Rio de Janeiro regulates credit and debit card use for public transport

The Rio de Janeiro municipal government has regulated the use of credit and debit cards for public transportation payments. The system is currently in a testing phase at the Terminal Gentileza, where passengers can use bank cards directly at BRT and VLT turnstiles.

Under the new regulations, debit card transactions will be charged at the standard fare. However, credit card payments are authorized to include an additional fee of up to R$ 0.30 per trip to cover financial intermediation costs. This extra charge has raised questions regarding its compatibility with existing municipal laws that mandate fares match current official rates.

Passengers using bank cards will be limited to single-trip payments. Unlike the Jaé digital ticketing system, direct bank card use does not grant access to integration benefits such as the Bilhete Único Carioca or Bilhete Único Margaridas. Consequently, commuters relying on multiple modes of transport may face higher costs if they opt for bank cards instead of the official municipal ticketing platform.