STM card: how to get it, types and where to top up
The STM card is the bus card of Montevideo. With it a trip costs less than in cash. For the 1-hour and 2-hour tickets and the metropolitan combinación you must show it, even when you pay cash.
The Intendencia de Montevideo issues it and sets its prices and rules.
Top up with AhiVoyCard types
- Común (standard)
For anyone. It carries no name: several people travelling together can pay with one card. You get it at the 20 service centres and at Abitab branches.
- Student
For students whose school enrolled them in the STM. Check whether you qualify on montevideo.gub.uy and get it with your ID at a service centre.
Category G (free): under 18 on 1 January in lower secondary, or under 20 in upper secondary, at a public liceo or UTU, or at a private liceo with a full scholarship. From March to December, up to 50 free trips and 50 at the category A price a month. In January and February, up to 100 paid trips.
Category A: lower secondary, upper secondary over 20, private liceo, and UTU tertiary or public university under 30. From 20 to 100 trips a month at $28.50.
Category B: private university with a full scholarship, or UTU tertiary or public university at 30 or older on 1 January. Up to 100 trips a month at $39.90.
Every student trip is a 1-hour ticket and is not valid on the diferencial lines.
- Retiree A and B
For women over 55 and men over 60 with a BPS, military or police pension. Category A: income up to $24,024. Category B: up to $37,752. The first card is collected in person, with ID.
- Primary pupils: no card
Primary pupils ride free Monday to Saturday from 6:00 to 19:00 during the school year: public schools with the white smock and blue bow, private schools with a uniform that says «escolar». Not during carnival, Easter week or the winter holidays.
- Other cards
There are also the Gestión Social, Prepago Nominado (your employer asks for it) and Organismo cards.
What the card costs
| Card | 1st | 2nd and 3rd | 4th and 5th | 6th or more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Común | Free | $128 | $128 | $128 |
| Student, retiree and others | $64 | $128 | $256 | $384 |
From the second one, the común card costs two standard tickets. The others cost one to six standard tickets of $64.
What documents to bring
Común card
ID card, passport or diplomatic admission card.
Student, the first time
ID card. Secondary students who live or study in Canelones or San José also bring a proof of address from their school.
Retiree
ID card.
Reporting a loss
The holder’s identity document.
Intendencia contact
- 1950
Monday to Friday 8:00 to 19:00. Saturday 9:00 to 13:00.
- WhatsApp 099 019 500
Where to get it and top it up
Top up with AhiVoyThe Intendencia de Montevideo’s STM points. Tap a point to see its address and hours.
Service centres: they make every card, top up, take loss reports and recover balances. They take cash and credit, debit and prepaid cards.
Card pick-up: they hand out the común card, take its loss reports and top up any card.
Top-up: they top up any card, in cash. Abitab branches also take credit, debit and prepaid cards.
Near you
Use your location to see the nearest first.
How to top up
At a top-up point
Any card, in cash. At Abitab branches also with a credit, debit or prepaid card.
At a service centre
Any card, in cash or with a credit, debit or prepaid card.
STM en línea
For común and retiree cards. You need an ID Uruguay user and a first top-up of $260, or $104 with the Uruguay Social card. You pay from your bank or with a card. To activate it, hold the card once at a service centre or, after 48 hours, on the bus machine.
Pospago (pay later)
For común, retiree and student cards. You pay later, by BROU account debit or with OCA, Creditel, Tarjeta D or Cabal cards. Ask your bank or card issuer; it costs nothing extra.
How much you can load
On the común card, from $100 to $8,000 per top-up.
On the bus
You cannot load money. If your balance is short, you pay the rest in cash at the card price. Category G students get their 50 free trips of the month on their first trip: this is being rolled out gradually.
If you lose the card
- Report it at once at an STM point, with the holder’s document. A común card, at any point. A card with name and photo, at a service centre.
- If you want, get a new one. The price is in the table above.
- After 72 hours you recover the balance at any point and it moves to the new card. The hours count from 0:00 of the day after the report.
A balance loaded through STM en línea comes back by itself after 72 hours. If the card fails on the bus, try more than once, then go to an STM point.
Related
Frequently asked questions
How much does the STM card cost?
The first común card is free. If you lose it, the next one costs $128.
Where do I get the común STM card?
At the 20 service centres and at Abitab branches, with an ID card, passport or diplomatic admission card.
Where do I top up the STM card?
At the top-up points (lottery agencies, Redpagos, exchange offices and others), at Abitab branches, at the service centres and with STM en línea.
Do primary pupils need a card?
No. They ride free Monday to Saturday from 6:00 to 19:00 during the school year, with the white smock and blue bow or their school uniform.
Can I pay the bus with a debit or credit card?
Not yet. The Intendencia plans bank card and e-wallet payments on board from June 2027.
How much is the 1-hour ticket?
$52 with the STM card and $64 in cash, showing the card.
Source: Intendencia de Montevideo, November 9, 2026.
Download the app to see live buses and find how to get to your destination
Didn't find what you were looking for?
Write to us at hola@ahivoy.uy.
Data as of .