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Fare Information
Cash
(Exact Change)
TAP2RIDE
(Credit / Debit Card)
VCBusPass
(Card or Umo app)
Zone Fares
Zone 1 (Ventura)
Full Fare $1.75
Reduced* $0.80
Zone 2 (Regional)
Full Fare $4.00
Reduced* $2.00
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, Mastercard, and Discover debit and credit cards.
September 8, 2026
Tap2Ride is now available on buses across Ventura County! Simply tap your debit or credit card, phone or watch when you board. No cash, paper pass, app, or account needed.
Participating agencies
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 / Discover
Apple Pay
Google / Samsung Pay
Note: American Express is not yet eligible.
Fares by Zone
Zone 1 (Ventura)
Full Fare $1.75
Reduced* $0.80
Zone 2 (Regional)
Full Fare $4.00
Reduced* $2.00
* Important for Reduced Fares: You must register your card to get the discount.
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)
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.
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.
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
In-Person Locations
(Please call to confirm hours & accepted payment methods)
Camarillo City Hall
Cash Only
Thousand Oaks Transit
Cash, Credit
Fillmore City Hall
Call for details
Santa Paula City Hall
Cash Only
Simi Valley City Hall
Cash, Check, Credit
Gold Coast Transit
Call for details
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
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.
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 2027).
Open to Everyone
- Transit Equity Day (Feb 4)
- Earth Day (April 22)
- Clean Air Day (Oct 7)
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).
Youth Ride Free
Thru June 2027
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.
College Ride
Thru June 2027
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
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.
Accepted Payment Methods
Tap2Ride (Contactless)
- Bank Cards: Contactless Visa, Mastercard & Discover.
- Mobile Wallets: Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung 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.
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: Visa, Mastercard & Discover are accepted; American Express is not 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.
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).
Availability
Tap2Ride is now available countywide on these fixed route services:
Fare Capping (Pay-As-You-Go)
What is it?
Fare capping means you never pay more than the cost of a VCTC 31-day pass during a 31-day period. Just tap and ride. Tap2Ride tracks your rides across participating agencies automatically. You don’t need to pay $50 or $130 (VCTC Zone 2) upfront—just pay per ride until you hit the limit!
How it works:
- Each time you ride, Tap2Ride charges the regular one-way bus fare.
- As you continue to ride, Tap2Ride automatically tracks how much you spend across participating agencies over 31 days.
- 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.
Participating agencies: VCTC Intercity, Gold Coast Transit, Simi Valley Transit, Thousand Oaks Transit, Moorpark City Transit, Camarillo Area Transit, and Valley Express Bus – fixed routes only.
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.
Reduced Pricing:
Zone 1: $0.80 | Zone 2: $2.00
Students & Youth:
Looking for College Ride or Youth Ride Free programs?
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.
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 fixed-route bus in the county?
- 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 Valley Express Dial-A-Ride or Santa Barbara MTD?
- Ask the driver for a Paper Transfer when you board your first bus. The Tap2Ride system cannot digitally transfer you to agencies outside the county or to services other than fixed route.
Fixing Fare Issues
Step 1: Check Your History
Suspect an incorrect charge? View your full travel history and payments online first.
Step 2: Dispute a Charge
If you still see an error after checking your history, our support team can help fix it.
Your ride is just one tap away with Tap2Ride
