SmarTrip is a contactless stored-value smart card payment system managed by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).

A reciprocity agreement between the MTA and WMATA allows either card to be used for travel on any of the participating transit systems in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area.

Unlike traditional paper farecards or bus passes, SmarTrip/CharmCard is designed to be permanent and reloadable; the term "SmarTrip" may refer to both payment systems unless otherwise noted.

Although WMATA initially drew criticism due to the limited number of SmarTrip sales locations, distribution has expanded to local convenience stores and supermarkets.

However, the pilot was terminated and the full proposal was cancelled due to lower-than-expected mobile payment adoption and budget constraints.

[5] Instead, in 2018, WMATA announced that contactless mobile payments would be coming to Metro, this time through a closed system that emulates the physical smart card and works with current fare collection equipment.

The reduced scope of the project lowered costs dramatically, while constraining users to loading a balance on a SmarTrip account instead of paying directly from a credit/debit card.

[6][7] Since March 6, 2016, SmarTrip cards are the only payment method accepted on Metrorail; paper farecards are no longer valid.

In the Metrorail system, using the card to activate the target by will display the value remaining as the faregate opens, both when entering and exiting.

In an effort to reduce fraud and waste, Metro announced in October 2008 that it would be eliminating paper bus transfers effective January 4, 2009.

[11] Standard cards can be purchased at vending machines within all Metrorail stations,[1] at Metro sales offices, selected retail stores, and online.

In addition, the card must contain sufficient value to pay the full fee in order to exit a Metro parking lot.

The new payment system is expected to use federal employee badges and certain smart phones in addition to the stored value cards.

The design is identical to the standard SmarTrip except that the card is printed in shades of bright yellow and brown, instead of blue and green.

Since the Senior SmarTrip allows for discounted fares, the card may only be purchased in person with a valid ID from a Metro sales office or authorized vendor.

[30] On March 27, 2016, Metro unveiled a new SmarTrip card design, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Metrorail system opening.

[35] [36] An early criticism of the SmarTrip cards had been that they were only sold at suburban Metrorail stations, online, a few selected retailers, and Metro sales offices.

In November 2008, after years of delays, WMATA announced that customers would have the ability to add funds to their SmarTrip cards online by September 2009, but that deadline was missed.

[41] WMATA allowed customers to load a seven-day unlimited Metrorail pass to their SmarTrip cards in April 2012.

[42] All trips made with a SmarTrip card, with the exception of bus transfers and passes, are charged as individual one-way fares.

[42] This is in contrast to the Oyster card system on the London Underground, for example, where fares are automatically capped to ensure that customers never pay more than the cost of a one-day pass each day.

The decision prompted complaints that Metro was inconveniencing its many customers, including tourists and other infrequent users, who did not own a SmarTrip card.

[47] WMATA has since announced that it will make at least one credit card exit lane available at all Metro pay-on-exit parking facilities.

A reciprocity agreement allows patrons to use either payment card to travel on any of the participating systems throughout the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area.

**SmarTrip can be used to purchase a paper or digital ticket in lieu of a credit or debit card through certain DC area employers enrolled in the SmartBenefits program.