ShareSpace Carpool Is Opening in the UK, Ireland and New Zealand

ShareSpace Carpool is opening in the United Kingdom, Ireland and New Zealand. As everywhere, it is about sharing the real cost of a trip the driver is already making. It is not a taxi service, and drivers cannot make a profit. For now there is no service fee in these countries and riders pay the driver directly.

What "cost sharing" means in each country

Carrying passengers for hire or reward can need a licence in all three countries. Sharing the cost of a trip without profit is treated differently, and the details are not identical, so ShareSpace sets a separate price cap for each country.

• United Kingdom. The price is agreed in the app before the trip, and what all the riders pay in total must not be more than the running costs of the journey. The cap is currently 25 pence per mile for the whole car, divided by the seats offered. A 10 mile trip with three seats offered is at most about 83 pence a seat.
• Ireland. The test is the cost of the fuel for the trip, so the cap is the lowest of the three: currently 12 cent per kilometre for the whole car, divided by the seats offered. Licensed taxi and hackney drivers should not offer rides on ShareSpace.
• New Zealand. The cap is based on a per-kilometre rate for fuel and wear and tear, currently 60 cents per kilometre for the whole car, divided by the seats offered. A driver is not paid for their time.

Paying and verification

Riders pay the driver directly, in cash or by bank transfer. ShareSpace does not collect, hold or refund that money. Drivers are verified before they can offer a ride, and can offer up to ten rides a week.

Your responsibilities

• Follow the law where you drive. If you are not sure that a trip is allowed, do not offer or take it.
• Drivers need a valid licence and the insurance the law requires, and should tell their insurer that they share trip costs with passengers. ShareSpace provides no insurance and no protection or compensation for damage, injury or loss.
• Read the country addendum to the Terms and the Carpool rules.

In an emergency call 999 in the UK, 112 or 999 in Ireland, or 111 in New Zealand. Download ShareSpace Carpool from the App Store or Google Play. This post is a general guide, not legal advice. Rules can change, so check what applies to you.

See also: Where ShareSpace works.