—you’ll just get the balance you already have—but the purchase fee is waived, which feels like a tiny early holiday present.
The customer service centers stretch across all five boroughs, including Times Square-42 Street, Grand Central-42 Street, Fulton Street, Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center, Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue, Fordham Road, Flushing-Main Street and St. George on Staten Island. Most of these centers are staffed 24/7 and can also help straphangers enroll in Fair Fares or reduced-fare programs as well as troubleshoot OMNY machines.
More centers are on the way, too: 14 new locations are expected to open later this year. When those make their debut, the first 400 riders to stop by and transfer their MetroCard balance will also get a fee-waived OMNY card.
“As we prepare to say goodbye to the MetroCard, we want to make sure customers are aware of all the resources available at our growing number of customer service centers,” said Shanifah Rieara, the MTA’s chief customer officer, in an official statement. NYC Transit president Demetrius Crichlow added that agents are standing by to help riders make the switch to tap-and-ride.
While MetroCards will still be accepted through 2026, their swipe-by date is officially approaching. Today’s giveaway is your chance to make the leap without paying the fee for the privilege.