Key facts
- The MTA is auctioning its last 60 MetroCard vending machines.
- The auction is part of the agency's transition to the OMNY contactless payment system.
- Machines are sold non-operational and require buyer pickup.
- A sweepstakes offers early access to a transit memorabilia sale and a discount.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has begun auctioning off its final MetroCard vending machines, allowing New Yorkers to purchase a piece of transit history as the agency transitions to its OMNY contactless fare payment system. The auction, which opened Wednesday morning and will conclude on August 19, offers a limited number of retired MetroCard Vending Machines (MVM) and MetroCard Express Machines (MEM).
These machines, first installed in 1999, have been familiar fixtures for millions of subway riders. MTA media liaison Joana Flores confirmed that a total of 60 machines are up for auction. The last public-facing machine is located in Greenwich Village's Mulry Square and now features a QR code for interested bidders.
The larger MVMs, measuring 80 inches long, 42 inches wide, and 36 inches deep, weigh approximately 1,050 pounds. The smaller MEMs, introduced later and accepting only credit or debit cards, measure 21 inches long, 14 inches wide, and 42 inches high, weighing around 210 pounds. All machines are sold in non-operational condition after their electronic and payment processing components were removed.
Successful bidders must pay in full upon notification and arrange for pickup within 10 days, being responsible for the heavy lifting and transportation. In conjunction with the auction, the MTA is also running a sweepstakes where 15 winners will receive VIP early access to the agency's annual transit memorabilia pop-up sale in October, along with a 20% discount. If machines remain unsold after the auction, they may be offered at the pop-up sale.
The MetroCard itself was once synonymous with New York City commuting and featured various commemorative editions and promotions, including those honoring musicians like David Bowie and Olivia Rodrigo, and TV shows like Seinfeld. While the MTA is no longer selling new MetroCards, it continues to accept them, with no set date for a complete transition away from the classic yellow cards to the OMNY tap-and-ride system.