The myki card
myki is the smartcard you use on Melbourne’s trains, trams and buses. Here’s how to buy one, check your balance and top up.
What is myki?
myki is Victoria’s reusable travel smartcard. Touch it on the myki reader before you board and touch off when you finish a train trip, and the correct fare is deducted from your balance — and capped automatically at the daily and weekly limits. You can also carry a Mobile myki in Google Pay on an Android phone, and from 2026 you’ll be able to tap on with a contactless bank card too.
You can load two things onto a myki: myki Money (pay-as-you-go value) or a myki Pass (unlimited travel for a set block of days). Money is best for occasional trips; a Pass is cheaper if you travel most days.
Buying a myki
Where to buy a myki
- myki machines and staffed counters at train stations.
- Retailers with the myki sign — 7-Eleven and many newsagents and shops.
- The PTV Hub and customer service centres.
- Online at the myki website (posted to you), or set up a Mobile myki in Google Pay.
A full-fare myki card costs $6 (and $3 for concession, child or seniors), separate from your travel value. Registering your card (free) protects the balance if it’s lost and lets you use auto top up.
Check your balance
How to check your myki balance
There are several quick ways to see how much travel value is left on your card:
Top up your myki
How to top up your myki
Add myki Money (any whole-dollar amount, e.g. $10, $20, $50) or buy a myki Pass:
Tip: top up before you travel. If you touch on with too little value you may go into a small negative balance — clear it at a machine before your next trip.
myki Money vs myki Pass
myki Money
Pay-as-you-go value. Each touch-on deducts the right fare and is automatically capped at the daily cap (and a weekly cap equal to five daily caps). Best for occasional or irregular travel.
myki Pass
Pre-paid unlimited travel for 7 days, or any number of consecutive days from 28 to 365. Best for regular commuters — a 7-day Pass is $39.90 (full fare) and works out cheaper per day than Money once you travel most days.
Frequently asked questions
Yes — touch on at the start and touch off at the end of every train trip so you’re charged the correct, capped fare. On trams you don’t touch off, and inside the City Free Tram Zone you don’t touch on at all.
If you don’t have enough value the gate may not let you through, or you can go slightly negative on touch-off. Clear any negative balance at a myki machine before your next trip. Auto top up avoids this entirely.
A myki card is valid for about 4 years, and myki Money is valid for up to 7 years from your last top up. Register the card to protect the balance and transfer it if the card is replaced.
Yes — set up a Mobile myki in Google Pay on a supported Android phone and touch on with your phone. From 2026 contactless bank cards and other digital wallets are also being switched on.
You can request a refund of remaining myki Money and the card deposit through PTV (online, by phone on 1800 800 007, or at a PTV Hub) for a registered card.