Island County riders to pay 3% card surcharge on Washington State Ferries

Washington State Ferries announced on Feb. 20, 2026 that any fare purchased with a credit or debit card will incur a mandatory 3% surcharge starting March 1, 2026. The surcharge applies systemwide to card payments and will be added to the face value of the fare at the time of purchase.

The change implements a 2025 state law that directed Washington State Ferries to recover transaction processing costs that the state had previously paid. Under that law, WSF must shift the cost of card processing onto riders rather than absorbing it in agency budgets, which prompted the operational decision announced Feb. 20.

For practical effects on Island County travel, the 3% charge will increase the out-of-pocket cost for routine trips. On a $10 fare, for example, the surcharge equals 30 cents; on a $25 fare it equals 75 cents. The surcharge is mandatory for any payment made with a credit or debit card, WSF officials said in the Feb. 20 notice.

Island County commuters who depend on ferry service can expect the new surcharge to appear on card receipts and bank statements beginning with transactions on March 1, 2026. Washington State Ferries is implementing the change ahead of the spring travel season, when ferry ridership typically rises on routes serving island communities.

The February 20 announcement frames the surcharge as a compliance step with the 2025 law rather than a discretionary fare increase. Washington State Ferries will start collecting the 3% transaction recovery charge on March 1, 2026 as required by state direction from 2025, shifting the specific cost of card processing from state funds to individual card purchasers.