Why carpool as a driver?

Driving to work every day can be expensive — especially when you are covering the whole journey alone. Carpooling lets you make better use of a trip you were going to make anyway by taking someone travelling in the same direction with you.

That can help reduce your commuting costs, make the journey more social and put empty seats in your car to good use.

Want to know how much you could save? Use our savings calculator to estimate the potential impact on your commute.

Why carpool as a driver?

The basic idea is simple: instead of paying the full cost of your commute yourself, you share part of it with your passengers.

When you take someone along, you can receive a contribution towards the journey. Over regular commutes, these contributions can add up and reduce the personal cost of driving to work.

And because you are already making the journey, carpooling does not mean completely changing your routine. In many cases, it simply means meeting your passenger at an agreed point along the way.

There is also a social side. Regular carpools often become familiar routines, and the daily commute can feel a lot less repetitive when you are sharing it with someone else.

How do I find passengers?

You do not have to search for passengers manually.

Once you have entered your regular commute in the Karos app, the app suggests compatible carpoolers travelling in the same direction. You can review their profile and the proposed ride before deciding who you would like to travel with.

Passengers can also send you requests, which you can accept directly in the app.

How can I choose a carpooler?

How do I accept a ride request?

And if you have several free seats, you can also take more than one passenger on eligible journeys.

Can I take ultiple passengers?

How does the cost sharing work?

You do not need to negotiate the price of every journey with your passenger.

Cost sharing is handled automatically through the Karos app. The amount depends on the distance travelled together and on the mobility programme available in your region or through your employer.

Depending on the programme, part of the driver contribution may also be supported by a public transport operator, local authority or employer.

You can see the relevant pricing information directly in the app.

How is the price of a carpool ride calculated?

How do I receive the contribution?

Once an eligible carpool has been completed and validated, the corresponding driver benefit is managed through the app.

This means you do not have to collect cash from passengers or organise payments privately. The financial side of the journey stays within the Karos system.

The exact amount can vary depending on the distance and the programme available to you, so the app is always the best place to check the contribution for a specific journey.

Am I insured when driving a carpool?

Carpooling to work is still a regular commute. The same basic motor insurance framework therefore applies as when you drive to work without passengers.

As a vehicle owner, you need the legally required motor insurance, which also covers passengers in the event of an accident.

It is still worth checking your individual policy, particularly if another person may drive your car or if you have questions about specific coverage.

Does carpooling mean making big detours?

Not necessarily.

Karos is designed around everyday commuting and matches people whose journeys are compatible. The aim is to find shared routes that fit into trips drivers are already making, rather than turning the commute into a completely different journey.

That is what makes daily carpooling practical: you are sharing an existing trip, not creating a new one.

What if I sometimes prefer to be the passenger?

You do not have to choose one role forever.

Depending on your commute, you can drive on some days and ride with someone else on others. Many people alternate between the two depending on their schedule, their car or simply what works best that day.

If you would like to know more about the passenger side:

Read on: Why carpool as a passenger?

Make more of a journey you are already taking

For drivers, carpooling can be a simple way to reduce the cost of commuting without giving up the flexibility of travelling by car.

You keep your usual route, share the journey with people travelling your way and make better use of seats that would otherwise remain empty.

Download the Karos app for free and see who is already travelling your way.