YRT fares in 2026: what a York Region Transit ride costs and how fare capping works
By Farshad Fazaeli · Last checked against YRT and York Region sources: October 29, 2026
York Region Transit (YRT) serves Richmond Hill, Markham, Vaughan, Newmarket, Aurora and the rest of York Region. Its fares rose 3% on July 1, 2026, under the 2026 budget approved by York Regional Council in November 2025. This guide sets out the current prices, how the monthly trip cap works, and the free and discounted options many riders miss.
Current fares (effective July 1, 2026)
| How you pay | Adult (20–64) | Youth (13–19) | Senior (65+) | Child (6–12) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESTO | $4.24 | $3.29 | $2.60 | $2.60 |
| Cash, credit or debit | $4.65 | $4.65 | $4.65 | $4.65 |
Children five and under ride free. The previous PRESTO adult fare was $4.12 and the cash fare was $4.50.
Key point: on YRT, tapping a credit or debit card charges the full cash fare. A PRESTO card saves an adult $0.41 a ride and saves a senior more than $2.
Fare capping: free rides after a set number of trips
YRT no longer sells monthly passes. Instead, PRESTO users stop paying after a number of paid trips in a calendar month:
- Adult: free after 40 trips
- Youth: free after 39 trips
- Senior and child: free after 28 trips
Only PRESTO card or PRESTO in Mobile Wallet counts. Transfers (within YRT, from other agencies, or Ride to GO trips) do not count toward the cap. YRT says to keep tapping after you reach the cap, because the tap is your proof of payment if enforcement checks. When you've hit the cap, the reader shows a $0 fare.
By our arithmetic, an adult reaching the cap pays 40 × $4.24 = about $170 in that month.
Two-hour transfers
One YRT fare lets you ride any YRT vehicle in any direction for two hours from when it is issued.
Free rides to and from GO Transit
With Ride to GO, you can ride YRT free when connecting to or from GO Transit with proof of a valid GO fare. Children aged 6 to 12 must tap their PRESTO card on and off GO to ride YRT free.
Connecting with the TTC
- YRT and TTC transfers are free within the two-hour window when you pay by PRESTO, credit/debit, or PRESTO in Mobile Wallet on a PRESTO device (the One Fare program).
- TTC routes north of Steeles Avenue charge a YRT fare. If your TTC bus crosses Steeles, keep tapping on and off; you won't be charged again inside the transfer window.
- Trips on TTC routes south of Steeles and on the TTC subway do not count toward YRT's fare cap. For TTC prices, see our TTC fares guide.
Discounts for lower-income residents
York Region's Transit Assistance Program gives eligible residents a 50% discount on the regular adult single-ride PRESTO fare. Check eligibility on the York Region website.
Our checklist for York Region riders
- Get a PRESTO card; cash and bank-card taps cost the most.
- Using GO? Your YRT leg to or from the station can be free with Ride to GO.
- Commuting into Toronto? Tap on and off with the same card so One Fare applies.
- Watch for detours; we cover YRT route changes in our York Region and Transit sections.
Sources
- York Region Transit, Fare Chart, accessed October 29, 2026.
- York Region Transit, Fare Capping Program, accessed October 29, 2026.
- York Region, YRT Fare Changes Coming July 1, 2026, June 8, 2026.
Related: TTC fares guide · Richmond Hill news · All guides
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