How to Pay - Ventura County Transportation Commission

How to Pay - Ventura County Transportation Commission
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Plan Your Trip
Select a Route
Hwy 101 (Routes 50–55)
Hwy 126 (Route 60)
East County (Routes 70–73X)
Cross County (Route 77)
Coastal Express (Routes 80–89)
Channel Islands (Route 99)
Ways to Pay
Cash
(Exact Change)
TAP2RIDE
(Credit / Debit Card)
VCBusPass
(Card or Umo app)
One-Way Fares
Zone 1 (Ventura)
Full Fare
$1.75
Reduced*
$0.80
Zone 2 (Regional)
Full Fare
$4.00
Reduced*
$2.00
View Full Info →
*Seniors 65+, Medicare, ADA
How to Pay Your Fare on VCTC Intercity
How to Pay Your Fare
on VCTC Intercity
Introducing Tap2Ride, Ventura County’s new contactless fare payment system, allowing you to pay
fares on
VCTC Intercity
Bus routes
with Visa
and
Mastercard debit
and
credit cards.
Tap2Ride (NEW)
VCBUSPASS (CARD OR APP)
Cash Fare
free & discounted fares
✅ Active as of June 23, 2025
Tap2Ride is now live on VCTC Intercity Bus Routes. No app or account needed—just tap and go!
How to Use Tap2Ride
Step-by-Step:
Look for the
yellow payment reader
when you board.
Tap your contactless card, phone, or watch on the symbol.
Wait for the green
“GO!”
screen.
Accepted Payments
💳 Visa / Mastercard
🍎 Apple Pay
🤖 Google / Samsung Pay
Note: Amex and Discover are not yet eligible.
Fares by Zone
ZONE 1 (Ventura County)
Full Fare
$1.75
Reduced Fare*
$0.80
ZONE 2 (Regional / Coastal Express)
Full Fare
$4.00
Reduced Fare*
$2.00
* Important for Reduced Fares:
You must register your card to get the discount.
Register Card Now →
Why use Tap2Ride?
“Pay as you go” monthly caps (ride free after hitting $50 limit within 31 days)
No exact change or special cards needed
1 Free Transfer (within 2 hours)
Security & Support
Uses secure EMV® chip technology. VCTC does not store or sell your data.
Need Help?
Call
1-800-438-1112
Contactless Smartcard & Mobile App
Load passes or stored value onto a reusable card (or the Umo App) and simply tap to ride.
Save 10% on fares when using Stored Value!
✅ Accepted Agencies
VCbuspass is accepted on most transit across the county:
VCTC Intercity
Gold Coast Transit
Valley Express
Simi Valley Transit
Thousand Oaks Transit
Ojai Trolley
Moorpark Transit
Camarillo Area (Stored Value Only)
How to Use
Tap & Go:
Tap card or phone on the reader when boarding.
Auto-Deduct:
The correct fare is deducted automatically.
Flexible:
Works with physical card OR the
Umo Mobility App
Transfers:
Automatic when using the same card/device.
Fares & Options
INCLUDES 10% STORED VALUE DISCOUNT
Zone 1
(Ventura County)
$1.57
Reduced*: $0.72
Zone 2
(Regional)
$3.60
Reduced*: $1.80
*Seniors 65+, Medicare, or ADA.
Call 1-800-438-1112 before purchasing to verify eligibility.
Available Fare Types:
31-Day Passes:
Unlimited rides for 31 days.
Stored Value:
“Pay As You Go” cash balance.
10% Discount:
Applied automatically to cash fares when using Stored Value.
Where to Buy & Reload
📱 Online & Mobile
› Buy a New Card
› Reload Your Card
› Register Your Card
📲 Or download the
Umo Mobility App
🏢 In-Person Locations
(Please call to confirm hours & accepted payment methods)
Camarillo City Hall
Cash Only
Santa Paula City Hall
Cash Only
Thousand Oaks Transit
Cash, Credit
Simi Valley City Hall
Cash, Check, Credit
Fillmore City Hall
Call for details
Gold Coast Transit
Call for details
View Additional Retail Outlets →
⚠️ Important Tip:
Each rider must use their own card or app.
No group tap-ins allowed.
💵 Pay with Exact Change
Drivers
cannot make change
. Please have your exact fare ready before you board. No refunds or fare credits are issued.
Cash Fares
Zone 1
(Ventura County)
$1.75
Reduced*: $0.80
Zone 2
(Regional)
$4.00
Reduced*: $2.00
*Seniors 65+, Medicare, or ADA cardholders.
🎓 Student Riders
Youth Ride Free:
Ages 18 & under (or HS students over 18) ride free with School ID.
College Ride Free:
Students at participating colleges ride free with valid Student ID.
Transfers
Paper Transfers
Valid for
one ride within 2 hours
of purchase.
Ask the Driver:
You MUST request a transfer
when you board
the first bus.
Zone 2 Upcharge:
Transferring to a regional route costs extra ($1.50 Full / $0.75 Reduced).
VCbuspass Users:
No paper needed; transfers are automatic.
View Transfer Agreement Details →
Ride Free in Ventura County
VCTC offers special programs allowing specific groups—or sometimes everyone—to ride for free. Check your eligibility below.
📅 Free Fare Days
Ride any bus in Ventura County for free on these special holidays (Valid through June 2026).
🌍 Open to Everyone
Transit Equity Day (Feb 4)
Earth Day (April 22)
Clean Air Day (Oct 2)
🇺🇸 Veterans Day (Nov 11)
Eligibility:
Veterans & Active Duty Military Only.
Valid ID Required:
Military ID, CAC, VA Card, DD214, or Driver’s License w/ Veteran designation.
(No ID? Tell driver branch, dates & location of service).
Free Fare Days FAQ →
🎒 Youth Ride Free
Thru June 2026
Youth 18 and under (or >18 enrolled in High School) ride any public transit bus in Ventura County for free.
Anytime, Anywhere:
No restricted hours.
ID Requirement:
High School aged youth must show school ID to board.
View Youth Program FAQ
🎓 College Ride
Thru June 2026
Students enrolled at participating colleges ride free.
See college ride program page for more info
PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS:
CLU • CSUCI • Moorpark College • Oxnard College • Ventura College • SBCC • Ventura County Adult Ed
View College Program FAQ
FAQ - How Tap2Ride Works
The Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) Intercity service offers credit and debit card fare payment technology on its buses. We have compiled this list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to share information about this payment framework.
PAYMENT METHODS & SETUP
Accepted Payment Methods
📡 Tap2Ride (Contactless)
Bank Cards:
Contactless Visa & Mastercard.
Mobile Wallets:
Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Fitbit Pay.
💵 Traditional Methods
Yes, other methods are still accepted! You can still use:
Cash (Exact Change)
VCbuspass & Single Ride Tickets
Valid Free Fare Programs
How to Pay on the Bus
Spot the Reader:
Look for the yellow device at the front of the bus.
Tap Your Card/Phone:
Hold your device or card over the
Contactless Symbol
below the screen.
Wait for Green:
Once you see the green
“GO!”
screen, your fare is paid.
Tip:
Always tap at the start of your trip to ensure you’re charged the correct fare.
Look for this yellow reader when boarding
Troubleshooting & Options
Why isn’t my card working?
New Card:
It may need activation. If it fails, contact your bank.
Declined:
Your account may not have enough funds.
Damaged/Expired:
Check the expiration date or chip condition.
Unsupported:
Only Visa & Mastercard are accepted currently (No Amex/Discover yet).
Don’t have a contactless card?
Use Your Phone:
Add existing cards to Apple/Google Wallet.
Apps:
Order a free contactless debit card via Cash App, PayPal, or Venmo.
Find Low-Cost Banking Options →
We partner with Bank On to help you find affordable accounts.
Is it Secure?
Yes.
Tap-to-pay transactions use the same secure networks as inserting a chip card.
Built on secure
EMV® Chip technology
to reduce fraud.
Generates a
dynamic, one-time code
for every tap (just like inserting a card).
Protects your payment info and authorizes the transaction instantly.
using tap2ride
Rules & Costs
🔄 Do I need to tap on every bus?
YES.
To use your free transfer, you must tap on the next bus.
First Tap:
You are charged the fare.
Next Tap (within 2 hours):
The system recognizes your card and gives you a
FREE
transfer automatically.
🚫 Are there extra fees?
No.
There are absolutely no additional fees for using Tap2Ride.
You pay the exact same standard fare as cash users. Plus, you get access to
Monthly Fare Capping
discounts automatically when you use the same card.
What will I be charged?
Standard Bus Fares
Zone 1
$1.75
per trip
Routes within Ventura County
Includes: Hwy 101 (Rt 50), Hwy 126 (Rt 60), East County (Rt 70-74x), Channel Islands (Rt 90-99), Cross County Ltd (Rt 77).
Zone 2
$4.00
per trip
Routes outside Ventura County
Includes: Coastal Express (Rt 80-89) & Conejo Connection (Rt 55/55x).
fares & discounts
Fare Capping (Pay-As-You-Go)
What is it?
Fare capping is a discount that ensures you never pay more than a 31-Day Pass, no matter how many times you ride. You don’t need to pay $50 or $130 upfront—just pay per ride until you hit the limit!
How it works:
Pay for each trip as you go.
Once you reach the
Cap Limit
(see below) within 31 days, the rest of your rides are
FREE
Crucial Rule:
You MUST use the exact same card/device for every tap to track your progress.
Monthly Cap Limits
ZONE 1 CAP (Ventura County)
$50.00
Max Charge per 31 Days
Ride free after spending $50.
(Period starts on your first tap)
ZONE 2 CAP (Regional)
$130.00
Max Charge per 31 Days
Ride free after spending $130.
(Period starts on your first tap)
Reduced & Free Fares
🪪 Seniors (65+) & Medicare
You can receive reduced fares on Tap2Ride, but
you must register your card first.
Register Card Now →
Reduced Pricing:
Zone 1:
$0.80
|  Zone 2:
$2.00
Students & Youth:
Looking for College Ride or Youth Ride Free programs?
View Free Fare Programs →
security, privacy & transactions
Security & Privacy
Is Tap2Ride Secure?
YES. Your payments are safe.
Bank-Grade Security:
Transactions use the exact same secure networks as any Visa or Mastercard payment.
Fraud Protection:
We use
EMV® Chip technology
, which generates a unique, one-time code for every tap to prevent counterfeit fraud.
Is my data private?
Absolutely.
VCTC Intercity does not store, sell, or share your personal data. All payment information is handled according to strict Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standards.
Does my bank see my travel history?
No.
Just like buying a coffee, your card issuer only sees the
amount
of the transaction, not your specific travel details or route history.
transfers & multi-rider use
Important Rules
👥 Can I pay for friends/family?
NO.
Each rider must have their own card.
1 Person = 1 Card.
You cannot tap the same card multiple times for different people.
💳 The “Same Card” Rule
YES.
You
must use the exact same card
or device for every tap.
The system “remembers” your card to automatically grant your free transfer. If you switch cards, you will be charged again.
Transfers (Valid for 2 Hours)
Transferring to another VCTC Intercity Bus?
Just
tap the same card
on the second bus. The reader will recognize your previous trip and give you the ride for FREE automatically.
Transferring to a different bus operator?
Ask the driver for a
Paper Transfer
when you board your first bus. The Tap2Ride system cannot digitally transfer you to other agencies (like Gold Coast Transit) yet.
issues, disputes & expansion
Fixing Fare Issues
Step 1: Check Your History
Suspect an incorrect charge? View your full travel history and payments online first.
View Travel History →
Step 2: Dispute a Charge
If you still see an error after checking your history, our support team can help fix it.
📞 1-800-438-1112
✉️ Tap2Pay@goventura.org
Availability & Expansion
WHERE IS IT NOW?
VCTC Intercity Buses Only
Tap2Ride is currently exclusive to VCTC Intercity routes.
COMING SOON
Countywide Expansion
Expected launch:
Late 2025 / Early 2026
Your ride is just one
tap away with
Tap2Ride