Student transit discounts in Ontario (PRESTO, GO, TTC, VIA)

If you study in Ontario, you can cut travel costs with student fares—most agencies apply the discount through PRESTO. This guide explains how student concessions work on GO Transit and TTC, how to verify your status, and what to do if your card doesn’t charge the reduced fare. We also cover VIA Rail’s student options for intercity trips and point you to local-agency policies like Brampton Transit.

How student fares work with PRESTO

• PRESTO applies a fare type (concession) to your card or account: Youth/Student or Post-Secondary, depending on the agency.
• Age-based vs status-based: Some discounts are age-based (e.g., Youth 13–19). Others are status-based and require special ID (e.g., GO Student ID or TTC Post-Secondary Photo ID) before the concession can be set on PRESTO.
• You must show valid student ID when you set the concession and sometimes when you travel.
• You can switch cards or devices, but each card must be set to the correct concession before you tap.
• If your card is on the wrong fare type, you’ll be charged the adult fare until it’s fixed.

GO Transit: student discounts

Two types of discounts:

• Youth (13–19): Age-based discount. Set your PRESTO to Youth; carry government photo ID or school ID if asked.
• Post-Secondary (20+): Full-time students must apply online for a GO Student ID, then set PRESTO to Post-Secondary after approval. Carry your GO Student ID and school ID when requested.

How to set it up (Post-Secondary):

1. Apply online for a GO Student ID (have proof of full-time enrolment for the current term).
2. After approval, visit a GO/PRESTO service point (or follow the official instructions) to set your PRESTO fare type to Post-Secondary.
3. Tap on/off correctly on GO buses/trains; missed taps can lead to incorrect charges.
   Tip: Youth riders don’t need a GO Student ID—just make sure PRESTO is set to Youth.

TTC (Toronto): youth & post-secondary fares

Categories:

• Youth (13–19): Reduced pay-per-ride and passes with proof of age/student status.
• Post-Secondary (full-time): Eligible for the TTC Post-Secondary Monthly Pass on PRESTO. Single-ride price is the same as Adult (no reduced pay-per-ride).

Set-up steps (Post-Secondary):

1. Get a TTC Post-Secondary Photo ID (bring current full-time enrolment proof).
2. At an authorised location, set your PRESTO to the Post-Secondary fare type (Photo ID is required for eligibility).
3. Load the monthly pass onto PRESTO.
   Important: Post-secondary riders paying per ride on TTC are charged the Adult rate. Only the monthly pass provides the discount.

Brampton Transit & other PRESTO agencies

• Brampton Transit: Offers Youth and Post-Secondary price points through PRESTO. You’ll need valid proof (age for Youth; full-time enrolment for Post-Secondary) to set the concession at an approved location.
• Other GTA agencies (MiWay, YRT, Durham, Hamilton HSR, Oakville, Burlington, etc.): Most use similar PRESTO concessions. The name of the pass/fare and eligibility may differ slightly—always confirm on the agency’s fares page and apply the concession before you ride.

VIA Rail: student & youth options

For intercity travel, VIA offers Youth fares (age-based) and Student fares (status-based). Expect to show valid student ID at purchase or during travel. Discounts depend on route, availability, and fare class; blackout dates can apply. Book early, compare fare buckets, and bring your photo student ID on board.

Step-by-step: get your student discount working (GO + TTC example)

1. Collect documents: proof of full-time status for the current term, government ID, and school ID.
2. GO riders (post-secondary): Apply online for a GO Student ID first; wait for approval.
3. Get/register a PRESTO card.
4. Apply the concession:
   • GO (post-secondary): After approval, set PRESTO to Post-Secondary at GO/PRESTO service.
   • TTC (post-secondary): Obtain TTC Post-Secondary Photo ID, then set PRESTO to Post-Secondary at an authorised location.
5. Load funds/passes:
   • TTC: Load the Post-Secondary Monthly Pass (single rides = Adult price).
   • GO: Use pay-as-you-go with your concessioned PRESTO and tap on/off.
6. Carry required ID when travelling (GO Student ID, TTC Photo ID, school ID as applicable).
7. Verify charges in your PRESTO trip history during week one.

Mini scenario (how to choose pass vs pay-as-you-go)

If you ride most weekdays on TTC, a Post-Secondary Monthly Pass usually becomes cost-effective compared with single fares plus transfers. If you take 2–3 return trips a week, pay-as-you-go may be cheaper. For GO, base it on your specific origin–destination fare; frequent long trips often favour a weekday pass product if available, while irregular travel suits pay-as-you-go.

Troubleshooting & tips

• Concession missing: You paid adult fare—visit a service point to reapply the student type, then contact support about recent trips.
• New term: Some agencies require renewal each academic year—set a reminder for September.
• Lost card: Freeze your PRESTO in the account, transfer balance/concession to a new card.
• Multiple agencies: One PRESTO can carry your student concession, but agency-specific passes still follow that agency’s rules.
• Out-of-province/international students: Full-time proof from your Ontario institution is usually required; carry passport/government ID as a backup.

FAQ

Key takeaways

• Set the student concession on PRESTO before riding.
• Carry the required ID (TTC post-secondary photo ID, school ID, or age proof).
• Tap correctly (especially GO on/off) and audit your fares in week one.
• Renewal and agency-specific rules matter; re-check each September.
• For intercity trips, compare VIA youth/student fares and bring valid ID.