How-To Guide:
Checking the expiration date on & renewing an expiring Chicago Card Plus
Note: The information on this page applies to people who have a Chicago Card Plus (with the blue-and-gold face).
If you have a regular Chicago Card (with the all-blue face), see instructions for Chicago Card owners.
Do you know if your card expires soon?
Chicago Cards expire after approximately four years from when they’re issued. When your card is nearing expiration, you may need to request a new one.
Finding your expiration date
We give you a number of ways to check the expiration date of your Chicago Card:
Option A: Check on the Internet
To check the expiration of your Chicago Card Plus, log into your account at the Chicago Card Plus Web site. When viewing information about your Chicago Card Plus card(s), you'll see "Card expiration date" in the blue bar next to the name of the card:
Note: If your card is expiring within 45 days, you'll also see a notification message with instructions on how to confirm your address and get a replacement card sent to you by mail.
Option B: Check at an 'L' station
You can check the expiration date for your Chicago Card or Chicago Card Plus at any Passenger Information Unit, installed near the Customer Assistant kiosk at many ‘L’ (CTA train) stations.
If you think your card may soon expire, check its expiration date. It’s easy:
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Find the Passenger Information Unit at an ‘L’ station.
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Wave your Chicago Card Plus near the reader.
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Check the display for the expiration date*.
Note: Chicago Card Plus cards do not store value themselves—fares are deducted from an online account automatically, thus no cash value is shown on the card.
Option C: Visit Us
You can bring your card in to check the expiration date and, if it's within 45 days, renew it or upgrade to a Chicago Card Plus on the spot at the CTA Sales Center, located in the second floor lobby of our headquarters.
We're open on regular business days from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at:
Chicago Transit Authority
567 W Lake St 2nd Fl
Chicago, IL
(1 block west of Clinton on the Green and Pink Lines)
Option D: Call Us
Our Customer Service representatives can look up your expiration date for you and help you with issues related to your registration or PIN.
Call 1-888-YOUR-CTA (1-888-968-7282), or TTY: 1-888-CTA-TTY1 (1-888-282-8891), Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.
What to do if your card is expiring
If your Chicago Card Plus is expiring, you'll need to confirm your address and renew your card.
If you do not confirm your address and renew your card, you will not receive a new card in the mail and your existing Chicago Card Plus will stop functioning on its expiration date (even if you're in the middle of a 30-day unlimited ride window).
You should receive an e-mail about 45 days before your card expires, which will provide instructions. Otherwise, you can do any of the following:
Renew online
(You'll receive your card in 5-7 business days.)
If you have a card that's expiring soon:
- Log into your Chicago Card Plus account at http://www.chicago-card.com.
- Click Edit Card Info for each card that's soon expiring on your account. Confirm your address and be sure to click Save to verify that your address is correct.
- After having confirmed your address by saving the card information page, a new card will automatically be sent to you.
Renew in person
(You'll receive your card on-the-spot.)
If your card is expiring within 45 days, you can renew your card on the spot at the CTA Sales Center, located in the second floor lobby of our headquarters.
We're open on regular business days from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at:
Chicago Transit Authority
567 W Lake St 2nd Fl
Chicago, IL
(1 block west of Clinton on the Green and Pink Lines)
Renew by phone
(You'll receive your card in 7-10 business days.)
Our Customer Service representatives can look up your expiration date for you and help you with issues logging into your account.
Call 1-888-YOUR-CTA (1-888-968-7282), TTY: 1-888-CTA-TTY1 (1-888-282-8891), Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.