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Youth Ride Transit for Free!
Transit is free for riders 18 and younger thanks to Move Ahead Washington, a statewide transportation funding package.
How it Works
All Youth 18 and Younger Ride Transit for Free
Riders aged 13 and older are encouraged to bring one of the following when they ride, if they have it:
Youth ORCA Card
- Cards issued by schools and organizations may expire.
- Register your card to ensure it works until your 19th birthday.
Current High School ID or Middle School Student ID
- Show your student ID to the driver as you board and to any transit official upon request.
Youth who do not have a Youth ORCA Card or Student ID can still ride for free. Just get on board!*
Tapping your Youth ORCA card allows transit agencies to better understand how many young people are riding transit, including where and when. Transit agencies use this information to make future improvements to your service.
Riding transit is as easy as 1, 2, 3!
- Plan your trip
Plan your trip to find the best route(s) and track your upcoming bus, train or ferry! Be sure to arrive at your stop a few minutes early. Always have a plan for how you will return home, too.
- Tap your Youth ORCA card
Tap your ORCA card on the card reader inside when boarding the bus, or on the dock or platform before boarding rail, streetcar or water taxi. If you don’t have an ORCA card, youth can always just get on board (except on the Monorail, where a Youth ORCA card is required to access free fares).
- Be ready for your stop
On buses, pull the yellow cord or press a red stop button when approaching your stop to let the driver know you want to get off at the next stop. Exit through the bus’s back doors, if possible. Trains and boats stop at all scheduled stops, so be ready to get off when your stop is next. If you rode Link light rail or the Sounder train, tap your ORCA card when exiting to complete the trip.
Get a New Youth ORCA Card
You can order a new Youth ORCA card at myORCA.com/buy-online
You will need to upload a copy of your K-12 student ID, state ID, driver’s license, birth certificate or passport to confirm your age. You do not need to add money or a pass to the card.
A new card will be mailed to you. While you are waiting for your new card in the mail, you can still ride for free.
After you receive your card, you can create a myORCA account* and link your card to it!
Linking your card to your myORCA account makes it easy to replace your card if it ever gets lost. To create a new account, download the myORCA app or visit myORCA.com to sign up and link your card. Watch this video to see how.
*(if you are at least 13 years old)
Replace a Lost Youth ORCA Card
If you have a myORCA.com account:
- Log into your myORCA.com account.
- In the “My Cards” menu, click “Replace Card”, then select the card you wish to replace.
If you do not have a myORCA.com account:
- Order a new Youth ORCA card at myORCA.com/buy-online.
Register Your Card
Youth Cards
Add your birthdate to your card to ensure you ride free until you turn 19! (If you ordered a Youth ORCA card online, you do not need to complete this step.)
This form can also be used to request reactivation of unregistered cards that expired. Forms are typically processed within two weeks.
If you’re registering multiple cards on the same computer, smartphone or tablet, we recommend using an incognito/private browser.
"*" indicates required fields
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a Youth ORCA card?
You can order a new Youth ORCA card at myORCA.com/buy-online. You will need to upload a copy of your K-12 student ID, state ID, driver’s license, birth certificate, or passport to confirm your age. You do not need to add money or a pass to the card. A new card will be mailed to you. While you are waiting for your new card in the mail, you can still ride for free.
Youth ORCA cards are also available at transit agency customer service locations. Bring in the same documentation and you will receive a card usable immediately.
Do I need a Youth ORCA card to ride transit for free?
Youth 18 and younger can ride transit for free by tapping a Youth ORCA card, showing a student ID, or by simply boarding. Tapping a Youth ORCA card is encouraged on every service, but is only required for free transit when riding the Seattle Center Monorail.
Why did my Youth ORCA card stop working?
Most Youth ORCA cards from schools and organizations need to be registered at FreeYouthTransitPass.com to ensure free fare until the cardholder turns 19 years old. Unregistered cards expired and were blocked on February 1, 2024. To request card reactivation, you can fill out the above card registration form or call 1-888-988-6722.
Why is it important to use and tap my Youth ORCA card?
Tapping your Youth ORCA card allows transit agencies to better understand how many youth are riding transit, including where and when. Transit agencies use this information to make future improvements to your service.
I’m someone who works with youth. How can I help them get Youth ORCA cards?
Youth are encouraged to order a new card online. Adults can also assist youth in completing the order form. Youth ORCA cards are also available at transit agency customer service locations.
Can personal care attendants (PCAs) ride for free?
Youth with disabilities who qualify for a Regional Reduced Fare Permit can complete the application for a PCA. If approved, a PCA can ride for free with the youth. Youth will then receive a sticker to place on their Youth ORCA card. Please call 1-888-988-6722 to learn more about applying or obtaining a sticker.
What’s the difference between blue and black Youth ORCA cards?
Blue and black Youth ORCA cards both work the same way. They just have different designs. Classic blue cards will continue to work. You do not need to get a new card unless you lose your old card.
How do youth ride for free on the Seattle Center Monorail?
Free fare on the Seattle Center Monorail will only be available for youth with a valid Youth ORCA card. Riders without a valid Youth ORCA card will need to purchase a ticket from the ticket vending machine to ride the Monorail ($1.75 one way for youth aged 6 to 18 without a Youth ORCA card).
Can I tap with my phone instead of an ORCA card?
If you have an Android smartphone, you can now tap to ride with Google Pay by adding your plastic Youth ORCA card to Google Wallet. Visit info.myORCA.com/GooglePay for more information.
After a plastic Youth ORCA card is added to a Google Wallet, the plastic card will be deactivated. Please note, if you received your card from a school, organization, or through a transit agency promotion, you may be unable to convert your card using Google Wallet due to permissions set on the organization’s ORCA account.
While tap to pay currently only works on Android smartphones, we are working to add it to other smartphones, too. To get the latest updates on ORCA, follow us on social media @TheORCACard or sign up for our monthly customer newsletter.
How do I get a Youth ORCA card?
You can order a new Youth ORCA card at myORCA.com/buy-online. You will need to upload a copy of your K-12 student ID, state ID, driver’s license, birth certificate, or passport to confirm your age. You do not need to add money or a pass to the card. A new card will be mailed to you. While you are waiting for your new card in the mail, you can still ride for free.
Youth ORCA cards are also available at transit agency customer service locations. Bring in the same documentation and you will receive a card usable immediately.
Do I need a Youth ORCA card to ride transit for free?
Youth 18 and younger can ride transit for free by tapping a Youth ORCA card, showing a student ID, or by simply boarding. Tapping a Youth ORCA card is encouraged on every service, but is only required for free transit when riding the Seattle Center Monorail.
Why did my Youth ORCA card stop working?
Most Youth ORCA cards from schools and organizations need to be registered at FreeYouthTransitPass.com to ensure free fare until the cardholder turns 19 years old. Unregistered cards expired and were blocked on February 1, 2024. To request card reactivation, you can fill out the above card registration form or call 1-888-988-6722.
Why is it important to use and tap my Youth ORCA card?
Tapping your Youth ORCA card allows transit agencies to better understand how many youth are riding transit, including where and when. Transit agencies use this information to make future improvements to your service.
I’m someone who works with youth. How can I help them get Youth ORCA cards?
Youth are encouraged to order a new card online. Adults can also assist youth in completing the order form. Youth ORCA cards are also available at transit agency customer service locations.
Can personal care attendants (PCAs) ride for free?
Youth with disabilities who qualify for a Regional Reduced Fare Permit can complete the application for a PCA. If approved, a PCA can ride for free with the youth. Youth will then receive a sticker to place on their Youth ORCA card. Please call 1-888-988-6722 to learn more about applying or obtaining a sticker.
What’s the difference between blue and black Youth ORCA cards?
Blue and black Youth ORCA cards both work the same way. They just have different designs. Classic blue cards will continue to work. You do not need to get a new card unless you lose your old card.
How do youth ride for free on the Seattle Center Monorail?
Free fare on the Seattle Center Monorail will only be available for youth with a valid Youth ORCA card. Riders without a valid Youth ORCA card will need to purchase a ticket from the ticket vending machine to ride the Monorail ($1.75 one way for youth aged 6 to 18 without a Youth ORCA card).
Can I tap with my phone instead of an ORCA card?
If you have an Android smartphone, you can now tap to ride with Google Pay by adding your plastic Youth ORCA card to Google Wallet. Visit info.myORCA.com/GooglePay for more information.
After a plastic Youth ORCA card is added to a Google Wallet, the plastic card will be deactivated. Please note, if you received your card from a school, organization, or through a transit agency promotion, you may be unable to convert your card using Google Wallet due to permissions set on the organization’s ORCA account.
While tap to pay currently only works on Android smartphones, we are working to add it to other smartphones, too. To get the latest updates on ORCA, follow us on social media @TheORCACard or sign up for our monthly customer newsletter.
Welcome Aboard!
Thank You
ORCA transit agencies offer a safe, reliable connections to school, a job, family, friends and much more. We’re grateful for the collaborative efforts of community groups, school districts and other partners.
Spread the word! We’re excited to welcome more youth to transit.