Beginning October 15th, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) will introduce WAVE, a smart fare card, retiring their generational run of paper passes.
Similar to the systems used by LA Metro and New York MTA, the WAVE card has no expiration date and uses smart fare capping, which means riders never pay more than the cost of a day pass or a monthly pass—guaranteeing that no one spends more than $69 in a calendar month.
Think of it like a reloadable Dave & Buster's game card: you load money, use it as you play (ride the bus), and the system automatically tracks your tickets (rides) to redeem them for a nice gift or toy (get the most value).
Why WAVE?
OCTA offered one-day and 30-day paper passes for adults and seniors. While helpful, some riders found themselves either overpaying, because they bought monthly passes but didn’t ride enough to justify the cost. Some also underutilized the bus because they only used the bus occasionally.
WAVE solves this problem through a system called fare capping. Instead of paying upfront, riders are charged per trip and automatically stop paying once they hit the daily or monthly limit.
As more transportation networks adapt to technology, OCTA hopes riders welcome the new payment options.
How fare capping works
It’s understandable that some riders might feel like they’re being scammed by having to pay each time they ride—but in reality, they’re not. Fares will not change in OCTA's transition to WAVE.
- One-way fare: $2.00
- Day pass: $4.50
- Monthly maximum: $69.00
With WAVE, your spending is capped automatically. After three rides in one day ($4.50 total), the rest of the day’s rides are free. Once you’ve spent $69 in a calendar month, the rest of that month’s rides are free.
This system resets on the first of each month. To reach the $69 threshold, a rider would need to take the bus three times a day for 16 days in a month. Riders who don’t ride that often save money by only paying for the trips they actually take.
Seniors and riders with disabilities would have to ride the bus twice a day for 16 days to reach their $22.25 monthly cap.
Rider programs and groups
Certain rider groups will continue receiving benefits under the WAVE system:
- Youth ages 6–18 ride free with a WAVE card. Parents must apply through their child’s school (if participating in the program) or at OCTA headquarters. Passes are valid for one year, with extensions available up to the child’s 19th birthday through an application process opening later this year according to OCTA.
- Community college and university students will continue riding under their existing student programs, now tied to WAVE cards.
- ADA riders and seniors (60+) will continue at discounted rates, with eligibility verified during the WAVE setup process. The Santanero reached out to OCTA if any tutorials are planned to be released to assist ADA and senior riders, but have not heard back as of publish (grandchildren, you're on call!).
Each group can review its own instructions for account setup and card registration at OCTA's website.
Getting and using WAVE
- Create a WAVE account online. Your account can host up to eight WAVE cards or debit/credit cards with tap-to-pay capability.
- Add a payment method (credit or debit). You can set auto-reload limits when your balance gets low.
- Use tap-to-ride: either your WAVE card, a linked debit/credit card under the “Contactless” tab, or the WAVE app’s QR code.
Legacy payment methods
Cash and coins will still accepted, but they won’t count toward fare caps. Buses will also no longer carry paper day passes, so riders must carry exact one-way fare moving forward or adapt to the WAVE system.
Digital passes on the former OC Bus app must be activated no later than January 27, 2026. The last day to use these digital passes will be on February 28, 2026. The OC Bus app is also being phased out to the new WAVE app, but the transition period will be about six months.
Paper passes will no longer be sold in stores like Northgate or Ralph's. Instead they will carry the new plastic WAVE card for $4.00 (riders can purchase the same card with OCTA online or in store for $2.00).
If riders have a previously purchased paper pass or those who receive them from housing programs and homeless shelters, any unused pass will continue to be validated at the firebox until OCTA announces a final cutoff date.
Get a free WAVE card!
To make the switch easier, OCTA is setting up ambassador stations in cities across the county as well as on local bus routes. At these locations, staff will distribute free WAVE cards.
In Santa Ana, OCTA will have the following locations. Please note their date and time. While supplies last.
