Fares & Passes

Why choose a pass? Passes are perfect if you ride regularly, prefer not to carry exact change, or are visiting and plan to use CARTA services around Charleston. Passes are valid for all regular fixed-route buses, though premium services, such as Express routes, may require an additional fee.

Note: As of November 2019, Weekly passes for fixed-route and Express routes are now available.

For questions about eligibility and requirements, please email askcarta@ridecarta.com or call (843) 724-7420.

Important: CARTA does not replace or refund lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed passes. For any pass-related inquiries, contact the administration office at (843) 724-7420.

Cash-Only Fares

• Fare boxes accept bills and coins
• Have exact change when boarding
• Drivers cannot provide change
• Visit FAQs for More Info

Pricing

• Fixed Route One-Way: $2.00/ride
• Express One-Way: $3.50/ride
• Transfers: No charge within two hours of the original trip

Children

• Regular routes and flex service free for children under 6
• Must be accompanied by a paying passenger
• Visit FAQs for More Info

Low-Income Fares

Low-income fares are available to individuals who qualify and require a CARTA ID for eligibility. To continue receiving the discount, qualifications must be re-verified every six months.

Senior Fares

CARTA takes you to most hospitals, libraries, grocery stores, shopping centers and service agencies throughout the Charleston area.

Regular fare information:

Seniors, age 55+ ride for a discounted fare of $1 during all hours of service.

Drivers may request proof of age. Medicare cards or I.D. card with date of birth will serve as identification for the fare.

Want to ride, but not sure how? Simply call (843) 724-7420 and let our operations staff pair you with a CARTA Ambassador! Learn the ropes and make a new friend. If you’re interested in becoming a CARTA Ambassador, or wish to be paired with one, please call (843) 724-7420.

Senior FREE Ride Days – Annual promotion to encourage seniors (55+) to learn about the system and as a thank you to our regular senior riders.

Every year CARTA has one day per quarter that senior riders 55+ can ride all routes for free. This is the perfect opportunity to get some shopping done, visit friends or family or simply explore the city and our different routes. If you have any questions, please call (843) 724-7420 for more info.

2026 Dates:

• February 16 — Senior Independence Month
• May 27 — National Senior Health & Fitness Day
• August 21 — National Senior Citizen Day
• December 18 — Happy Holidays

Disabled Fare — Regular Fixed Routes

Individuals with disabilities can ride fixed routes for $0.75 per trip or for free with a Tel-A-Ride ID. A Disabled Fare ID Card, issued at the SC Works Charleston Career Center, is required. Call (843) 574-1810 or (843) 574-1800 for more information.

Schools & School Groups

K-12 students ride free with a valid school ID. A $80 Best Value Pass provides unlimited rides for six months, with a $1 fee for premium routes. Passes are available at CARTA offices.

Some colleges, including Trident Technical College, Miller-Motte Technical College, and Charleston Southern University, offer on-campus pass programs. For details, call (843) 724-7420.

Best Value Pass

Student passes are valid for an entire semester (6 months-period), all for only $80 per semester. Student passes allow unlimited use on all regular fixed routes and can be used on premium services like CARTA Express with an additional $1.00.

Student passes are available for student attended eligible institutions. For eligibility requirements, please call (843) 724-7420.

Students will be required to show a current school ID.

Passes can be purchased at the CARTA offices located at 3664 Leeds Ave. in North Charleston. Several institutions throughout the Charleston area work with CARTA to provide students with passes on campus.

Programs and cost vary for each institution. Passes are available on campus at the following:

• Trident Technical College
• Miller Motte Technical College
• Charleston Southern University

For more information, please call (843) 724-7420.

Discounts may be available if you have a school group that would like to use CARTA for a field trip or area outing. Large groups should always contact CARTA administration offices to make sure that services are monitored to ensure an effective trip.

Here’s a few things to keep in mind:

• An existing route must be used.
• CARTA can not come to your location or detour from regular route service for your trip.
• Please plan your trip along regular route lines and regular route times.

If you need trip planning assistance, please refer to our trip planner or call (843) 724-7420 to speak to administration.

If your school would like to find out more about CARTA’s pass programs, contact us by email at askcarta@ridecarta.com or call (843) 724-7420.

Passengers receive one free transfer per trip upon request when boarding. Transfers must be used within the allotted time and are not valid for DASH Shuttles or different bus types. For trip planning, call (843) 724-7420 or use CARTA’s Trip Planner.