Presto Loads Program

PRESTO Loads is a program that provides $25 per month for transit costs, with a maximum of $50 per semester. The PRESTO Load support is meant for current full-time students who need help with their transit costs.

Students who meet the eligibility criteria – including using transit regularly to commute to campus and owning a valid PRESTO card – can register at the link HERE or using the link above. Students must complete the form in its entirety with accurate information when registering.

If you received funding from the PRESTO Loads program in the Winter 2024 semester, you are not eligible to register for the Spring-Summer semester. This is to be more equitable to students who have not received funding yet.

If you registered in the Spring-Summer semester and received your first voucher, you will not automatically receive a second voucher. You are still eligible to get a second voucher, but you will need to register again and if your registration came as first/early registration you would be selected. The second registration will use the first-come, first-serve method of selecting recipients. Please register early for your best chance of being a recipient.

If you have not received a voucher yet, you will need to register again every registration cycle until you are selected to receive your first voucher code.

The maximum total PRESTO Load per semester is $50.

Selection is made based on first-come, first-served. Priority will be given to those who register first. Students should be aware of registration dates by following @SAGBC on Instagram or the website StudentAssociation.ca.

You will receive an email with a voucher code that you will use to deposit the funds. Instructions on how to redeem the voucher code will be in the email. Check your junk mail or spam box folder to ensure that you don’t miss it.
Those who are not selected for a voucher will not receive an email and they will be required to re-register again until selected.

Yes, if you received a first voucher already, you will need to register a second time in the same semester to be eligible for a second voucher. You are still eligible to get a second voucher, but you will need to register again and if your registration came as first/early registration you would be selected. The second registration will use the first-come, first-serve method of selecting recipients. Please register early for your best chance of being a recipient.

The maximum total PRESTO Loads vouchers per semester is $50.

If you have been selected to receive a PRESTO Loads voucher, you can redeem your $25 code one of two ways:

• By visiting http://www.prestocard.ca/ and logging in with your PRESTO credentials – Digital PRESTO cards cannot be redeemed through the website.
• By using the PRESTO Digital App

For more information, follow this guide: PRESTO Loads User Guide

Yes. If you have not received a voucher yet in the Spring-Summer semester, you will need to register again every registration cycle until you receive a voucher.
The maximum total PRESTO Load per semester is $50.

• No. You will need a PRESTO Card, but you can get one for free using the options below:- Free at participating Toronto Public Libraries (see below)
  – For free PRESTO cards at St James campus and Waterfront campus, go to the St Lawrence branch
  – For free PRESTO cards at Casa Loma campus, go to the Lillian H. Smith branch.
  – Free PRESTO cards are available digitally for Android Users via the Google Play PRESTO app
  – Learn More at https://www.ttc.ca/Fares-and-passes/Other-passes/Fair-Pass-Transit-Discount-Program .
  – Purchase a physical card

Those selected to receive a voucher will be sent an email about 4-5 business days after the closing of the registration period. The voucher code will be active when you receive it. Directions on how to redeem your voucher to your card will be included in the email.

Yes, if the voucher was redeemed into the card, you must tap a PRESTO device within 30 days to fully transfer the funds. If you do not tap within 30 days, your funds will expire. A new code will not be issued. We strongly encourage you to redeem the voucher code onto your PRESTO Card as soon as your receive it..

After you redeem the voucher code, you need to wait 4-7 hours, and then tap on a PRESTO card machine. The funds will then be transferred into your account.

Funds can be used on any transit system that accepts PRESTO cards as payment.
The following transit systems accept PRESTO:
– Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)
– GO Transit
– UP Express
– MiWay (Mississauga Transit)
– Brampton Transit (includes Zum)
– York Region Transit (YRT) (includes VIVA)
– Durham Region Transit
– Oakville Transit
– Burlington Transit
– Hamilton Street Railway (HSR)

Transit systems that DO NOT accept PRESTO:
– Barrie Transit
– Milton Transit
– Guelph Transit

1. The student will have to go to the PRESTOcard.ca website and redeem the voucher code on their PRESTO card (this means loading the $25 onto the PRESTO card first). Please follow the instructions on the user guide on how to reload your presto voucher
2. Only after the balance shows up on the PRESTO card can they approach the Davisville TTC station and use that towards a monthly pass.

TTC can convert only the dollar value (money) on a PRESTO card into any kind of pass. So, the $25 voucher needs to show on the student’s PRESTO card before it can be used towards purchasing a monthly pass.

One note to consider: Once a pass is already purchased nothing can be done. And yes, if the student is purchasing a new pass then the $25 (already loaded on the card) can be used towards the purchase.

What would NOT work: Is if the student is handing over the voucher code to the representative at the TTC station.

What Works: The student first needs to add the voucher code to their PRESTO card and then convert it to a monthly pass.

PRESTO Loads disburses funds only. We do not limit the number of trips, or how much of the funds you spend. For example, a $25 voucher could cover about 7 trips on the TTC, but for GO Transit, the cost might be higher, which would reduce the number of trips the funds could cover.

No, if you have already loaded the voucher code onto your own PRESTO Card, you cannot transfer the funds to another card, such as to a friend or family member’s card. If you share a PRESTO Card with a family member or friend, you could redeem the voucher code onto that card.
The only exception would be if you lost your card and it was registered with PRESTO — you could transfer the funds from the lost card to a new card that is on the same account. The lost card would need to be cancelled, though, and it would no longer work.

Yes. Receipt of OSAP does not affect eligibility.

No, there is no mechanism to withdraw the funds as cash.

If you have a question related to the PRESTO Loads program, or have an accessibility need, and require help while completing this registration form, please contact: transit@sagbc.ca or send us your feedback on the link HERE 

Unfortunately, part-time students are not eligible for the PRESTO Loads vouchers — only current full-time students.

You can email transit@sagbc.ca with your questions.

You can use the the PRESTO Loads feedback form HERE

Yes, you are still eligible. You do not need to have a registered PRESTO card to be eligible. The card must be active, though.

PRESTO cards are designed so that you can use it anonymously without giving your contact information, such as your name, email address, and phone number. Unregistered cards that are lost or stolen cannot have the funds on them recovered.
A registered PRESTO card, though, has an account attached to it with your name, email address, and phone number. The main benefit to registering your card is that, if you lose your card, you can lock it so that the funds are safe, and can be transferred to a new card. There are other benefits of registering as well. Visit the PRESTO web site for more info.