Hampton Roads Transit

Transit70% confidence

Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) is the public transportation agency serving the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia with bus, trolley, ferry, light rail, and paratransit services. The descriptor “WAVE - *SWPS HAMPTON VA” most likely refers to a fare transaction for an HRT-operated service, such as a local bus or VB Wave trolley, processed through their electronic payment system.

Norfolk, Virginia, USA
gohrt.com

About Hampton Roads Transit

Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) is the regional public transit provider for the Hampton Roads metropolitan area in southeastern Virginia, serving cities including Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Hampton, Newport News, Chesapeake, and Portsmouth. It operates local and express bus routes, the VB Wave trolley service in Virginia Beach, the Tide light rail in Norfolk, Elizabeth River ferries, and paratransit services for riders with disabilities. The agency’s aim is to provide affordable, accessible mobility for residents, commuters, students, and tourists across the region. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampton_Roads_Transit?utm_source=openai))

A charge with the descriptor “WAVE - *SWPS HAMPTON VA” is most likely a fare purchase or reload made within HRT’s fare system in or near Hampton, Virginia. The “WAVE” portion likely references branded services (such as VB Wave trolleys) or the fare/payment environment used for trolleys and buses, while “SWPS” appears to be an internal code related to the payment or pass type. This type of charge may result from tapping a contactless card or mobile wallet, purchasing a ticket or pass at a kiosk, or buying fares through a linked payment account. Riders may see individual fares (single rides), day passes, or stored-value reloads appear under similar descriptors. ([whro.org](https://www.whro.org/business-growth/2026-06-19/no-pass-no-problem-riders-can-now-tap-to-pay-for-public-transit-in-hampton-roads?utm_source=openai))

If you have questions about this charge, first review recent trips you or family members may have taken on local buses, VB Wave trolleys, ferries, or light rail in the Hampton Roads area. Check any receipts or email confirmations from HRT, as well as transaction history in any transit or mobile wallet apps you use. To resolve disputes or get more detail, you can contact Hampton Roads Transit customer service through the contact information on their official website (gohrt.com), reference the date and amount of the charge, and ask them to look up the transaction. If you do not recognize the charge and HRT cannot associate it with your use, you should then contact your card issuer to dispute the transaction and request a new card if fraud is suspected.

Bank Statement Variations

1 known variations

These are the raw merchant codes that appear on bank and credit card statements that we've identified as belonging to Hampton Roads Transit.

  1. WAVE - *SWPS HAMPTON VA

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my statement show a charge as “WAVE - *SWPS HAMPTON VA”?

This descriptor most likely represents a fare transaction processed by Hampton Roads Transit in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. “WAVE” refers to HRT’s branded services (such as VB Wave trolleys) or fare environment, and “SWPS” appears to be an internal fare or payment code. The charge usually corresponds to a bus, trolley, ferry, or light rail trip or pass purchase in or around Hampton, VA.

What types of amounts are typical for Hampton Roads Transit charges like this?

HRT’s single-ride fares are typically in the low single-digit dollar range per trip, while day passes and multi-ride options cost more depending on coverage and duration. A “WAVE - *SWPS HAMPTON VA” line item will generally match a single fare, a day pass, or a stored-value reload—often a small to moderate amount rather than a large purchase.

Could this be a recurring or subscription charge from Hampton Roads Transit?

HRT most commonly charges on a per-trip or per-pass basis, not as an automatically recurring subscription. However, if you routinely reload value or purchase passes through an app or online account, you might see similar descriptors multiple times over a month. Review your transit or payment app history to see if you recently purchased or reloaded HRT fares around the date of the charge.

How can I confirm which trip or pass this WAVE/HRT charge corresponds to?

Log into any transit or mobile wallet apps you use to pay fares and check the transaction history for the date and amount shown on your bank statement. You can also contact Hampton Roads Transit customer service via the information on gohrt.com and provide the exact date, time window, and amount; they may be able to look up the transaction in their fare system and confirm the service used.

How do I request a refund or dispute a charge from Hampton Roads Transit?

Start by contacting Hampton Roads Transit directly through the customer service channels listed on gohrt.com and explain the situation, including the amount, date, and the descriptor “WAVE - *SWPS HAMPTON VA.” If HRT determines the charge was made in error and their policies allow a refund, they can initiate it. If they cannot verify the transaction as legitimate use by you or an authorized rider, contact your card issuer to dispute the transaction as potentially unauthorized.

Why do I see a pending or temporary WAVE/HRT charge that later changes amount or disappears?

When you tap a card or mobile wallet, HRT’s payment system may place a small authorization hold to verify your card, then later post the final fare once processing is complete. In some cases, the initial pending charge may disappear and be replaced by the actual fare amount. This is normal card-network behavior and not usually an extra fee.

Can family members or guests using my card cause a WAVE - *SWPS HAMPTON VA charge?

Yes. Anyone who has physical access to your card or a connected mobile wallet could use it to pay transit fares on HRT services in the Hampton Roads area. If you share a card with a family member or let a guest use your transit apps, check with them to see whether they rode local buses, VB Wave trolleys, ferries, or light rail on or near the transaction date.

What should I do if I don’t recognize any transit use in Hampton, VA around this date?

First, double-check with household members who may have your card on file in phones or apps. If no one recognizes the charge and HRT cannot link it to your account or known travel, contact your card issuer immediately to report the transaction as suspicious. They can investigate, reverse the charge if appropriate, and issue you a replacement card to prevent further unauthorized use.

This merchant is in the Transit category

Browse all

Related Merchants

First Parking
Sydney Airport
SkyBus
GM Cabs
Translink

Compare Hampton Roads Transit

vsFirst ParkingvsSydney AirportvsSkyBus

Got more mystery charges?

Paste your bank statement codes and we'll tell you exactly who charged you.

Find out who charged you