Frequently Asked Questions About SmarTrip® and SmartBenefits®

What is SmartBenefits®?
What's the advantage of using a SmarTrip® card?
Where can I buy a SmarTrip® card?
Why do I have to pay $5 for a SmarTrip® card?
Where can I use my SmarTrip® card?
What if my transit provider doesn't accept SmarTrip® cards?
What if my employer doesn't offer SmartBenefits®?
How can my employer enroll in SmartBenefits®?
How can employers find out more about SmartBenefits®?
How do I register my SmarTrip® card?
How do I load value onto my SmarTrip® card?
I have requested a transfer of funds from a lost, stolen, or non-working card to a new card. How long will it take for the transfer to occur?
How can employees find out more about SmartBenefits®?
What do I need to know about the new SmartBenefits® vouchers?
How do Senior or Persons with Disabilities SmarTrip® cards work with SmartBenefits®?
What to do about Metrocheks after March 31, 2009?
Will the SmarTrip® card limit increase beyond $300 with the recent increase of the transit benefit allowance from $120 to $230 monthly?

What is SmartBenefits®?

SmartBenefits® is a convenient Web-based program that lets employers assign the dollar value of employees' monthly commuting benefit directly to the employees' SmarTrip® cards. This can be done right from your computer using our website. With SmartBenefits®, you'll immediately eliminate the need to distribute Metrocheks to Metrorail, Metrobus, most regional bus systems, and van pool commuters.

Van pool operators, van pool passengers, D & B Bus/Quick's Commuter Service passengers, MARC and VRE riders can switch fare payments from paper Metrocheks to electronic SmartBenefits®.

What's the advantage of using a SmarTrip® card?

With a registered SmarTrip® card, there are no more worries about demagnetized and damaged paper cards or lost cards. A lost or damaged SmarTrip® card can be replaced with its remaining Metro value at the time it was reported lost for a $5 replacement fee. To report a lost card, call 1-888-SMARTRIP (1-888-762-7874) or send us email. If you use SmartBenefits® and your SmarTrip® card is lost, be sure to provide your new registered SmarTrip® card serial number to your employer.

Where can I buy a SmarTrip® card?

SmarTrip® cards are available for $5 at locations around the region, including 30 area Giant Food Stores, CVS/pharmacy, Metro sales offices and commuter stores for $10 (including $5 value), through vending machines at all Metro stations where parking is available, and online. If you'd like further assistance to find out where you can buy a SmarTrip® card at a location near you, call the SmarTrip® Regional Customer Service Center at 1-888-762-7874 or visit our SmarTrip® page.

Why do I have to pay $5 for a SmarTrip® card?

SmarTrip® cards cost $5 because of the cost to produce the permanent, rechargeable farecard. It's plastic, like a credit card, and is embedded with a special computer chip that keeps track of the value of the card.

Where can I use my SmarTrip® card?

In addition to Metrorail and Metrobus, SmarTrip® is now accepted on ART-Arlington Transit, City of Fairfax's CUE bus, City of Alexandria's DASH bus, DC Circulator, PRTC-OmniRide, Fairfax Connector, Loudoun County Transit, Montgomery County's Ride On bus, Prince George's County TheBus and City of Falls Church GEORGE Bus.

If you are a commuter on D&B Bus/Quick's Commuter, Martz/National Coach, CommuterDirect services, and registered vanpools, you will need to allocate your monthly benefits by using the SmartBenefits® Passengers Allocation process. To learn more, see our Claiming Benefits page.

What if my transit provider doesn't accept SmarTrip® cards?

SmartBenefits® is offering SmartBenefits® vouchers for customers whose transit providers do not yet accept SmarTrip® cards. VRE and MARC Rail have a program with Metro and CommuterDirect.com to mail VRE & MARC Rail tickets to SmartBenefits® employee participants. To participate in this program, apply for a new SmartBenefits® MARC & VRE passenger account.

What if my employer doesn't offer SmartBenefits®?

If your employer doesn't offer SmartBenefits®, you can still take advantage of the security and convenience of SmarTrip®. Any dollar amount you put on the card will be protected as long as you register your SmarTrip® card.

How can my employer enroll in SmartBenefits®?

Your employer must complete the online SmartBenefits® application. After, the employer submits the application, we will return the appropriate forms to the employer for signature approval based on the payment information provided. Upon receipt of the signed forms, your employer will be assigned a customer account number, user ID, and password.

How can employers find out more about SmartBenefits®?

Employers can attend a free SmartBenefits® employer seminar at Metro Headquarters, 600 5th Street, NW, Washington, DC, and learn all about SmartBenefits® and how to administer the transit benefit over the Internet. To find out when the next seminar will take place register, you can go to the seminar registration page. For more information, call 202-962-1326 and select option 3, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

How do I register my SmarTrip® card?

Register your SmarTrip®card online by filling out the SmarTrip® Card Registration Form. Be sure to write down the serial number printed on the back of your SmarTrip® card when you register the card. If your card is ever lost or stolen, you'll need to provide Metro with the serial number.

How do I load value onto my SmarTrip® card?

You can add value to your SmarTrip® card at any Metro station's Passes/Farecards machine, aboard Metrobus, and aboard all regional buses that accept SmarTrip® payment. To learn more, watch a short video that explains how to add value to your SmarTrip® card.

I have requested a transfer of funds from a lost, stolen, or non-working card to a new card. How long will it take for the transfer to occur?

Transfers of this type may take up to 2 or 3 business days to complete. Please call or email the SmarTrip® Regional Customer Service Center (RCSC) for instructions.

How can employees find out more about SmartBenefits®?

Ask your employer if your company offers SmartBenefits®. If your employer does, someone in your benefits department should be able to explain how the program works. You can also learn more by visiting the SmartBenefits® website or calling 202-962-1326 and selecting option 3, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

What do I need to know about the new SmartBenefits® vouchers?

The new vouchers are available in three separate denominations: $1, $10, and $30. For more information, please see Metrocheks Are Coming To An End.

SmartBenefits® vouchers cannot be exchanged for the following fare products: Metrobus Tokens - $13.50, School Tokens - $6.25, SmartStudent Pass - $26, Senior and Disabled Farecards - $10, SmarTrip cards, and regular farecards. The table below details each pass that can be exchanged for SmartBenefits® vouchers.

Metrobus Weekly Pass	$11
Metrobus Weekly Disabled Pass	$6
Metrobus Weekly Senior Pass	$6
One Day Pass	$7.80
Weekly Short Trip Pass	$26.40
Weekly Fast Pass	$39
MetroAccess Pack	$12.50

You can also learn more about the new SmartBenefits® vouchers by calling 202-962-1326 and selecting option 3, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

How do Senior or Persons with Disabilities SmarTrip® cards work with SmartBenefits®?

First, you must provide your employer with the serial number located on the back your SmarTrip® card. Second, be sure to write down your number printed on the back of your SmarTrip® card.

The Senior SmarTrip® and Person with Disabilities SmarTrip® cards are specially encoded to automatically deduct the reduced fare each time you use a SmarTrip® card.

Note: If you currently have a Reduced Fare SmarTrip® card, you should not purchase the Senior SmarTrip® card unless your card is lost, stolen or damaged.

What to do about Metrocheks after March 31, 2009?

You may continue to transfer unused Metrocheks onto your SmarTrip® card. Metrocheks valued less than $7 can be transferred to a SmarTrip® card. After March 31, 2009, you may continue using Metrocheks like regular farecards on the Metrorail system. New changes do not impact your unused Metrocheks.

Will the SmarTrip card limit increase beyond $300 with the recent increase of the transit benefit allowance from $120 to $230 monthly?

No, the SmarTrip® card limit will remain at $300. The vast majority of Metro's customers who receive transit benefits are not affected by this change. A smaller group of customers receive both transit and parking benefits may have to download the SmartBenefits® incrementally on their SmarTrip® card during the benefit month.