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OMNY for Access-A-Ride

Updated Feb 21, 2025
Over the next few years, we’re replacing your AAR ID and AAR MetroCard with a new AAR OMNY ID card. Here's what you need to know.

For many years, AAR customers have asked for a simpler way to pay for their AAR trips. Finding exact change for each trip was burdensome.

Over the next few years, we’re replacing AAR ID and AAR MetroCard for eligible customers with a new AAR OMNY ID card. This card serves as your new customer ID and includes your AAR ID number, photo, and Personal Care Attendant status if authorized. It also gives you the option of cashless payment for your AAR fare. This eliminates the need to carry exact change for your AAR trip. You can also still pay for your trip with cash if you prefer.

Your new AAR OMNY ID card also serves as a durable photo ID for AAR trips and can also be tapped for up to four free trips a day on MTA subways and local, limited, and SBS buses, the Staten Island Railway, and the Roosevelt Island Tram, if you’re eligible.

If you’d like to continue paying with cash, make sure you continue to have exact change, since AAR drivers don’t provide change. Be prepared to show the driver your AAR OMNY ID card, if requested.

You don't need to contact us to request an AAR OMNY ID Card. Eligible AAR customers will receive their AAR OMNY ID card over the next few years.

How to use the AAR OMNY ID card

Paying your AAR fare with OMNY

To pay for your AAR trips with OMNY, you should:

  1. Add funds to your new AAR OMNY ID card following the instructions below.
  2. Make sure your AAR profile is set to pay using OMNY. If it isn’t set, call us at 877-337-2017, prompt 4, to opt in before your next trip.
  3. Be prepared to show your AAR OMNY ID card to your driver, if requested at the start of your trip. They will know not to ask for cash for your fare.
  4. Your fare will be deducted from your AAR OMNY ID card at the end of your trip.

If you want to stop using OMNY and return to using cash to pay for your AAR trips, call us before your next trip and we’ll change your default payment preference from OMNY back to cash .

Traveling with OMNY on AAR

If you choose to go cashless with OMNY, the way you make a reservation will not change. When you book a trip over the phone, with the MY AAR app, or online, your OMNY account will be recognized as the payment method for the trip and will also be communicated to the provider.

Unlike the subway or buses, there are no OMNY readers on AAR or Broker vehicles, so you don't tap to pay for your trip. The cost of a trip will be automatically deducted from your account at the end of the trip. As with all AAR trips, show your AAR OMNY ID card (or any photo ID) to the driver, if requested. The cost of your trip will be automatically deducted from your AAR OMNY ID card at the end of the trip. 

Your driver will be told not to collect cash fare from you or an authorized PCA on an OMNY trip. Remember that additional guests still need to pay their fare in cash (exact change) to travel on AAR. When you make your reservation, remember to indicate if you are traveling with an authorized PCA or guest.

If your AAR vehicle doesn’t arrive, you won’t be charged for that trip.

Your AAR OMNY ID card can’t be used to pay for taxi or e-hail trips.

Adding value to your AAR OMNY ID card

Before traveling on AAR, you must add funds to your AAR OMNY ID card.  Here’s how.

  • Create a free, secure OMNY account, then load value online or by phone.  You choose the payment method(s) you want to link to your AAR OMNY ID card.
  • Visit a participating retailer near you; use any form of payment the retailer accepts.
  • Use an OMNY vending machine in a subway station. Cash, credit, debit, prepaid, EBT, or pre-tax cards are accepted.

If you have an OMNY account, you can check your card’s balance at any time and will be sent an email notification any time your balance is low (below $5.79). You can also check your balance at a retail location or OMNY vending machine.

Creating an OMNY account

You have the option to create an OMNY account.  With an account, you’ll be able to manage your AAR OMNY ID card conveniently 24/7 online or by phone.  Register your AAR OMNY ID card online or call OMNY customer service.

With an OMNY account, you can:

  • Protect your balance if your card is lost or stolen; this is important if you add funds using cash.
  • Add funds online any time with your preferred payment method.
  • Set up recurring automatic reloads.

PCAs and the AAR OMNY ID card

If you are approved to travel with a Personal Care Attendant (PCA), this will also be noted on your new AAR OMNY ID card. Your PCA travels free of charge. Additional guests must pay full fare in cash. When you make your reservation, always be sure to indicate who may be joining you on your AAR trip and let us know before your trip if that changes so that the driver is told the right fare to collect.

Four free subway or bus trips

Eligible AAR customers can use their AAR OMNY ID card for up to four free daily trips benefit on the subway; local, limited, and Select Bus Service (SBS) buses; the Staten Island Railway, and the Roosevelt Island Tram.

For existing AAR MetroCard users, this benefit will transfer to your AAR OMNY ID card. Tap your card once at the OMNY reader for yourself and a second time for your authorized PCA. Call Eligibility to speak with an agent if you have any issues using this benefit with your new card, or if you aren’t an existing AAR MetroCard user and would like to activate this benefit.

Unused trips do not carry to the next day. If you use your AAR OMNY ID card for more than four trips a day, you'll be charged full fare for those additional trips and must have value on your OMNY card. Your paid trips will the begin counting toward the seven-day fare cap. Reduced-Fare program customers can use their Reduced-Fare benefit to pay for additional trips. As an AAR customer, your approved PCA will always travel free of charge.

Fair Fares NYC and the AAR OMNY ID card

If you’re enrolled in the Fair Fares NYC program, your fare information will be saved in your AAR account, and you will be charged half the full fare (currently $1.45).

Learn more about Fair Fares NYC.

Privacy and security

We are committed to keeping your personal information safe and secure. Please review the OMNY Privacy Policy and OMNY Terms of Service to learn more about how we collect, use, disclose, retain, and protect your personal information.

Help us to protect your personal information while using OMNY:

  • Change your password and PIN periodically.
  • Avoid using the same password and PIN that you use for your other services.
  • Avoid sharing your personal information with anyone else.
  • Avoid saving your login credentials in web browsers on public computers.

Get help

If there are issues with your AAR trip or you need to make changes on the day of travel, please contact AAR at 877-337-2017, prompt 3 to speak with an agent 24/7.

For help with OMNY, such as to create an account or to report a lost or stolen AAR OMNY ID card, contact OMNY customer service at 877-789-6669, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday, and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Have your payment method ready.