Homeschool benefits and savings in Orange County
Youth Ride Free lets children ages 6 to 18 ride OC Bus anywhere in Orange County at no charge, instead of paying the $2.00 regular one-way fare. Eligibility is based on age, so a homeschooled child qualifies with a passport, vaccination record, or California DMV ID: register your child's Wave card by December 31, 2026.
Who qualifies
Is 6 to 18 years old
Your child stays eligible until the end of the month they turn 19.
Shows proof of age
A passport, vaccination record, California DMV ID or license, or a current school document with your child's name and birth date or grade works. Diplomas, certificates, and school IDs without a grade or school year do not.
Has a Wave card and account
Wave is OCTA's fare payment system. Create a Wave account first, then link your child's Wave card number in the application.
Has signed parental consent
Upload a signed parental consent form and a recent photo of your child. OCTA closes youth accounts that have no consent form.
What the fare saves
OCTA's fare page lists what a rider pays on OC Bus with a Wave card and without Youth Ride Free status.
- Youth Ride Free, ages 6-18
- Free
- Regular one-way fare
- $2.00
- Regular fare daily cap with Wave
- $4.50
- Regular fare monthly cap with Wave
- $69.00
- First Wave card at the OCTA Store
- Free
Until the application is approved, your child's Wave card may be charged the regular fare, and replacement Wave cards carry a fee.
How to get free rides
- Before you apply
Set up Wave
Create a Wave account, get your child's Wave card number, and download the parental consent form.
- By December 31, 2026
Apply online or in person
Upload the proof-of-age document, a recent photo, and the signed consent form online. At the OCTA Store, your child must come along, and approval may come the same day.
- After approval
Ride free
Youth Ride Free is added to the Wave account linked to your child's card, for school trips, weekends, and every other ride.
- Every two years
Reapply
Submit a new application every two years until your child ages out at the end of the month they turn 19.
What it includes
Included
- OC Bus rides throughout Orange County
- Weekend and non-school trips
- The first Wave card from the OCTA Store
Not included
- Replacement Wave cards
- Riders past the month they turn 19
Good to know
The program is still running
As of October 12, 2026, OCTA's page tells families to complete registration by December 31, 2026 to keep rides free.
The pass works outside school hours
OCTA says the pass is good all the time, including weekend trips to the beach, the movies, or the mall.
Who to contact about Youth Ride Free
OCTA Customer Relations answers questions about eligible documents and Youth Ride Free applications, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
customers@octa.net 714-636-7433 Youth Ride Free application
Homeschool rules and statewide help in California
For the home-based private-school pathway, file the Private School Affidavit during the October 1–15 annual filing period. New schools may use the online filing system during its separate August 1–June 30 opening window. Other legal pathways have their own rules.
California sets these rules:
- Subjects: The private-school pathway must provide instruction in English in the branches of study required for public schools; the parent chooses the materials and course sequence.
- Testing: California does not impose a statewide standardized-testing requirement on private-school students.
- Records: Private schools must keep the records required by California law, including attendance and faculty information.
- Teachers: Private-school instructors must be capable of teaching; California does not issue a separate homeschool-parent credential.
Read the California homeschooling guide See statewide programs in California
Questions parents ask
- Do I fill out one application for all my children?
- No. Each child needs a separate form, a separate proof-of-age document, and their own Wave card.
- What about children younger than 6?
- Up to three children age 5 and under ride free with each paying rider, so they do not need to apply.
- Where do I apply in person?
- The OCTA Store is at 600 S Main St, Orange, CA 92868, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It can issue your child's first Wave card at no charge.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
A student fare helps with trips to classes and activities. We handle the learning at home, with lessons built around your child's interests and feedback on their work.
$149/month per child after the trial.
Find benefits for your ZIP code