FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is carpooling?
How much does it cost?
When can I carpool?
What are the benefits of carpooling?
What are the costs of carpooling?
What if I use my Council vehicle?
What are the insurance implications of carpooling?
Am I covered by Work Cover if I carpool?
How can I find a carpool partner?
Are my details kept confidential?
How safe is carpooling?
Etiquette
What is carpooling?
Carpooling is when two or more people make arrangements to travel together in a single car. Carpooling is a practical way to share transport costs and reduce road congestion and vehicle pollution.
How much does it cost?
It is free to register on our carpool site.
When can I carpool?
You can carpool on any journey you make, but we suggest you start by searching for a person who lives on your route to work or study. By sharing a trip to work or study just one day a week can save you a lot of money in fuel over a year. Many people need to travel significant distances to get to work or study. If you travel 100km a day then you could save around $750 a year in fuel by sharing just two trips a week.
What are the benefits of carpooling?
Sharing your journey is a great way to meet people, it's good for the environment, and saves money. Particular benefits include:
What are the costs of carpooling?
We suggest that drivers and passengers take alternate turns to drive, so that there is no need for financial transaction. You must be over 18 to be a member of the Carpool. If you do decide to carry a passenger who does not own a car then you will need to calculate how much each journey is costing you, so that you can share the cost. We provide an estimate of the journey fuel cost on the website as a guide only. This link can be found on the journey match page which is displayed when you login. It’s best to sort out any reimbursement before you start to carpool to ensure that both parties are comfortable with the arrangements. To avoid any embarrassment, passengers should pay the driver before they leave the vehicle at the end of each journey, unless other arrangements have been made. Please note that drivers should not make a profit from sharing a car as this can invalidate their insurance and tax and our Terms and Conditions for project participation. If you have any concerns please contact your insurance company directly.
What if I use my organisation vehicle?
Rules vary so please check with your individual organisation.
What are the insurance implications of carpooling?
Most Australian insurers state that car-sharing will not affect an individual's car insurance so long as a profit is not made. Drivers with any concerns should check with their insurance company as terms and conditions may vary between insurance providers over time. Make sure that the person you drive with has valid registration and insurance. ALL CARPOOLERS TRAVEL AT THEIR OWN RISK.
Am I covered by Work Cover if I carpool?
Each person travelling to work is covered by Work Cover through their own organisation if they are employed. If there is an injury on the way to or from work then there would be journey claims which would be payable under workers compensation unless a significant deviation was involved. Therefore it is wise not to deviate significantly from your normal route to and from work.
How can I find a carpool partner?
Go to www.nrcarpool.org for Northern Rivers and www.carpoolmnc.org for the Mid North Coast and search for a match!
How safe is carpooling?
As part of the Carpool, the safety of our members is a priority, and we have made our web-site as secure as we can. You must be over 18 years of age to be a member. All members' details are stored securely in the database and only the members' intended travel information can be accessed by other members. When it comes to travelling, EVERY MEMBER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS OR HER OWN SAFETY. However, we do recommend that members follow some simple security measures outlined below:
- Avoid exchanging home addresses with your travelling companion before you meet them.
- Arrange to meet for the first time in a public place.
- Inform a friend or family member of who you will be travelling with, when and to where.
- Make sure you see each other's Identification - student card or driving licence - so you know that you're travelling with the right person.
- You are under no obligation to go ahead with any car-share arrangement. If you have any doubts about your travelling companion, for any reason, then you don't have to travel with them.
- It is your responsibility to check that the person you are sharing with has all the legal driving documents, such as driving licence, car insurance, MOT and car tax.
Are my details kept confidential?
Yes, all information is kept totally confidential. When someone wants to contact you regarding a trip, then the system will send you an email with his/her profile to say that there is a possible match. It’s then up to the driver to respond to the initial contact and decide if they want to make contact.
Etiquette
The Basics
Ensure vehicle registration, insurance and Drivers licenses are valid.
Meeting up
Have pick up points in mind. When you are starting a new car-sharing arrangement we recommend that you meet your travelling companions at a public place. Exchange mobile phone numbers and keep each other informed.
Don’t be late
It’s important to show common courtesy when carpooling. Once you have made a commitment, stick to it. Arrive on time or early, don’t make any unscheduled stops or change your destination at the last minute. Synchronize watches. Keep in touch. Send a text message if you are running late.
Avoid detours
It is important to provide efficient commuting to and from work or study. Avoid personal detours for shopping and errands.
Have a back-up plan
Decide on a back-up plan. What will you do if the driver is suddenly unavailable (e.g. with illness), or if the carpool arrangement ends unexpectedly for some reason? Also, if you are the driver and you are unable to carpool on a particular day, remember to inform your carpool partner(s) as soon as possible.
Have a clean and reliable vehicle
Make sure your car is in good working order and that if you breakdown you have roadside assist from a motoring organisation. Make sure your car is pleasant to travel in.
Travel at recommended speeds
Always travel safely and within the speed limits.
Avoid strong perfume/cologne
Many people are allergic to perfume/cologne, consider avoiding applying perfume/cologne on carpool days. Be pleasant and friendly. Smile, it costs nothing!
It’s okay to say "no"
Don’t carpool with someone unless you are comfortable doing so. There is no obligation. If you meet up and it doesn’t look like it will work out, there is no pressure to continue. Or, if a problem arises within your carpooling arrangement that you are unable to resolve, you are under no obligation to continue. Simply look for another match!