Ride-Sharing (Carpooling)

Ride-sharing, or carpooling, means several people travelling together in one car because they are going the same way, sharing the cost of the trip. The driver is usually making the journey anyway and takes passengers to split fuel and tolls, not to earn a living.

It is distinct from ride-hailing. In ride-hailing a professional driver is hired to take you where you want; in ride-sharing you join someone else’s existing journey and contribute to its costs, which is why it is typically much cheaper.

For longer trips between cities it can be a budget-friendly way to travel, and it has an environmental upside: more people in fewer cars means less traffic and lower emissions per head.

It is a different tool from renting. A rental gives you your own car and full control of the route and timing; ride-sharing trades that independence for low cost and is best for fixed city-to-city journeys rather than open-ended exploring.