These are the new bus prices in Malaga: children up to 14 years old, free

Children up to 14 years old will travel for free on EMT, which last year surpassed the historic milestone of 50 million travelers. The company, with funding from the Spanish Government's subsidies for sustainable public transport through the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, will launch a new card on July 1st that allows this great step for families. It is estimated that there will be 75,000 beneficiaries of the measure, which was presented by the Mayor of Málaga, Francisco de la Torre; the Councilor for Mobility, Trinidad Hernández, and the manager of EMT and Smassa, Miguel Ruiz.

This decision is based on the extension of the measures included in the Royal Decree-law 1/2025, of January 28, regarding special subsidies for collective transport, which the Malaga City Council can join by having implemented and in operation the city's Low Emission Zone.

Thus, starting in early July, minors between the ages of 3 (transportation is currently free up to 2 years, inclusive) and 14 years, registered in the city of Málaga, will be able to travel for free and without a limit on trips on EMT buses.

The new card, called T14 CHILD, will be available from July 1st and can be requested through the EMT website (www.emtmalaga.es) and at the offices that have been opened for this purpose at the Bus Station, on Paseo de los Tilos. To apply for it, it will be necessary to present the ID card, NIE or Passport of the minor or the minor beneficiary and their legal representative (mother, father, or legal guardian), as well as the family book, proof of registration, and a recent photograph.

The card allows the holder to use the EMT bus network for free, except for special services; Airport, Fair, etc. To acquire the card, a fee of 5 euros plus VAT will be charged for processing expenses.

If the Government does not extend the measures next year, the City Council's decision is to allow free transport up to 7 years of age.

But what about the rest of the tickets? Prices in effect since September 2022 will be extended during the second semester. We are talking about multi-trip transport tickets.

Thus, the transfer card, that is, the recharge of ten trips with free transfer included, remains at a price of 0.50 euros/trip, which represents a 40% discount compared to the reference fare. Considering the cost of a trip at the ordinary fare (1.40 €), the final discount reaches a value of 65%.

Other highly demanded cards, those for students and young people, maintain their reduced price of 13.50 euros/month (unlimited trips), after applying a 50% discount compared to the reference fare.

Another group that benefits from the discount is retirees, although it should be remembered that the majority of retiree cards are free, and only those with a higher pension make some kind of payment. Thus, for retirees covered by the Gold Card 10, the price is reduced by 40%, being 5.95 €/month (unlimited trips), and the Gold Card 27 at 16.20 euros/month.

The monthly card also retains that 40% discount, costing 23.95 euros/month (unlimited trips), as does the annual pass, which offers unlimited trips for a year at a price of 174 euros instead of the 290 set in the current fare. Additionally, all prices have been rounded down, so the discount in some cases is even slightly higher than 50%.

These measures together will again cost the City Council at least another 5.5 million euros.