Bus and train users in Buenos Aires will have time until April 1 to register their SUBE card through a website in order to avoid higher commute fares.

If they do not do so, they will have to pay higher fares than the ones originally stipulated. As of February, bus fares in Buenos Aires will start at AR$270 (unregistered cards will pay 59% more, AR$430) and trains will cost AR$130 (unregistered users will pay double, AR$260).

Current fares are AR$76.9 for buses and AR$48.3 for trains. This means that users who register their SUBE cards will face a 251.1% and 169.1% increase respectively, which skyrockets to 459.2% and 438.3% for those who do not. People who fail to register their cards will not get discounts for combinations either.

According to the government’s resolution published on Friday, the decision is a first step in its strategy of granting subsidies directly to users instead of concessionary companies and “developing tools to provide traceability to the application of public resources.”

In his usual Friday press conference, Presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni said that the government intends to provide subsidies only to “those who need them.” “If the card is not identified, there will be no subsidy because we cannot know what the users’ needs are,” he said.

Subway fares, which are under the jurisdiction of Buenos Aires City’s government, will also be raised. Fares grew 37.5% in January — to AR$110 from the previous cost of AR$80. In February, the fare will be increased by 13.6% to AR$125, totaling a 56% rise since the beginning of the year.

How to register your SUBE card

The card can be registered on your cell phone through the SUBE app, available for iOS and Android operating systems. It can also be done through a website by following these steps:

• If your card is not registered, go to the official SUBE website.
• On the homepage, click the “registrala” (register it) button.
• Enter the 16 numbers on your card, your DNI, gender, and email. Then, click on “continuar” (continue). If you do not have a DNI, you can contact the Buenos Aires City government through the contacts provided on the website.
• Complete your eleven-number “número de trámite” (process number) in your DNI, cell phone number, and landline phone number.
• On the third screen, a four-digit password will be generated.
• After the form is completed, you will get an email to validate your account and finish the registration process.

Another alternative to register the card is to call 0800-777-SUBE (7823), click option 3 or go to the SUBE service centers which can be verified here.

Those who register their card will be able to enter argentina.gob.ar/sube with their DNI and password to check their personal travel history and what discounts they’ve obtained. Likewise, they may report stores that charge additional charges when purchasing or recharging the card, and also recover their credit if the card is lost or broken.

— With information from Télam