Oldest Metro SmarTrip Cards Need To Be Replaced Before March 1

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — Any Metro rider who has held onto their SmarTrip card from before 2012 will need to get a new one before new reader machines are installed at stations in March, the Metro said.

The old cards will not be compatible with the new machines. The Metro has instructions on how to replace your card, and says riders can request a replacement card by mail, on the phone or online. Riders can also use the SmarTrip card machines at stations to get a new card and then transfer the balance from the old card to the new one using an online account.

"While the ability to use the old farecards will be phased out on March 1, there will still be time to trade in the cards after the deadline," the Metro said in its news release. "Any remaining balance on the old cards won’t be lost and can be transferred to a new card at any time."

Take a look at the back of your card to see if it was purchased before 2012 — if the card begins with 0167, it is a newer card and does not need to be replaced. Cards that start with any other numbers will need to be replaced, the Metro said.

"The phase out of older SmarTrip cards is part of Metro’s fare system modernization that includes new faregates and fareboxes and mobile fare payment options that will make the customer experience quicker and more convenient," said the Metro in a news release.