The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) of New York City has started auctioning off its remaining MetroCard vending machines, offering residents a chance to own a piece of the city’s transit history. The auction began on Wednesday morning, August 5th, 2026, and will continue through August 19th, according to the MTA.

The machines being sold include retired MetroCard Vending Machines (MVM) and MetroCard Express Machines (MEM), which have been a familiar sight to millions of subway riders since their first installation in 1999. These colorful metal machines, weighing up to 1,050 pounds, allowed commuters to purchase and reload MetroCards using cash, credit, and debit cards.

Joana Flores, the MTA’s media liaison, confirmed that the agency is auctioning off the very last of these machines. The final public-facing machine is located in Greenwich Village’s Mulry Square and now features a QR code for interested bidders to scan.

The MetroCard itself has been synonymous with New York subway travel and was even used for promotional purposes, including commemorative editions such as one celebrating the 2000 World Series between the Mets and the Yankees.

While there is no set date for when the MTA will fully transition to contactless payments and cease accepting the classic yellow MetroCards, Flores noted that the agency plans to eventually move entirely to a tap-and-ride system.

This auction marks a significant step in the MTA’s modernization efforts as it phases out the MetroCard in favor of the Omny contactless fare system.

Sources