Did you know you can link multiple physical BC Ferries Experience Cards to a single primary account? This is a potential solution for families, organizations, or carpools traveling together on coastal routes like Route 19 (Gabriola-Nanaimo).
HOW IT WORKS: PRIMARY AND SECONDARY CARDS
Your main registered card acts as the Primary Card. Any additional cards you link to it are Secondary Cards. Secondary cards automatically share the same fare/discount type (such as Vehicle and Passenger or Passenger-only) as your primary card.
CHOOSE HOW TO SHARE YOUR FUNDS
When you link a secondary card, you can choose between two configurations:
- Pooling (Shared Balance)
The secondary cardholder shares your primary card’s balance directly. The secondary card does not carry its own separate balance. Whenever they travel, the fare is automatically deducted from your main pooled balance. - Transfer (Individual Balances)
This setting lets you manually transfer specific amounts of money from the primary card to the secondary card. The secondary card holds its own independent balance, which is ideal if you want to allocate a specific travel budget to someone else.
STEP-BY-STEP SETUP PROCESS
- Get an additional physical card: Obtain a new, unlinked Experience Card. You can get one at any participating BC Ferries ticket booth, in person at major terminals (Swartz Bay, Tsawwassen, Horseshoe Bay, Duke Point, Departure Bay, or Langdale), or by calling 1-888-BC FERRY (1-888-223-3779).
- Log in online: Visit bcferries.com and sign into your registered Experience Card account.
- Add the secondary card: Navigate to your account dashboard, locate the option to manage secondary cards, and enter the card number of the new physical card to link it to your account.
- Select your sharing function: Choose either Pooling or Transfer for the newly added card.
IMPORTANT TRAVEL REMINDERS
- Physical Card Required: Cardholders must have the physical Experience Card in their possession and present it to the ticket agent at the time of payment. Stored Value cannot be used without the physical card present.
- Minimum Load Requirements: To receive discounted rates, you must maintain enough stored value to cover the entire fare. When reloading online, you must reload up to the full minimum amount (typically $100 for online vehicle/driver loads).
For more details or troubleshooting, contact BC Ferries Customer Service at 1-888-BC FERRY (1-888-223-3779) or visit the administration office at any participating terminal.