First, tokens. Then the MetroCard. Now, the jingle of loose change is heading for retirement. The MTA has announced that beginning in 2026, coins will no longer be accepted as fare payment on New York City buses—marking the first time in history that riders won’t be able to pay cash onboard.

The decision is part of the agency’s ongoing shift to OMNY, the tap-and-go contactless payment system that already accounts for more than half of all transit rides. Riders can pay using a credit card, smartphone or OMNY card , which will replace the MetroCard completely by the end of 2025. Coins will still be accepted at subway vending machines and at roughly 2,700 retailers that sell OMNY cards, but not on buses.

The change comes alongside fare increases taking effect in January 2026 . T

See Full Page