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OC Bus

Youth Ride Free Program

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Ride for free throughout OC.

No stress. No hassle. Your child rides OC Bus for free – Making life easier for you!

Ride Free

Ride for free throughout OC.

No stress. No hassle. Your child rides OC Bus for free – Making life easier for you!

Ride Free

Keep Free OC Bus Rides Active

The Youth Ride Free program provides youth aged 6 to 18 with free travel on safe, clean and reliable buses.

Free Rides Expire on September 30

To keep rides free, two things must happen:

  1. Create or sign into a Wave account.
  2. Apply for Youth Ride Free and upload proof of age.

Once approved, Youth Ride Free is added to the Wave account linked to the rider’s Wave card.

Without approval, the rider’s Wave card may be charged the regular fare.

Your Child's Safety is Our Priority

With nearly 60 routes and more than 5,400 stops, OC Bus is a great way to get around Orange County.

Riding with the Wave card is even more convenient for anyone who wants to travel within the region. More importantly, we constantly monitor our bus service to ensure safe transportation for all riders. You can use the Transit App to track your child’s bus in real time, anywhere in the county.

Safe Drivers
Our drivers have passed rigorous background checks; our driving training program is one of the best in the country.
Code of Conduct
When passengers are boarding and riding, we enforce our Code of Conduct policy to help ensure behavior that promotes a safe, secure, comfortable, and inviting atmosphere.
More Info
Transit App
Transit App shows accurate next departure times, tracks buses on the map, and displays upcoming transit schedules.
More Info


What Do Parents Say about OC Bus?

More than 30,000 youths in Orange County are already using the pass. Here’s what their parents have to say.
“We are glad that our 10th grader is growing as a more socially sensitive and responsible person while commuting to school and various places by OCTA bus over a year.”
Maria L., Santa Ana
“I would like to share our experience with the Youth Ride Free program. Our son rides the OCTA bus daily to and from school and has done so since 7th grade. Now he's a senior and enjoys traveling all over southern California when not in school. Our key concern is safety and he pays attention to his surroundings.”
Patrick Z.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Children ages 6 to 12: A parent or guardian creates a Wave account or signs in and applies.
  • Students 13 to 18: The student creates a Wave account or signs in and applies. A parent or guardian can help.

Most students already have a Wave card. If the rider does not have one, request one at OCBus.com/Apply. Select “Youth” and complete the reduced fare application.

  • A Wave card number (if applicable)
  • A document showing the rider’s name and birthdate
  • A recent photo

You can pick one up from your child’s school or visit the OCTA Store.

If your child’s school is not participating in the Youth Ride Free program, you may request a pass here, or come to the OCTA Store.

Yes. Each child requires a separate parental request form, and the form must be resubmitted each year.

For this school year, Wave cards will be enabled with a temporary benefit that works like the paper passes, valid for up to one year, through September 30, 2026.

With nearly 60 routes and more than 5,400 stops, OC Bus makes it easy to get to school, work and fun. Rider tools such as the Transit App make it simple to figure out when the bus will arrive and how to plan trips. We also offer transit training to promote bus riding confidence.

Request a Wave Card Today

The Youth Ride Free Wave cards for the 2025-26 school year are now available at your child’s Orange County school. If your school is not participating, you may request a card below. Get a Wave card for your child and make life easier for your whole family.

Grant Funds Offer Many Benefits

The program is grant-funded by the California Department of Transportation and the California Air Resources Board through California Climate Investments which help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen the economy, and improve public health and the environment.

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