Skip to main content., navigation, translations

ORCA - One Regional Card for All

About the Card

The ORCA card offers the convenience of one-stop shopping for your Puget Sound-area public transportation needs. Whether you commute by ferry, train, rail or bus – or any combination of transportation modes – the ORCA card has you covered. That's because ORCA is a collaborative regional fare system involving seven Western Washington public transportation agencies – Community Transit, Everett Transit, King County Metro Transit, Kitsap Transit, Pierce Transit, Sound Transit and Washington State Ferries.

No more worries about carrying correct change. The ORCA card is like a computer that can simultaneously keep track of value equivalent to cash and passes. One card is all you need.

By registering your ORCA card, you receive balance protection: If your registered card is lost or stolen, login to your My ORCA Account and report it immediately. Or contact ORCA Customer Service. Your card will be replaced and the lost value restored, subject to ORCA Terms of Use. You will be charged a replacement fee for the new card.

The ORCA card contains built-in intelligence that processes and stores information for three different types of transactions:

  • A regional pass product like PugetPass.
  • An agency-specific pass product like a Kitsap Transit or Washington State Ferries monthly pass.
  • Stored transportation value known as an E-purse. Value is deducted from your E-purse each time you take a ride, just as if you were using cash (except for WSF vehicle, bicycle and surcharge fares).

The ORCA Card is:

Quick. Get on the bus, train or ferry faster. Just tap your ORCA card, valid on Puget Sound-area buses, commuter trains and ferries, on the ORCA logo at the card reader.

Convenient. Move smoothly between seven public transportation systems, with no worries about different fares, lost tickets or misplaced transfers.

Worry-free. Ride without worrying about having exact change. The ORCA card monitors the remaining value of E-purse and passes, so you don't have to. And, if you register your card, you receive balance protection with the security of balance replacement if your card is lost, stolen or damaged.

How to Purchase

There are several ways to get an ORCA card.

  • Online. Adult ORCA cards only. Online purchases require a valid Visa or MasterCard.
  • By mail. Adult ORCA cards. Youth ORCA cards (ages 6 to 18) with a copy of age verification. Mail purchases may be made with a check, credit card or money order.
  • In person
      At an ORCA Customer Service Office. Adult, youth (ages 6 to 18), senior (ages 65+) and disabled RRFP ORCA cards. Most forms of payment will be accepted at customer service offices.
      At a participating retail outlet. Add value to your current ORCA card at participating retail outlets. Retailers do not issue new ORCA cards.
  • By phone at 1-888-988-6722 or TTY Relay: 711/1-888-889-6368. Adult ORCA cards only. Phone purchases require a valid Visa or MasterCard.
  • At a self-serve Ticket Vending Machine. Adult ORCA cards only with value loaded. TVM purchases require cash, Visa or MasterCard.

You can add your initial value to your ORCA card at the time you order it. Once you have your ORCA card you can load a pass or E-purse online, by mail, at an ORCA Customer Service Office or retail outlet or at a Ticket Vending Machine when you need it. There are no refunds for ORCA pass products or E-purse.

How to Add Value

Any ORCA cardholder can add a pass or E-purse to their ORCA card when they need it.

Cardholders with a registered ORCA card can also set up an Autoload to automatically add a transportation product to their card when it is needed. Set up an Autoload.

Or, add value as a single transaction when you need it:

  • Online. Online purchases require a valid Visa or MasterCard. It will take about 24 hours before your pass or E-purse is available for use.
  • By mail. Mail purchases may be made with a check, credit card or money order.
  • In person
      At an ORCA Customer Service Office. Most forms of payment will be accepted at customer service offices. Your pass or E-purse will be processed and available for immediate use.
      At a participating retail outlet. Most forms of payment will be accepted at retail outlets. Your pass or E-purse will be processed and available for immediate use.
  • By phone at 1-888-988-6722 or TTY Relay: 711/1-888-889-6368. Phone purchases require a valid Visa or MasterCard. It will take about 24 hours before your pass or E-purse is available for use.
  • At a self-serve Ticket Vending Machine. TVM purchases require cash, Visa or MasterCard. Your pass or E-purse will be processed and available for immediate use.

ORCA Tips!

Add Value to ORCA

  • When you add value to your card online or by phone it will take about 24 hours for the ORCA system to process the order. When you tap your card at an ORCA card reader after that period, the pass or E-purse value will be added to your card and it’ll be ready to use.
  • To add a new pass or E-purse value right away, visit an ORCA Customer Service Office, a Retail Outlet or a Ticket Vending Machine where the pass or E-purse will be processed and immediately ready for use.

Tap Within 60 Days

  • Once you add value to your card, remember to tap on the ORCA card reader within 60 days to activate the pass or E-purse. Once you tap, the value you added is ready to use.
  • If you have not used your ORCA card within 60 days of adding value please contact ORCA Customer Service. E-purse value does not expire and will be restored to your ORCA card. A current monthly pass will be restored; however an expired monthly pass will not be restored or refunded.

View Transaction History

  • To view transaction history online you must have a registered ORCA card and an online My ORCA Account. Fare payment and add value transactions may take up to 24 hours to display in your Transaction History.

To register your ORCA card or to learn about the benefits of registering, click here.

Autoload. Add transportation value automatically as an Autoload. With a registered card you can have transportation products automatically loaded to your card when you need it. Set up an Autoload.

Buy a Card

The ORCA card covers all passenger types:

  • Adults (ages 19 to 64)
  • Youth (ages 6 to 18)
  • Senior* (age 65 or older)
  • Disabled*
  • Low Income (Kitsap Transit only)

*A Regional Reduced Fare Permit ORCA card is required for seniors or disabled passengers paying a reduced fare. Medicare cardholders are eligible for the permit.

Some of the regional transit systems accept the ORCA card on their paratransit services. Please contact your local transit agency for information about paying fares on paratransit.

Card Cost

The standard adult or youth ORCA card fee is $5. Current Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP) holders can exchange their valid RRFP at any time for a new ORCA RRFP card at no charge. A new RRFP ORCA card costs $3.

If your card is lost, stolen or damaged, you will be charged a replacement fee for a new card. If you have registered your ORCA card, any value on your card at the time it was reported lost, stolen or damaged will be transferred to a new card.

A defective card will be replaced free of charge for the first 12 months at an ORCA Customer Service Office. The remaining value will be transferred to a replacement card.

If your card was provided by your employer or other organization and it is damaged or defective, please report it to the representative who provided the card.

Where to Buy an ORCA Card:

There are several ways to get an ORCA card.

  • Online. Adult ORCA cards only. Online purchases require a valid Visa or MasterCard.
  • By mail. Adult ORCA cards. Youth ORCA cards (ages 6 to 18) with a copy of age verification. Mail purchases may be made with a check, credit card or money order.
  • In person
      At an ORCA Customer Service Office. Adult, youth (ages 6 to 18), senior (ages 65+) and disabled RRFP ORCA cards. Most forms of payment will be accepted at customer service offices.
      At a participating retail outlet. Add value to your current ORCA card at participating retail outlets. Retailers do not issue new ORCA cards.
  • By phone at 1-888-988-6722 or TTY Relay: 711/1-888-889-6368. Adult ORCA cards only. Phone purchases require a valid Visa or MasterCard.
  • At a self-serve Ticket Vending Machine. Adult ORCA cards only with value loaded. TVM purchases require cash, Visa or MasterCard.

You can add your initial value to your ORCA card at the time you order it. Once you have your ORCA card you can load a pass or E-purse online, by mail, at an ORCA Customer Service Office or retail outlet or at a Ticket Vending Machine when you need it.

ORCA Facts

How to Use

To pay a fare, just tap your ORCA card on the ORCA card reader on the bus, at the ferry terminal or at the train or rail station. The card reader will automatically deduct the correct fare, calculating transfers and senior, disabled, youth or other reduced fares. The card reader will also show the amount paid.

The ORCA card uses contact-free technology similar to a building access card, so you don’t have to insert the card into anything.

Easy to use
  • On a Bus

    Simply tap your ORCA card on the ORCA card reader on the bus as you board. If your card is loaded with an E-purse, the cost of the trip will be deducted from the transportation value in your E-purse. If you have a regional pass or agency pass loaded, the reader will recognize your valid pass as fare payment.

  • On a Ferry

    Tap your ORCA card at the turnstile, or hand your card to terminal staff in the tollbooth or operating a handheld reader. If your card is loaded with an E-purse, the cost of any passenger fares will be deducted from the transportation value in your E-purse. (E-purse cannot be used for vehicle fares, bicycle fares, surcharges or multi-ride tickets). If you have a regional pass or agency pass valid for the ferry service you are riding, the reader will recognize your pass as valid fare payment.

  • On a Train

    Before you board, and again as you exit, tap your card at a yellow card reader located on the platform or on the mezzanine level at your rail station. If your card is loaded with an E-purse, the cost of the trip will be deducted from the transportation value in your E-purse. The amount deducted when you board will be the fare from the point you boarded to the end of the train line. When you exit the train and tap at the card reader, the difference in fare for the ride you completed will be restored to your card. If you have a regional pass or agency pass valid for the full fare on the train service you are riding, the reader will recognize your pass as fare payment. Your ORCA card may be inspected on board the train.

  • Card Registration

    Opening an online account and registering your card, while voluntary, allows you to monitor your account in a secure database. Registration also allows you to arrange for Autoload, where you set up a recurring secure fund transfer from your credit card on a regular basis.

    Youth cards can only be registered by an adult. ORCA websites and any ORCA customer services that require personal identifying information are not intended for minors, and we will not accept or request information from individuals we know to be under 18.

    Register your ORCA card now.

    Where to Use

    ORCA can be used on the following public transportation services:

    • Bus
      Community Transit, Everett Transit, King County Metro Transit, Kitsap Transit, Pierce Transit, Sound Transit
    • Ferry
      Washington State Ferries, Kitsap Transit, King County Water Taxi
    • Train/Rail
      Sound Transit
    • Paratransit
      Contact your local transit agency for information on paratransit services.
    • Vanpool
      Contact your local transit agency for information on vanpool services.

    Click here for contact information for your local agency.

    Caring for Your Card

    The ORCA card contains a small internal antenna that communicates with the card reader. Cutting, scratching, bending or punching a hole in the card will damage the antenna, which means your ORCA card will not function properly.

    If you have a registered ORCA card, and you damaged the card, you will be charged a replacement fee to restore the value to a new card, subject to ORCA Terms of Use. There are no refunds for ORCA pass products or E-purse.

    Defective cards will be replaced free of charge for the first 12 months at an ORCA Customer Service Office. The remaining value will be transferred to a new card.

    If your card was provided by your employer or other organization and it is damaged or defective, please report it to the representative who provided the card.

    Back to Top

    Phone:
     1-888-988-6722
    TTY Relay:
     711/1-888-889-6368
    E-mail:
     contactus@orcacard.com
    Phone:
     1-888-988-6722
    TTY Relay:
     711/1-888-889-6368
    E-mail:
     contactus@orcacard.com
    Phone:
     1-888-988-6722
    TTY Relay:
     711/1-888-889-6368
    E-mail:
     contactus@orcacard.com