Questions

Drivers post trips they’re already making, with a price for each seat. Riders search for a trip, or save a route and get an alert when one is posted, then request a seat. Once the driver accepts, you meet at the pickup point and travel together. You can pay in the app, or pay the driver directly.

An Uber driver takes you wherever you want to go, as a paid job, and needs a booked hire licence to do it. A RideAlong driver is already making the trip and offers their spare seats to people heading the same way. You chip in towards fuel and running costs instead of paying a fare, and every seat is capped at $1 per kilometre. Trips are posted ahead, so RideAlong suits longer trips — town to town, the airport run, the daily commute. Every driver’s ID and car are checked by a person first, and in-app payments are held until the trip is done.

No. RideAlong connects people already making a trip with people heading the same way. Drivers set a seat contribution that covers part of the cost of the journey; it isn’t a fare, and RideAlong doesn’t employ drivers.

RideAlong is car pooling: drivers only share trips they’re already making, and riders chip in towards the running costs, capped at $1 per kilometre per seat. In Queensland, the Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Regulation 2018, section 266(1)(e), lists “a car pooling arrangement” among the services the passenger transport law doesn’t apply to. Drivers still need a valid licence and a registered, roadworthy car, and every registered car carries compulsory third party (CTP) insurance, which covers people injured in a crash, passengers included. If you drive in another state, that state’s road rules apply. See our Terms.

Save a route you travel, or post a “looking for a ride” request. When a driver posts a matching trip, you get a push notification straight away — even if it leaves within the hour.

Joining is free. When you pay the driver directly, the rider pays a $5.50 booking fee, which is refunded automatically if the driver declines or doesn’t accept by pickup time. When you pay in the app, RideAlong keeps a 10% service fee and the driver gets 90% of the seat and extras total. Drivers can withdraw to their bank for $3.00, or instantly to an eligible debit card for 5% + $3.00.

Drivers set their own seat contribution. The app starts with a suggested fair price for the distance — a share of what the car costs to run — and drivers can change it, up to a cap of $1 per kilometre per seat; RideAlong won’t publish a ride priced above the cap. Optional extras such as luggage, pets and surfboards are charged once per rider who brings them, up to $10 each; a baby takes their own seat plus any child-seat fee. Everything is in Australian dollars and shown in full before you confirm.

Secure in-app payments are held until the trip is complete: when both travellers confirm it and leave a review, or automatically 48 hours after departure if nobody reports a problem. Once the card payment has settled, the driver’s share becomes an available balance they can withdraw to their bank account.

You can cancel an in-app booking yourself for a full refund up to 2 hours before pickup. Inside 2 hours, your seat goes back on sale: if someone else books it, you get half back; if not, the driver keeps their share. A booking the driver declines or cancels, or doesn’t accept by the pickup time, is refunded automatically. Refunds are processed within 3–5 business days.

Share your invite code from the bottom of the Profile tab. A friend who signs up with it gets $5 off their first trip, and once they’ve taken it you get $5 off your next one. The credit comes off what RideAlong charges your card, so the driver is always paid in full. One credit is used per trip and it has no cash value.

Drivers verify their identity and vehicle before offering rides. Documents are reviewed manually, usually within 10 minutes to 24 hours, and are only accessible to authorised reviewers.

RideAlong is cost-sharing carpooling, not a commercial service, and seat prices are capped to cover running costs. Your car’s compulsory third party (CTP) cover, which comes with registration in every state and territory, covers injury to passengers. Comprehensive policies vary on carrying passengers who contribute to costs, so check with your insurer before your first trip. RideAlong doesn’t provide insurance.

No. Location is optional — you can type addresses instead. Trip tracking and live location sharing only start when you turn them on, and a live location link expires after 4 hours.

Our first 20 drivers with a verified vehicle get 6c a litre off fuel at BP, up to 30 litres a day. Your place is held once your vehicle is verified, and after your first completed trip as a driver the app shows a barcode to scan at the BP counter. Spots go in the order vehicles are verified, and the offer can end at any time. Full conditions are in the Terms.