Where the rubber meets the road: What to ask your potential carpool partners

October 18, 2024
Happy blonde woman gets into her carpool.
Asking the right questions can make your carpool a happy experience.

Ridesharing, such as carpooling and vanpooling, is a great way to save money, reduce stress and help the region’s air quality. Whether you are sharing a ride with one other rider or joining a vanpool with half a dozen people, making sure it is a good fit is key.

Asking the right questions can make sure a carpool will not only be a positive experience, but properly suit your needs.

Although there are dozens of questions one could ask, they can pretty much be broken up into a few categories: logistics, costs, communication, preferences and safety.

Logistics

You can’t get to work if you can’t work out the logistics of the daily commute. Arguably the most important question to ask is “Who’s driving?” “Is one person driving every day?” “Is everyone taking turns to drive?

“If both you and your partner(s) would like to drive, you may want to implement a rotation system where the responsibility can be shared,” wrote Eddie Munguia on the UCLA transportation blog.

Once a driving schedule is established, some other logistical questions to ask include:

  • What time do you typically leave for work/school?
  • What time do you need to arrive?
  • Where do you live, and where is your destination?
  • What are your preferred pickup and drop-off locations?
  • Whose vehicles will we be using?

Some of these questions may be easy to answer if all the carpool participants work or go to school at the same location, but it can be trickier if carpoolers work in different places or have different schedules.

Costs

Figuring out who will pay what ahead of time can eliminate a lot of stress or drama later on. Does everyone chip in evenly? Does the driver not pay or does the driver pick up the costs when it is their turn to drive?

“You’ll need to establish policies for funding your commute,” wrote Kathryn Kellogg on wikihow.com. “Agree on payment methods and set payment deadlines.”

Splitting gas costs is an easy way to break up costs, but if a few people are using their cars more than others, try using an online commute cost calculator like this one from PAG to determine the operating cost of driving the vehicle.

Communication

Creating clear communication expectations is important in creating a successful carpool. Figuring out how the group will communicate is the first step. Calls, emails, texts, group chats or even apps can all be utilized, but a decision must be made and used. Don’t choose email if one of the members rarely check emails.

From there a policy on what needs to be communicated should be crafted. Do you confirm every day or week? What’s the policy on last-minute changes or cancellations? How do you handle emergencies?

Communicating expectations is also part of a smooth carpool. How flexible are you going to be with schedule changes and what are the expectations for no-shows or running late?

Preferences

Coming to a consensus on in-car behavior should also be decided ahead of time.

Do you prefer to talk, listen to music or news, or ride in silence? If the group is okay with chatting, are any topics off limits?

“You may like to start off your mornings with some of Beyonce’s ‘Drunk in Love,’ but that doesn’t necessarily mean your partner does,” explained Munguia. “If music isn’t the preference, you and your partner can also listen to news, podcasts, or even audio books. Come to some kind of agreement that will make your daily commute something to look forward to.”

Cell phone use, especially if someone wants to have conversations with those outside of the carpool while driving, can also cause problems.

Do the members have any preferences regarding car temperature or windows? What about eating or drinking in the car? Is smoking allowed? If not, are any members overly sensitive to the smell of smoke on a passenger?

“Many individuals prefer to avoid secondhand smoke, and some people are so sensitive that they don’t want to even sit next to an individual who has been smoking earlier in the day,” wrote Kellogg.

What about other smells such as perfumes, colognes or air fresheners?

Food and drink may be another topic that needs to be negotiated. While some people can’t live without their morning coffee, some people don’t want food or drink in their cars. Maybe they only want cups with tight lids or maybe drinks are OK but food is not. Maybe there are dietary restrictions due to moral or religious beliefs.

Safety

Specific safety concerns should be discussed ahead of time. Speeding, driving habits and even seat belt usage may need to be discussed. Something as simple as routine maintenance and whether the car is registered and insured may need to be discussed.

Other safety items to consider

  • Are occasional passengers, such as kids or colleagues, allowed?
  • Does anyone have allergies, such as from pet hair, if someone has a pet in their car?
  • Does anyone have any medical conditions that should be known?
  • Are there any safety concerns with where people are picked up or dropped off?

Learn the advantages of carpooling and other alternative modes of transportation, as well as how to find a carpool with PAG’s Sun Rideshare.