Frequently Asked Questions
The OC Bus Rewards Program allows you to earn points by riding OC Bus. You can later redeem those points for free OC Bus passes. You will earn 5 points for each trip you take with a qualifying OC Bus pass, plus you will earn points based on the type of OC Bus pass you activate and use on
OC Bus. Once you have earned the qualifying number of points, you can redeem those points for free One day and 30-day OC Bus passes.
For a list of points earned for each pass type, see the Earning Points section in the FAQs.
For a list of points required for redeeming free passes, see the Using Points section in the FAQs.
If you use the OC Bus App and sign up for the OC Bus Rewards using the same email address you use to log into the OC Bus App, then the points you earn when purchasing and using an OC Bus pass will automatically be credited to your account within 24 hours.
If you use paper passes, you will need to take a photo of the front and back of your pass, then use the Upload Pass menu item and follow the step-by-step instructions to upload your pass into your account. Your points will be credited to your account within 7 days.
No. Points are earned only from the start of the OC Bus Rewards program. A 30-day pass activated prior to the start of the program with an expiration date after the program has begun will allow you to accumulate points only after the start of the program.
Yes, you will need the internet to register or sign into the OC Bus Rewards program. The OC Bus Rewards program is not a mobile app.
You do not need internet access to use your pass or ride OC Bus. The points you earn by using your activated pass and riding the bus will automatically be credited to your account the day following use. You will need internet access to view your points balance in your OC Bus Rewards account.
Please use the Contact Us link to send a message to our customer relations department and we will contact you to assist in creating your account.
Once you cancel your membership in the OC Bus Rewards Program, your account information and earned points will be discontinued. If you choose to rejoin the program, you will need to create a new account. You can use the same email address, but your account will be considered new and will start at zero. Points earned cannot be transferred or merged to previous accounts.
As part of our loyalty program, you will receive special bonus points on your birthday!
For a list of all bonus points opportunities, see the Earning Points section in the FAQs.
When you log in to the OC Bus Rewards Program, you will be directed to your dashboard, which will have all the points you have earned since joining the program, as well as your available points balance and number of points you have previously used to redeem for free OC Bus passes.
Your points appear in the My Points Activity menu.
- If you are a mobile user, make sure you registered for the OC Bus Rewards program with the same email as you used for the OC Bus App. Allow up to 24 hours for points to appear.
- If you are a paper pass user, make sure you uploaded your pass using the step-by-step instructions under the Upload Pass menu. Allow up to 48 hours for points to appear.
You will earn 5 points for each trip you take with a qualifying OC Bus pass, plus you will earn points based on the type of OC Bus pass you activate and use on OC Bus.
| Single Ride (Mobile only) |
One Day Pass |
30-Day Pass |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | 100 | 400 | 7,500 |
| Senior | 50 | 100 | 2,500 |
| Disabled | 50 | 100 | 2,500 |
| College | -- | -- | 4,400 |
You can only upload one OC Bus pass at a time, and only one activated pass per calendar date.
Yes, your earned points will expire the year following the year of earning. For example, if you earn points in October 2023, those points will expire January 2025.
To earn your points for your activated paper pass and the number of rides you took with that pass, you will need to upload the front and back of your pass into your account in the OC Bus Rewards program. For step-by-step directions on how to upload your pass, select Upload Pass in the menu.
When you upload a paper pass to your account in the OC Bus Rewards program, please allow up to 48 hours for your pass to appear in your account. To view all your passes, select My Points Activity in the menu.
You can visit the OCTA Store at 550 S. Main St, Orange, CA 92868 and our staff will be happy to help you upload your pass. Make sure you have an active OC Bus Rewards account prior to visiting the OCTA Store.
Yes. Please upload your paper pass as soon as you activate your pass. Nothing can prevent another rider from finding a lost ticket and uploading it into their account if you have not already done so.
You will see your points in your OC Bus Rewards account within two business days.
No, points are not transferrable. If you want to gift someone a pass using your points, you can do so by redeeming your points for a paper pass and gifting that pass to them.
All passes must be uploaded into your loyalty account within 14 days of expiration. Passes not uploaded prior to 14 days after expiration will not be valid.
The points you earn for each ride will automatically be credited to your account the next business day. Each day, your ride points will automatically be updated in the My Points Activity section for that pass.
Please allow 24 to 48 hours for points to appear in your account.
By providing your unique code in your OC Bus Rewards account to someone who currently is not a rewards member. When that person creates an OC Bus Rewards account, and begins receiving points through the program then you will receive 500 bonus points for referring that friend. This bonus opportunity is valid for up to five (5) new referrals per calendar year.
Below are the current opportunities for OC Bus Rewards customers to earn additional rewards points. There may be additional promotional opportunities throughout the year.
- Enrollment Bonus – 500 points: Earn 500 points when you complete your enrollment process within the first two weeks of the launch of the OC Bus Rewards Program.
- Anniversary Bonus – 500 points: Earn 500 points on the anniversary date of your enrollment. Points valid for active accounts only.
- Birthday Bonus – 500 points: Earn 500 points on your birthday. Birthdate must be entered in your account page to qualify.
- New Mobile App Registration – 1,000 points: Earn 1,000 points if you are currently a paper pass user and you download the OC Bus App and begin purchasing/using the mobile app when riding OC Bus. Points valid for new mobile app accounts only.
- 1st 100 Boardings – 1,500 points: Earn 1,500 points when your reach your first 100 boardings logged to your OC Bus Rewards account once you create your account. Points issued as a one-time bonus.
- 1st 500 Boardings – 2,000 points: Earn 2,000 points when your reach your first 500 boardings logged to your OC Bus Rewards account once you create your account. Points issued as a one-time bonus.
- Refer-A-Friend – 500 points per referral: Earn 500 points when you refer a friend to the OC Bus Rewards program. To receive referral points, the friend must be a new user to the OC Bus Rewards program, create their account and begin earning points in the program. Valid for five (5) referrals per calendar year.
- New Enrollment Survey – 500 points: Earn 500 points for taking the new enrollment survey. Points will be earned once the survey has been completed within the first two (2) weeks of program enrollment.
The number of points required for redeeming passes depends on the type of pass you choose. Refer to the chart below for points per pass type. To redeem points for senior, disabled or college passes you must have an OCTA reduced fare identification number. To learn more about the reduced fares, visit the Reduced Fares section of the FAQs.
| Bundle of 5 One Day Passes |
30-Day Pass | |
|---|---|---|
| Regular | 25,000 | 69,000 |
| Senior | 6,750 | 22,250 |
| Disabled | 6,750 | 22,250 |
| College | -- | 44,000 |
You can choose to receive your pass on the OC Bus App or as a paper pass. To receive your pass on the mobile app, you must have an active OC Bus App account registered with the same email address that you used when creating your OC Bus Rewards account.
If you redeem a mobile pass, you will receive your pass in the Available tab in the OC Bus App within one calendar day. If you redeem a paper pass, you will receive your pass in the US Mail within 14-21 calendar days to the shipping address you provide during redemption.
Yes, all passes issued when you redeem your points for passes will expire one year from the date you receive your free pass.
To upload a reduced fare pass, you must have an OCTA reduced fare identification number. To learn more about reduced fare identification numbers and how to apply for one visit ocbus.com/tarifasreducidas.
To redeem your points for a reduced fare pass, you must have an OCTA reduced fare identification number. To learn more about reduced fare identification numbers and how to apply for one visit ocbus.com/tarifasreducidas.
