Important: You are limited to tapping and paying for yourself and 3 additional riders with the same payment method at a single OMNY reader. You may continue using the same payment method at a different OMNY reader. However, if you do so, the 4 free transfers associated with the original 4 taps will be forfeited.

You can use an OMNY card (the New York City contactless fare payment system) twice in a row at the same station, but only the first tap will qualify for a free transfer or count toward the "Best Fare" ceiling. In 2026, OMNY allows for "pass-back" functionality, meaning you can tap your card or phone and then hand it back to a friend to tap again for their entry. However, each tap will be charged a full fare (currently $2.90). Crucially, only the person who used the card first will get the benefit of the 12-ride weekly fare cap (where every ride after the 12th is free for the rest of the week). If you tap for multiple people, the "extra" rides do not count toward the cap. Additionally, the standard two-hour free transfer (from subway to bus or bus to bus) only applies to the first person. For families or groups, it is generally much more cost-effective for each person to use their own individual contactless device or OMNY card so that everyone can benefit from the automated fare-capping and free transfer window that the system provides to unique users.