To provide the method and device for reading a recording medium, capable of dealing with various recording media different in the attaching position of a data recording section.

This device is provided with plural carrier roller groups 21 and 22, a carrier path 20 for carrying a recording medium 3 having a data recording section 4 in its reading direction, a line sensor 41 disposed in the starting end side of the carrier path 20 to detect the position of the data recording section 4 of the recording medium, a magnetic head 51 disposed in the middle part of the carrier path 20 so as to be moved in a direction orthogonal to the carrying direction of the recording medium 3 to read the data recording section 4 of the recording medium, and a magnetic head positioning mechanism 58 for moving the magnetic head 51 to match the position of the data recording section 4 based on the position information on the data recording section 4 detected by the line sensor 41. In the process of carrying the recording medium 3, the position of a data recording section different for each recording medium is detected beforehand, its reading is set and then information is read.