 Standard cards can be purchased at vending machines within all Metrorail stations, at Metro sales offices, selected retail stores, and online. The purchase price includes $ 2 for the card itself plus an initial fare value, which varies depending on where they are purchased: cards purchased at stations cost $ 10 ($ 2 for the card and $ 8 fare value), while those purchased online cost either $ 10 or $ 30 ($ 2 for the card and $ 8 or $ 28 fare value). The cards can be reloaded using farecard vending machines or using cash at fareboxes onboard buses. Riders may also add value to their SmarTrip cards by trading in paper farecards (a used farecard up to $ 20, or an unused farecard of any value). There is a difference between SmarTrip and CharmCard on the maximum value that can be stored on the card. SmarTrip can store up to $ 300 in value, while CharmCard can store up to $ 200.
