ORCA Smart Card

ORCA is your transfer

If you take more than one bus or train to complete your trip, or if you ride the bus frequently, get an ORCA card.

Paying with ORCA automatically gives you a two-hour transfer that credits the fare you've already paid when you transfer to another bus.

How to buy ORCA

Adult customers can buy an ORCA card and load transportation value or passes onto existing cards in the any of the ways listed below.

• Online: Online purchases require a valid Visa or MasterCard. It will take up to 7 business days for your card to arrive in the mail. If you are adding value to an existing card, it can take up to 24 hours for that value to appear on your card. An adult ORCA card costs $5 to purchase.
  
  
• By phone: 1-888-988-6722 or TTY Relay: 711 (1-888-889-6368). Phone purchases require a valid Visa or MasterCard. If you are adding value to an existing card, it can take up to 24 hours for that value to appear on your card.
  
  
• Customer Service Office: such as the RideStore or Everett Station. Adult, youth (ages 6 to 18), senior (ages 65+) and disabled Regional Reduced Fare Permit ORCA cards are available at these locations. Most forms of payment are accepted at customer service offices.
  
  
• Ticket vending machines: Ticket machines are located at Everett Station (inside the building as well as on the train platform and just north of the Swift terminal), Mukilteo and Edmonds Sounder stations and at King Street and light rail stations in downtown Seattle. Ticket machine purchases require cash, Visa or MasterCard, and only adult cards are sold at machines.
  
  
• By mail: Mail purchases may be made with a check, credit card or money order.
  
  
• Participating retail pass outlets: Add value to an existing ORCA card or purchase a new adult card. Cash accepted, check with the retailer for other options.

To pay a youth fare, customers must provide proof of age and buy their first ORCA card by mail or in person at a Customer Service Office. A youth ORCA card is free to purchase and $5 to replace. Learn more about getting your free youth ORCA card.

To pay a reduced fare, seniors (ages 65+) and people with disabilities need to get a reduced fare ORCA card in person at a Customer Service Office. Bring proof of age or an  Application for Regional Reduced Fare Permit for Senior and Disabled Persons. Reduced fare ORCA cards are free, but replacement cards cost $3.

Once you have your ORCA card, all customers can load a pass or E-purse value online, by mail, at an ORCA Customer Service Office or at a ticket vending machine. Cards last 3-5 years.

ORCA Products

ORCA E-purse
Best for: new or infrequent transit riders

E-purse is loaded pre-paid value on your ORCA card, like a pre-paid coffee card. The fare value of your ride is deducted automatically from your card, and if you need to transfer to complete your trip, the transfer credit is calculated. If the second trip costs more than the first, additional fare will be deducted automatically from your card and shown on the card reader.

E-purse value may be purchased in dollar increments with a minimum purchase of $5 and a maximum of $300. You can add value at any time by phone, online or in person, or set the card to “autoload” whenever the balance falls to zero.

Tap your ORCA card to activate E-purse added online or by phone. If you do not tap within 60 days, reactivate that E-purse by contacting ORCA customer service at 888-988-6722 or contactus@orcacard.com.

Monthly Pass or Monthly Pass/E-Purse combination
Best for: frequent customers

For those who take more than 18 roundtrips a month, we recommend a monthly pass (see pass prices). A monthly pass on an ORCA card is good for unlimited rides on transit systems throughout the region. Pick a pass value based on the fare of your most frequent trip. For instance, buy a $2.50 pass if you’re an adult who takes local Community Transit buses.

If you make transfers to a bus or train with a higher fare, you can pay the cost difference with cash or with E-purse value that you've added to your ORCA card.

You can set your ORCA account to automatically load a new pass every month.

If you ride the Washington State Ferries, you can load a WSF monthly pass on your ORCA card (creating your own "Ship to Shore" pass), or use your E-purse to pay for individual ferry rides (walk-on fare only).

ORCA LIFT
Best For: Low-income residents

Community Transit offers a reduced fare for low-income residents through the ORCA LIFT Program.

An ORCA card allows riders to pay a reduced bus fare because their household income is less than or equal to 200% of the federal poverty level, established by the US Dept. of Health & Human Services. 

New ORCA Coming in 2022

In 2022, we’re upgrading ORCA. That means a better payment experience and more choices for managing your account. You will be able to add value to your account in real-time, manage your account from anywhere with the ORCA App and find more retail locations closer to you. Go to www.myORCA.com to learn more.