Where and how to pay
How to pay your fare
O-Payment
O-Payment is an easy and convenient way to pay an Adult fare. It's now accepted on all buses and O-Train fare gates. Tap your debit card, credit card or mobile wallet on the fare reader and be on your way! You can check your trip history or download a receipt at o-payment.octranspo.com.
When transferring between trips on buses and the O-Train, use the same card to pay each time. You won’t be charged again if you're within the regular transfer window. On debit and credit card payments, daily fares are capped at the price of a DayPass ($12.00). Monthly fares are capped at the price of an Adult monthly pass ($135.00).
❗ O-Payment remembers the card itself and not the account. Don’t switch between the physical card and its mobile wallet version or you’ll be charged twice.
❗ O-Payment is not available on STO. If you regularly transfer between OC Transpo and STO, consider paying with a Presto card or cash.
O-Payment will only charge an Adult fare. If you're eligible for a discounted fare, use a monthly pass, or transfer regularly to STO, Presto is still your best option.
Monthly Passes
Monthly passes go on sale 14 days before the start of the month. A monthly pass is only valid during the calendar month for which it is purchased. Passes are open to Ontario residents only.
For discounted passes, you must set your discount before loading your pass. All discounts can be applied at our Customer Service Centres. You can set your age (Child, Youth or Senior) at participating Shoppers Drug Mart locations as well.
Cash Fare
Cash lets you pay for your trip without buying your fare in advance. It is the most expensive payment option. If you expect to make 3 or more one-way trips on the same day, opt for a DayPass instead.
Using cash on the bus:
Make sure you have the exact amount on you. The driver and fare box can’t make change.
- Board by the front doors.
- Deposit your money in the fare box.
- Wait for your transfer to print before making your way to your seat.
To pay using cash an O-Train station, you will need to use a ticket machine.
DayPass and Multi-Day Pass
The one-day DayPass and multi-day pass lets you ride on OC Transpo, Para Transpo and STO from the time of purchase until it expires. To ride, just tap your one-day DayPass or multi-day pass at the fare gate or show it to the operator as you board the bus.
A one-day DayPass is valid for unlimited travel all day, for one person. On weekends and specified holidays, use a one-day DayPass as a 2-for-1 DayPass!
On weekends and statutory holidays, the one DayPass can be used as a 2-for-1 DayPass (valid for two customers aged 13 or older). A single DayPass or two DayPasses may be presented as a 2-for-1 DayPass. A Multi-Day Pass is NOT valid as a 2-for-1 DayPass. A DayPass can be purchased on a conventional bus or at a ticket machine. A Multi-Day Pass may be purchased at a ticket machine only. Day Passes apply to regular fares only and are NOT valid for Para Transpo rural zone fares.
Current one-day DayPass and multi-day pass prices
| Length | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 Day | $12.00 |
| 3 Day | $30.00 |
| 5 Day | $47.75 |
| 7 Day | $56.75 |
Validity period
DayPasses are for immediate use only and expire at the time indicated:
| Expiration from time of purchase | |
|---|---|
| DayPass |
The next morning at 3 am |
| 3-day pass |
Three days later at 3 am Example: If you buy a 3-DayPass on Monday, it will expire on Thursday morning |
| 5-day pass |
Five days later at 3 am Example: If you buy a 5-Day Pass on Monday, it will expire on Saturday morning |
| 7-day pass |
Seven days later at 3 am Example: If you buy a 7-Day Pass on Monday, it will expire the following Monday morning |
Where to buy your one-day DayPass and multi-day pass
The one-day DayPass and multi-day pass are available for sale at ticket machines. Ticket machines accept credit, debit or cash.
The one-day DayPass is also available on buses. Just ask your bus driver as you board.
2-for-1 Passes
On Saturdays, Sundays and select statutory holidays (see below), two people aged 13 or older can ride all day on a single DayPass ($12.00)!
You can use the one-day DayPass as a 2-for-1 DayPass on these holidays:
- New Year’s Day
- Family Day
- Good Friday
- Victoria Day
- Canada Day
- Civic Holiday
- Labour Day
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas
- Boxing Day
You can only use the one-day DayPass as a 2-for-1 DayPass on the holiday itself, even if the holiday falls on a weekend and is celebrated on another day. The one-day DayPass cannot be used to pay the fare of two people aboard STO routes but it can be used to pay a single person’s fare.
The 2-for-1 DayPass is available for sale at ticket machines. Ticket machines accept credit, debit or cash.
Notice on payment for Para Transpo Users
All OC Transpo payment options are accepted on Para Transpo. Fare prices are the same too, except:
- Seniors must pay the fare on Para Transpo, even Wednesdays and Sundays
- Trips starting or ending in the rural zone have their own special fare
Taxis don’t have self-serve O-Payment readers. To pay by card, hand your Presto, credit or debit card to your driver.
Please pay your fares
OC Transpo has fare inspectors on the trains and buses. Pay your fares to avoid a fine.
Where to buy
Presto
You can buy a Presto card, load a pass or money onto your card and check your card balance at many convenient locations.
Presto on Google Wallet is not accepted as payment on OC Transpo buses, fare gates or Para Transpo. OC Transpo customers should not add their Presto card to Google Wallet on mobile devices.
If you qualify for a discount (such as EquiPass), don’t forget to set your discount before you load your card!
OC Transpo sales locations
❗ All OC payment methods accepted at ticket machines
See Locations as a TableTicket machines and on the bus
Single-ride tickets and transfers allow unlimited travel or transfer from the time they are issued until they expire.
| Accepted payment methods | |
|---|---|
| Ticket machine |
|
|
On the bus Front boarding only |
|
❗ Ticket machines don't accept $100-bills.
One-day DayPasses and multi-day passes are available for sale at ticket machines. Ticket machines accept credit, debit or cash.
One-day DayPasses are also available on buses. Just ask your bus driver as you board.
| Accepted payment methods | |
|---|---|
| Ticket machine |
|
|
On the bus Front boarding only |
|
❗ Ticket machines don't accept $100-bills.
Where to set a fare discount on a Presto card
Pre-Teen 11–12
Pre-teens ages 11 and 12 can ride for only $1.85.
You can set your fare discount at:
- The Rideau OC Transpo Customer Service Centre
- A ServiceOttawa Centre
- Participating Shoppers Drug Mart, Loblaws or Real Canadian Superstores
To get set this discount on your Presto card, bring proof of your age.
Pre-Teen Discount Learn MoreSenior 65+
Seniors 65+ qualify for discounts and free rides on buses and the O-Train Wednesdays and Sundays. These offers are only available on Presto.
You can set your fare discount at:
- The Rideau OC Transpo Customer Service Centre
- A ServiceOttawa Centre
- Participating Shoppers Drug Mart, Loblaws or Real Canadian Superstore
You can buy a Presto card from a ticket machine, but can’t set your discount there. Once the discount is set, you can load your pass at a ticket machine or online.
Senior Discount Learn MoreApproved applicants for EquiPass, Community, Access
The EquiPass is a reduced monthly pass or per-ride fare for persons who are below the low-income threshold.
EquiPass Learn MoreThe Community pass is available to Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) recipients and offers a reduced fare on single-ride and monthly passes.
Community pass Learn MoreThe Access pass offers full fare on OC Transpo conventional bus and train services. On Para Transpo trips, the pass will let you save one-third of the single-ride fare. These offers are only available on Presto.
Access pass Learn MoreYou can set your fare discount at:
- The Rideau OC Transpo Customer Service Centre
- A ServiceOttawa Centre
- Participating Shoppers Drug Mart, Loblaws or Real Canadian Superstore
You can buy a Presto card from a ticket machine, but can’t set your discount there. Once the discount is set, you can load your pass at a ticket machine or online.
Other payment types
a-card
- For persons who are blind
- Support persons
U-Pass
The U-Pass is a low-cost transit pass that lets full-time students at participating schools ride unlimited on all OC Transpo and STO routes for the academic term.
- For students at participating colleges and universities
Child card
Kids 10 and under ride free.
Learn more about Child CardParaPay
ParaPay is a card-free system that lets you pre-pay your Para Transpo fares.
- An online payment system for Para Transpo customers
Travel Planner
Use the Travel Planner to find the route options available to you
