The expiration date is usually about one year from the date of purchase. If your Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard expires, you have two years from the expiration date to transfer any remaining money to a new card. Within the first year after expiration, use a MetroCard Vending Machine to transfer the balance to a new card.

In 2026, the status of New York City Metrocards is in a state of final transition as the system is being retired in favor of OMNY (One Metro New York). As of January 1, 2026, the MTA has ceased the sale and refilling of physical Metrocards at most locations. While they are still being accepted at turnstiles for a limited time, they do have a physical expiration date printed on the back. If your card has an active balance but has physically expired, you generally have up to two years from that date to transfer the remaining value to an OMNY card at an MTA Customer Service Center. Most remaining Metrocards in circulation are expected to become completely unusable by the summer or fall of 2026. The MTA is urging all riders to switch to the "tap-and-go" OMNY system, which can be used with a contactless credit/debit card, smartphone, or a dedicated OMNY card. For the best experience in 2026, travelers should "spend down" any remaining Metrocard value immediately and transition to OMNY to benefit from features like the $34 weekly fare-cap that the older system does not support.