Wave System Conditions of Use and Accessibility

Effective 9/2/2025

DISCLAIMER

Thank you for using the Wave system provided by the Orange County Transportation Authority ("Authority" or "OCTA") and for reviewing our disclaimer statements and privacy notices. This information is provided to inform users about policies related to the use of the Wave smart card, mobile application, fare account, and any related fare media issued under the Rider Validation System (“RVS”). By registering for a system account, using a Wave card or the mobile application, or tapping to board, you acknowledge and agree to these terms and conditions governing use of the system.
As enhancements to the Wave system continue to be made, OCTA reserves the right to modify its disclaimer and related notices without prior notice. OCTA is a special district government agency. Its jurisdiction lies within the boundaries of Orange County, California, but it is not part of or affiliated with the government of the County of Orange.

Disclaimer of Liability

The Wave system is operated and maintained by the OCTA to facilitate transit fare payment and provide access to transit services. While the Authority strives to maintain accurate, reliable, and up-to-date information through the Wave system and associated platforms, neither the Authority nor any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or representatives make any claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of this information and expressly disclaim liability for any errors or omissions. Material within the system has been compiled from a variety of sources and is subject to change without notice.
The Wave system and all associated materials are provided “as is” without warranties of any kind, expressed, implied or statutory, including but not limited to, warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title, or non-infringement. The OCTA is not responsible for any delays, inaccuracies, errors, or omissions arising out of your use of the Wave system, including but not limited to mobile application access, fare transactions, or balance management. Users are responsible for the security of their fare media and account credentials.
Under no circumstances shall the OCTA be liable for any actions taken or omissions made in reliance on any aspect of the Wave system, nor shall OCTA be liable for any special, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from the use or inability to use the system or its materials.

Legal Notice to the OCTA

Communications made through the Wave mobile application, fare account portal, or related platforms do not constitute legal notice to the OCTA, or to any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or representatives, with respect to any existing or potential claim or cause of action against the OCTA where notice is required by any federal, state, or local laws, rules, or regulations. No communication submitted via the Wave system, whether through app features, account messaging tools, or customer contact forms, shall be deemed to constitute legal or official notice for any purpose. Users must comply with all applicable legal requirements when providing formal notice to the OCTA.

Links to Other Websites

The Wave mobile application, fare account portal, and related online services may contain hypertext links to other websites or third-party platforms. These may include services for payment processing, customer support, mobile authentication, or data analytics. The OCTA is not responsible for the contents or accuracy of materials on other websites or applications that are referenced or linked through the Wave system, nor for the practices of other site or platform operators. When users follow a link to other internet websites or applications, they are no longer on the OCTA sites and are subject to the privacy and disclosure practices of the new site or application. Links to other sites or services are provided for informational purposes only. They do not constitute an endorsement by the OCTA.
This includes platforms such as Google™ Analytics or Facebook Business Tools that may use cookies, beacons, or tracking technologies. OCTA disclaims responsibility for such platforms and their use of your data.

Wave System Translate Disclaimer

The Wave website may be accessed using browser-based translation tools, such as Google™ Translate, to assist users with reading content in their preferred language. Google™ Translate is a free, automated service that relies on external data and technology to provide translations. While this system is widely used, translations cannot be guaranteed as exact or without the inclusion of incorrect or inappropriate language. Google™ Translate is a third-party service, and users accessing translated content are leaving the OCTA-controlled environment. As such, the OCTA cannot guarantee or claim responsibility for the accuracy, reliability, or performance of this service, nor for any limitations of the tool, such as the inability to translate certain files or interactive elements.
The OCTA provides browser-based translation options as a convenience for users but does not directly endorse Google™ Translate or imply that it is the only available solution. Any individuals or parties that use the Wave website content in translated form, whether by Google™ Translate or any other tool, do so at their own risk. The OCTA is not responsible for any damages or issues of translated content not officially sanctioned and approved by the agency.

Copyrights

Unless a copyright is indicated, the content, materials, and information provided through the Wave mobile application, fare account portal, and related services are freely available for non-commercial, non-profit use. If a copyright is indicated on any materials displayed within the Wave system, permission to copy those materials must be obtained from the original source. Commercial use of any OCTA materials or content associated with the Wave system is expressly prohibited without the written permission of the OCTA.

Accessibility

The OCTA is committed to ongoing compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) and to providing current and future access to the Wave mobile application and fare account portal for all individuals, including those with disabilities. Some of the features available to support accessibility may include:

Alternative text for most graphics and icons within the application and portal
High contrast viewing modes and reduced motion options
Compatibility with screen readers for key transactional functions
Ongoing evaluation and updates to support accessibility standards

The OCTA continually reviews and provides updates to its digital fare system tools to ensure adherence to best practices in accessibility to the extent practicable. If you need assistance with accessing something within the Wave system, please contact OCTA at (714) 636-7433. Reasonable accommodations, including equal access to Wave system services and communications, will also be provided upon request. Requests for reasonable accommodations should be directed to the OCTA at (714) 636-7433, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by email at [email protected].

Wave System Terms of Use

The Wave system, including the Wave smart card, mobile application, fare account, and any related fare media issued under the Rider Validation System (“RVS”), is provided by the Authority to facilitate transit fare payment and account management and is governed by these terms:

The Wave system is intended for individuals aged 13 and older. By using the Wave system or registering an account, you confirm that you meet this eligibility requirement. The OCTA does not knowingly allow individuals under the age of 13 to create or register a Wave account.
Registered accounts offer balance protection, fare capping, auto-reload, and eligibility verification. The OCTA implements reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect account information. For more information on how your data is used and protected, please refer to the Privacy Notice | OCTA.
Unregistered cards give you privacy and flexibility. You can ride anonymously and still benefit from fare capping. But if your card is lost or stolen, the balance cannot be protected, replaced, or refunded.
Users must maintain sufficient funds for fare payment.
Fare media is provided “as is” and the OCTA disclaims liability for technical failures. Nothing in this section limits your rights under the Wave Privacy Notice or applicable state or federal data protection laws.
All sales are final.

Interagency transfers are not available at this time, but they may be enabled in the future when technically feasible and subject to agreements with partner agencies. If enabled, transfer eligibility is not guaranteed and may only be available through registered Wave accounts or the Wave mobile application. The Authority collects only the data necessary to operate and administer the Wave system. This may include account registration details, trip history, payment methods, and fare usage data. The Authority retains this information in accordance with its internal records retention policy and applicable state and federal laws. Data is used solely for account management, fraud prevention, and system performance analysis. For a full explanation of data collection, usage, and your rights as a user, please refer to the Privacy Notice | OCTA.

Marketing Communications

By creating a Wave system account, you acknowledge and agree that the OCTA may send you informational or promotional communications related to its transit services, programs, or rider benefits. These communications may include system updates, service alerts, or marketing messages.
Customers who receive marketing emails will be provided with a clear and conspicuous option to opt out of future promotional communications at any time by following the unsubscribe instructions included in the message. The OCTA will honor all customer opt-out requests, and will process them in accordance with applicable federal and state laws
The OCTA will not use your Wave account information for third-party marketing . Your personal information will be collected, used, and retained in accordance with the Privacy Notice | OCTA and all applicable privacy regulations.

Dormant Accounts and Unclaimed Funds

Customers must maintain an active account in order to protect available account balances. The OCTA recommends each Customer use their Wave smartcards or mobile application periodically in order to keep their account active. An OCTA fare media account is considered dormant if there is no account activity for a period of one (1) year. The OCTA will notify the customer via the most recent registered contact information when an account becomes dormant.
If the account remains dormant for an additional six (6) years, the funds will be classified as unclaimed property and handled in accordance with state law. Once the funds are classified as unclaimed property, OCTA will initiate a transfer, as described below.
Any fare payment, reload, or other qualifying activity will reclassify a dormant Wave account as active. Once reactivated, the account will no longer be subject to the unclaimed funds process unless it becomes dormant again.

Notice and Transfer of Funds

For account balances greater than $15, OCTA will:

Publish a notice for two (2) successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation.
Include: the amount of funds, originating system or location, and the proposed date of transfer to OCTA (which must be at least 45 but no more than 60 days after first publication).
However, this process does not apply to account balances greater than $15 that are held by anonymous users.
For account balances of $15 or less, or for anonymous accounts, the OCTA may transfer balances to its general fund, and no public notice is required.

Customer Requests for Unclaimed Funds

To submit a request to reclaim unclaimed funds, the customer must submit to OCTA, at the contact information provided below:

Full name and current contact information
The claimed amount
Supporting documentation or account identifiers
Any additional details the OCTA may reasonably require

The OCTA will review and respond to the request within a reasonable time in accordance with applicable laws. If a request is denied, customers may contest the determination through available legal means.

Account Termination and Governing Law

You may close your Wave account at any time. OCTA may suspend or terminate access for inactivity, misuse, or policy violations. Refunds of remaining balances are subject to the OCTA’s refund policy.
This Wave System Conditions of Use and Accessibility is governed by the laws of the State of California.

Email: [email protected]
Mail: Orange County Transportation Authority, P.O. Box 14184, Orange, CA 92863-1584
Website: www.octa.net