How to Pay Your Fare on VCTC Intercity

What type of payment methods are accepted on Tap2Ride?

• Contactless-enabled Visa/Mastercard cards.
• Mobile wallets: Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Fitbit Pay.

Are other payment methods still accepted?

• Yes, traditional methods (cash, VCbuspass, Single Ride Tickets, and valid free fare programs) are still accepted.

How do I know if I have a contactless-enabled bank card?

• Cards that are contactless- enabled have the following symbol: Check with your card issuer if you are unsure 
whether your card is contactless enabled

What if I don’t have a contactless card?

• You can add an existing credit card or bank card to your smart device via Apple or Google Wallet and use your phone to Tap2Ride.
• You can open a bank or checking account that includes a contactless debit card.
• You can order a contactless-enabled debit card through the Cash App, PayPal App and/or the Venmo App using your smartphone – no need to have a bank account.
• We partnered with Bank On to find low cost banking options, click here for a list of banks near you.

How do I pay with my contactless debit or credit card or device on VCTC Intercity Buses?

• Look for the contactless symbol on the yellow payment reader as you board.
• Tap your card or device below the screen on the contactless symbol.
• Wait for the green “GO!” screen to confirm payment.
• Always tap at the start of your trip to ensure you’re charged the correct fare.

What are payment readers?

• Payment readers are yellow devices at the front of VCTC Intercity buses that let you pay your fare with a tap of your contactless debit/credit card or device. They look like this:

Why isn’t my contactless card working?

• Your card might not work for these reasons:
  • New card: It may need activation. If it’s still not working after activation, contact your card issuer.
  • Declined payment: Your account may not have enough funds. Check with your bank.
  • Damaged or expired card: Contact your card issuer for a replacement.
  • Unsupported card: Only Visa and Mastercard are accepted (Discover & American Express coming soon).

Is paying via a contactless-enabled bank card or payment-enabled device secure?

• Yes. Tap-to-pay transactions are processed through the same secure networks used for all other Visa and Mastercard transactions. Contactless cards are built on secure EMV® Chip technology, which has proven effective at reducing counterfeit fraud. Just like inserting your card, each EMV® contactless transaction delivers a dynamic, one-time code to the payment reader that protects payment information and authorizes the transaction with a single tap.

Do I need to tap on every bus within 2 hours?

• Free transfers are good for two hours. To use your free transfer, you must tap on another bus within 2 hours.

Does contactless payment Tap2Ride cost more?

• No. Using Tap2Ride is the same as standard fares. Monthly fare cap discounts are available when you use the same debit/credit card to pay.

What will I be charged?

• You will be charged the standard bus fare according to the fares below. There are no additional fees to use Tap2Ride.
• ZONE 1 – Routes within Ventura County: $1.75 per trip
  • • Includes Route 50 Highway 101, Route 60 Highway 126, Route 70-74x East County, Route 90-99 Channel Islands, Route 77 Cross Country Limited
• ZONE 2 – Routes traveling outside Ventura County: $4.00 per trip
  • • Includes Route 80-89 Coastal Express & Route 55/55xConejo Connection

Is there a fee for Tap2Ride?

• There are no fees for using Tap2Ride.

What is fare capping (“pay as you go”)?

• Fare capping is a “pay as you go” discount that ensures all passengers won’t be charged more than a set amount, no matter how many times they ride in a certain period.
• You pay for each trip you take until you reach a certain limit. All additional trips within the set period (i.e. a month) are free.
• You must use the same payment card each time you pay to receive your cap discount.
• Allows you to gain the benefits of a 31-Day pass without needing to pay $50 or $130 for the pass up front.
  For more details, contact the Regional Transit Information Center at 800.438.1112.

What types of caps are there?

• Monthly Zone 1: You will pay no more than $50 within 31 days. If you spend $50 within 31 days, all your rides will be free until the 31-day period is up. The 31-day period starts with the first tap.
• Monthly Zone 2: You will pay no more than $130 within 31 days. If you spend $130 within 31 days, all your rides will be free until the 31-day period is up. The 31-day period starts with the first tap.

Is fare capping available only through Tap2Ride on Intercity?

• Yes, fare capping is only eligible while using your debit/credit card or mobile device to pay your fare.

Are discounted and free fares available with Tap2Ride?

• Discounts for seniors, Medicare cardholders, and veterans are coming to Tap2Ride soon! VCTC is working with our state partners to utilize login.gov to give reduced-fare passengers the ability to register and verify their credit and debit cards to receive reduced fares.

Is Tap2Ride secure?

• Yes. Transactions use the same secure networks as other Visa and Mastercard payments, with EMV® Chip technology to prevent fraud.

Is my data private?

• Yes. VCTC Intercity doesn’t store, sell, or share your data. Payment information is handled securely, and customer support follows Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards.

Does my card issuer see my travel history?

• No. Just like your card issuer does not see what you order from a coffee shop, the issuer will only see the amount of the transaction.

Can I pay fares for more than one person using my debit or credit card?

• No. At this time, each rider must pay with their own contactless-enabled bank card or payment-enabled device.

Are transfers still free when using Tap2Ride?

• From the time of purchase, one free transfer is still valid for one ride within two hours.
• To use your transfer on another Intercity route, you must tap the same payment method on the second bus within 2 hours. To transfer to another transit operator, request a paper transfer from the bus operator when boarding.

Do I have to use the same debit/credit card payment method during the transfer window?

• Yes, you need to use the same card/payment method to receive the free transfer. The payment system “remembers” your card so when you use it on multiple Intercity buses it will know to give you a free transfer.

How do I apply for a fare correction or dispute a charge?

• If you suspect you have been charged more than once or have not been charged the correct fare, please review your travel history by visiting https://customer.switchio.com/login.
• If you still have questions or need to dispute a charge, please contact the Regional Transit Information Center at 1 (800) 438-1112 or send an email to Tap2Pay@goventura.org.

Is this available countywide?

• No, Tap2Ride is only available on VCTC Intercity buses currently, but the system will be implemented countywide late 2025/early 2026.