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Reduced Fare Eligibility

Reduced Fare Eligibility Reduced Fare Eligibility

NCTD offers reduced fares and passes for:

  • Senior citizens (65+)
  • Medicare Recipients (not MediCal)
  • People with disabilities who qualify for a reduced fare under federal and state law
  • Youth ages 6-18 (school ID, transit identification, or government-issues photo ID required): The Youth Opportunity Pass pilot program offers free transit for Youth with a PRONTO app account or card, through June 30, 2026. Learn More.

To purchase or use a discounted pass, please do the following steps:

Step 1:

Fill out an application
  • Obtain an application online: English Application Spanish Application
  • Call Customer Service for an application at: (760) 966-6500
  • Visit one of these locations to pick up an application:
    Oceanside Transit Center Customer Service | Open Weekdays 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
    205 South Tremont Street, Oceanside, CA 92054
    Escondido Transit Center Customer Service | Open Weekdays 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
    700 W. Valley Parkway, Escondido, CA 92025
    Vista Transit Center Customer Service | Open Weekdays 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    100 Olive Ave, Vista, CA 92083

Step 2:

Certify Your Qualification/Disability

You may automatically qualify for reduced fare by providing at least one of the following proofs of eligibility:
• Applicants age 65+ with valid driver’s license, or government issued Identification card or other government issued identification that shows proof of age and a picture
• Current (within six months) Social Security Income (SSI) letter with valid corresponding photo identification
• Current Medicare card (not Medi-Cal) with valid corresponding photo ID
• Current letter from the Veterans Affairs Office (VA) proving at least a 50% disability with valid corresponding photo identification
• Disabled Person Placard identification card or Disabled Veterans Placard identification card with valid corresponding identification (placard alone is not accepted)
• MTS or other California transit agency unexpired reduced fare disabled or complementary paratransit identification and valid corresponding identification (if no photo included on disabled identification)

If you do not have one of the above instant qualifiers, you may qualify by having a licensed healthcare professional complete their part of the application form (Section 2 of the application)

Step 3:

Visit a Customer
Service Location

Once your application has been completed, turn the application into any of the three Customer Service locations.

Instant qualifiers will immediately receive a Reduced Fare Photo PRONTO Card during that visit.  Your first card is FREE, and replacements are $7.00.

For those who do not instantly qualify for a reduced fare pass, NCTD staff will verify applications with listed health care providers. Staff will notify you of your application status within 10 days after receipt.

Step 4

Receive Reduced Fare Card

Approved applicants will receive a Reduced Fare Photo PRONTO Card during their visit to any of the three Customer Service locations. The first Reduced Fare card is FREE, and replacements are $7.00.

If you have an existing PRONTO card and wish to continue using it, Customer Service will change the fare category to Reduced Fare.