The Wave fare system will launch in fall 2025.

No, fares stay the same for everyone(regular, senior, disabled, youth and college).

Yes, you can still use for single rides.

No, day passes won't be sold on the bus anymore.

No, with the new system, the paper 1-Day and 30-Day passes won't be sold anymore.

Yes, for at least 6 months after the new system launches, you can still use your old paper passes.

You can pay with:

• Cash (for single rides only)
• A Wave card (physical or in the app)
• A contactless credit/debit card

No, the new system tracks your usage and gives you free rides after you’ve paid enough for a day or monthly pass.

Yes, you get free transfers for 2 hours after each paying tap.

You can log into your online account and add funds to your Wave card with a debit or credit card. You can also use the Wave mobile app to load funds on your physical or virtual Wave card.

There will be an initial fee of $2 when you purchase the card at the OCTA store or order it online directly from OCTA. It will cost $4 when you purchase your initial Wave card at a participating retail location. The virtual card in the new app will be free.

No, the only locations to load money on the Wave card will be at the OCTA store, the new OC Streetcar platform ticket vending machines and at participating retail locations.

No, each rider must have their own Wave card.

Yes. At a retailer, the minimum is between $2.00 and $5.00 depending on the retailer, If adding money using your online account, the minimum is $2.00. The maximum you can add at one time is $250 and the maximum allowed on either a physical or virtual card at any one time is $250.

Tap your card on the validator. A green or yellow screen with a checkmark means it worked.

LA Metro uses TAP, a card-based solution information and fund balances are based on the card. Our new Wave system is account-based and offers greater flexibility because all your information  and fund balances are stored in an online account, not on the card.

Not right now, but we're working on it.

No, Wave cards cannot be added to mobile wallets. If you do not want to use a physical card, you can download the new Wave mobile app and create a virtual card that will be reloadable either digitally through your mobile phone. You can also add funds to your mobile virtual Wave card usigne cash  or you can use cash or debit/credit cards at the retail network.

Log into your online account and add funds to your Wave card with a debit or credit card. You can also add funds at any of the locations in the Wave retail network using debit or credit cards or cash.

If you have an account and registered your Wave card, your account balance is protected. Simply log into your account and transfer the funds from the lost card to a new card. This provides balance protection.

The Wave card is a reusable, reloadable card valid for 10 years.

The Wave system will feature a new mobile app. You’ll need to download the new Wave app and create a new account—ideally using the same email address as before. Once the new app launches, the current OC Bus mobile app will be phased out.

Yes, you will use the same username and password to log in on both the mobile app and the website, as the system is account-based and not tied to a specific device.

Yes, the new mobile app will include an option to load funds to your virtual card using cash at participating retail locations.

You'll be able to load funds into your mobile account using cash or debit/credit cards at participating retail locations.

No, you'll need to create an account in the Wave mobile app to use it for transit rides.

Yes, if your mobile device supports facial recognition, you'll be able to use that feature.

You create your own security PIN and use it when contacting Customer Relations for assistance.

It’s tapping your enabled debit or credit card or smart phone to pay without inserting or swiping.

OCTA accepts contactless payments made using an American Express, Discover, MasterCard or Visa debit or credit card, or mobile wallet-enabled smartphones or smartwatches.

Contactless cards have a wave-like symbol on the front or back that looks like a wi-fi symbol turned on its side. This tells you that you can pay for purchases by tapping your card at authorized payment terminals, such as OCTA’s onboard validator.

If you have more than one debit or credit card linked to your mobile wallet, your fare will be charged to the card you selected as your default. If you want to use a different card, you must designate it as your default card prior to boarding.

While you will not be charged for trips taken after you have earned your daily cap, you are still required to tap your contactless payment method as proof of payment. You will see on your bank or credit card statement that you were not charged for that trip.

Adults ride for $2.00 per trip. However, if you use contactless payment, your daily fare will be capped at $5.00 regardless of how many trips you take! If you pay using the Wave card or Wave mobile app, your monthly fare will also be capped, and you will receive additional benefits.

Yes. To track your progress towards a daily cap,  create a Wave account at wave.octa.net and link the contactless card you will be using to your account.

No, you must consistently use the same payment method to earn your daily cap and free rides. Once you enter your physical card number into your smartphone, your device will assign a new tokenized digital account number to keep your payment information private. Because of this new number, the system recognizes the payment method as a new card number.

No, only regular adult fare is available with contactless payments. To qualify for senior and disabled fares, you must register to qualify for the discounted fare, create a Wave account and use either a Wave card or Wave mobile for your payment method.

No, each rider must use a different debit or credit card. Contactless payment can only be used for one rider at a time. If you want to purchase rides for multiple riders, you can create a Wave account and use either a Wave card or Wave mobile to purchase and use a group ticket.

Children aged 5 and under ride free. Youth aged 6 to 18 can ride free with the Youth Ride Free pass, but this pass must be registered in advance.

All riders who wish to use reduced fares must create an account in the new Wave fare system. If you are already approved for reduced fares, your rider type will transfer automatically. OCTA will contact current reduced fare customers with instructions for the self-guided transfer process once the new system launches. New riders seeking reduced fare status will need to apply online through a registration process similar to the current one.

No, there is no cost for applying for reduced fares. To receive reduced fares, you must go through the application process and be approved.

All reduced fares have an expiration date, which is displayed in your Wave customer account next to your rider type.

• Senior Fares: Expire 10 years from the approval date listed on your application.
• Disabled Fares: Expiration depends on the type of disability approved during the application process.
• College Fares: Valid for the qualifying semester—Fall fares expire December 31, and Spring fares expire June 30.
• Youth Fares: Expire at the end of the month in which the rider turns 19.

No, the reduced fare is valid for your use only. You must show proper verification on board, if asked.

Yes, if you currently have a Wave card used for regular fares, you can enter that card number during the application process. Once approved, the card will be linked to your account and updated with your eligible reduced fare rider type.

Please note: If you’ve already started accumulating fares toward a regular monthly cap and your card is later converted to a reduced fare card within that same month, the fares paid prior to the change will not count toward the reduced fare cap. Your reduced fare monthly cap will begin once your card is officially designated with your qualifying reduced fare rider type.

Wave cards will be available for purchase and reloading at convenient locations you currently shop at. Our network will include many of the same stores you currently get OC Bus passes from, such as Albertsons, Vons and Northgate. And our new network will expand to new locations such as Walgreens, CVS and 7-Eleven Stores.