MTS Transit Ticket Question

Question

So I have researched this myself but have a couple specific questions.

Single Ride on Trolley or Bus is $2.50 and day pass is $6.00 from what I can tell.

I believe I read you can by either on board the train or bus? Is this correct? Or do I need to buy at a vending station?

Also these tickets work for both modes the Trolley Line or the Bus (there isn't a special ticket you have to buy for a bus and a different one for the Trolley ) correct?

Two more things.

I am assuming if I buy a single use or day pass ticket machine they are dormant until I decide to use it? Meaning if I buy a day pass on Tuesday at a vending machine, it isn't active until I first scan it even if I decide not to use it until 2 days later (same with single use ticket - I can buy now and use tomorrow or day after, etc)?

For a day pass does it expire at midnight on the day first scanned or is it a true 24 hours of use. So if I scan it at 2pm on Tuesday is it good until 2 pm on Wednesday or is it done at midnight Tuesday?

Thanks for any help.

Answer

San Diego’s MTS transit system is relatively straightforward, and your understanding is mostly correct. Here’s a detailed breakdown of your questions regarding fares, ticket purchases, and validity:

Ticket Purchase Options:

You can buy single-ride tickets or day passes at vending machines located at Trolley stations and some major transit centers.
On-board purchase is allowed for buses, but it’s cash only and exact change is required. Trolleys generally do not allow on-board ticket purchases, so you need to buy tickets from a vending machine before boarding.
Both single-ride and day pass tickets work interchangeably for buses and trolleys. There is no separate ticket needed for one mode or the other.

Ticket Activation and Validity:

Tickets are dormant until first validated/scanned. So if you buy a single-ride or day pass today but do not use it until two days later, it will still be valid starting from the moment you first scan it.
A day pass is valid for the calendar day of first use, not 24 hours. This means if you first scan it at 2 pm on Tuesday, it will expire at the end of service that day (around midnight), not 2 pm on Wednesday.
Single-ride tickets are valid for a continuous one-way trip (including transfers within a certain time window—usually 90 minutes for Trolley and local buses).

Summary Tips:

Buy Trolley tickets at vending machines before boarding to avoid issues, especially if you are not carrying exact cash for on-board bus purchases.
Plan your day-pass usage within the same calendar day to get full value.
Keep your ticket handy for transfers; conductors may check it on both buses and trolleys.

In short, your day-pass or single-ride tickets are flexible in terms of which mode of transport you can use, but the day-pass is limited to the calendar day of first activation.

MTS Transit Ticket Question

More San Diego Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Popular Destinations

Popular Travel Questions