Adelaide metroCARD
Adelaide metroCARDs are rechargeable plastic cards that you can use to travel on buses, trains and trams.
You can create your account or manage your Adelaide metroCARD online via the link below.
metroCARDs and products associated with the metroCARD system are non-refundable.
We've updated our metroCARD website, learn more here: Easier metroCARD management
- Regular metroCARD: $5 for a physical card.
- Concession metroCARD: $3.50 for a physical card.
- Student metroCARD: $3.50 for a physical card.
Regular, Concession and Student metroCARDs require a minimum credit load of $5 before it can be used. You can recharge any metroCARD in blocks of $5-$10 up to $200.
You must validate your metroCARD every time you get on a bus, train or tram or when you enter or exit barrier gates at selected stations.
To validate your metroCARD, hold it in front of the validator, or the mark on barrier gates, and wait for the solid green light and/or high-pitched sound that tells you it has worked.
You don’t need to validate your metroCARD when you leave a vehicle.
Adelaide metroCARDs can be recharged in $5-$10 blocks up to $200. You can either recharge as you go or set up an auto recharge.
If you recharge in person or using a vending machine, your funds will be available immediately. If you recharge online or over the phone, the funds will be available in one hour and will load onto your metroCARD when you next validate it.
You need to validate the metroCARD within 3 months of buying a recharge.
Recharge as you go
You can add funds to your metroCARD as you need them via a recharge. For more information see our Adelaide Metro fares page.
I have added an auto recharge but it’s not showing up in my account
Auto recharge automatically credits your metroCARD with your chosen amount when your balance drops below $5.
You will need to validate your card on a bus, train, tram or at barrier gates for the new amount to show in your account.
How do I know when auto recharge has worked?
When you validate your metroCARD the validator will flash both green and yellow lights to show it has automatically recharged the metroCARD, and the new balance will show on screen.
If your auto recharge fails, we will contact you via the email listed in your metroCARD account. If you don’t pay by the due date, we will cancel the auto recharge.
Your metroCARD will also be subject to cancellation if your debt remains unpaid.
Updating a bank card
If you would like to change your payment method you can update your bank card within your online Adelaide metroCARD account. Please note that by doing this you will update the payment method for all active auto recharges within your account.
You can update your bank card used for auto recharge via our customer care team or via your online metroCARD account.
Online
To update your bank card online you can follow these easy steps
- Login to your metroCARD account
- Go to ‘Manage my account’
- Select ‘Update payment method’
- Enter your NEW bank card details and update
Please note that by updating your bank card in your metroCARD account you will be making your new bank card your preferred payment option for all auto recharges active in your account.
InfoLine or InfoCentre
If you would like to change your bank card via our InfoLine or InfoCentre you will
be charged for a new Auto recharge, however this will be added to your metroCARD as a recharge as well as updating your credit card details.
You can buy or recharge a metroCARD at many locations across Adelaide, use our service finder to find your nearest location.
Manual recharge
On-board vending machines accept credit/debit cards and coins. Vending machines at stops and stations don’t accept cash.
If you have a South Australian Seniors Card, it is also a metroCARD. You can’t buy these cards from retailers but you can apply for a Seniors Card online or call the Seniors Unit on 1800 819 961 for more information.
As an Adelaide metroCARD account holder, you can:
- register and manage up to eight metroCARDs,
- transfer the balance of a lost or stolen metroCARD to a new card,
- recharge any metroCARDs registered to your account,
- buy 14-day and 28-day passes online,
- manage automatic recharges for multiple cards,
- check and manage metroCARD balances,
- check transaction histories,
- update personal details, such as your password, bank card, email and phone number,
- authorise us to give other people limited access to your account, such as your, child, partner or parent.*
*Please note, this is only via phone or in-person. They cannot be granted limited access to your online account, modify your account details, cancel or remove metroCARDs from your account.
A metroCARD account must be in the name of the person who will be managing the metroCARD/s and paying for any recharges or passes.
To create an account, you will need:
- a valid email address,
- the 17-digit number on the back of your metroCARD,
- the 7-digit number on your Seniors Card. Include the word ‘SENIOR_’ and the seven-digit number on the card, e.g. SENIOR_1234567.
Set up a metroCARD account now
Password problems
If you have an account and forget your password, you can reset it online.
If you need to talk to us about your password or account, please call the InfoLine on 1300 311 108 or visit the Adelaide Metro InfoCentre at the Adelaide Railway Station.
If you need to add an email address to your Seniors Card account, please contact the Seniors Unit on 1800 819 961.
You need to call the Adelaide Metro InfoLine on 1300 311 108 or visit the InfoCentre at the Adelaide Railway Station if you want to:
- cancel a metroCARD,
- remove a metroCARD from your account,
- change the name on your metroCARD account,
- transfer funds between metroCARDs,
- pay a debt on your metroCARD account.
Please ensure the registered account holder is present to complete an identification check.
When you validate your metroCARD on a bus, train or tram, watch the screen. The validator will display the metroCARD balance.
You can also check your metroCARD balance:
If you've just topped up your metroCARD balance at the InfoCentre or using a vending machine, your new funds will be available immediately.
If you recharged online or by phone, your new funds will be available in an hour. Please note your metroCARD account updates overnight, which means any recharges you buy or trips you do in one day won't display in your account until the next day.
To transfer the balance from one metroCARD to another, visit the InfoCentre in the Adelaide Railway Station.
Unless the card is faulty, we can only transfer balances to/from registered metroCARDs and you need to be the registered account holder.
Please bring the metroCARD/s with you.
If you’re transferring from an existing metroCARD to a new one you will need to buy the new metroCARD and pay any difference to round the balance up to the nearest $5.
Your metroCARD can stop working if it is bent, punctured, cut, or exposed to extreme heat or radiation.
We can only track, cancel or replace registered metroCARDS.
Contact us to cancel your registered metroCARD and any associated auto recharges as soon as you notice it is missing.
- calling our InfoLine on 1300 311 108
- visiting us at the InfoCentre Adelaide Railway Centre.
If your registered metroCARD is lost, stolen or damaged, we can transfer any remaining balance to a different metroCARD you own, or you can buy a new metroCARD and we will transfer it to that. When you buy a new card, you may also need to top up your balance to the nearest $5.
In line with the metroCARD terms and conditions (PDF, 349 KB), metroCARDs, and associated products and services are non-refundable, unless you are a South Australian Seniors Card holder or an authorised representative of a deceased registered metroCARD holder.
- a copy of the Death Certificate
- either a Grant of Probate or a Letter of Administration
- the deceased person's registered metroCARD number
- some basic information about the deceased, such as their name and phone number
Two-factor authentication is a security measure used to protect user accounts and sensitive information by adding an extra layer of verification, and it is now available for all online Adelaide metroCARD accounts.
Two-factor authentication is available for both android and iOS devices.
How to I activate two-factor authentication?
From here you can follow the prompts.
I am locked out of my two-factor authentication
You can be locked out of your authenticator if you lose access to your authenticator app. If you encounter this, please contact our InfoLine on 1300 311 108 and be ready to follow a series of security questions.
When logging into your online Adelaide metroCARD account you will have 5 attempts before you are locked out of your account for 10 minutes.
After this you are free to attempt to login again with the correct password.
Alternatively you can select the ‘forgot password’ option and follow the prompts.
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