Frequently Asked Questions

Here is a list of our most frequently asked questions. If your question isn't on the list, please feel free to contact our customer service staff from the Contact Us page.

What is Carpooling?
Do I need a car to carpool?
What are the advantages of carpooling?
What if there's an emergency?
What if I have to work late and don't have my car?
Doesn't carpooling make the commute longer?
I need my car for errands during the day.  Can I still carpool?
Can I meet a carpool somewhere other than my home?
How do I Find a Carpool Partner, Vanpool, or Bike Buddy?
Do I have to pay for RideShare Matching to receive a carpool matchlist?

"What is Carpooling?"

Carpooling is when two or more adult commuters ride together in a private automobile on a regular basis, regardless of their relationship to each other (relatives count!) or how the cost of sharing the ride is agreed upon.

Finding someone to carpool with is simple because employees of a single company often live near one other. Neighbors may have similar work schedules and work at different companies located only a short distance apart. 

"Do I need a car to carpool?"

You do not need a car to carpool. Carpools can be arranged in one of the following ways: 

One person may drive all the time, while the passengers contribute to the commute cost (e.g., gas, parking, tolls, etc.). 
Participants may alternate driving and not exchange money. 
The carpool driver may pick up passengers at their homes, or they may meet at a central location. 
Collectively, the carpool participants decide the rules and schedule. 

"What are the advantages of carpooling?"

There are many advantages to carpooling and here:

Financial savings due to sharing commuting costs
Reduces traffic congestion
Reduces need for parking
Less stress commuting to and from work
Reduces pollution due to auto emissions

"What if there's an emergency, or I have to work late and don't have my car?" 

Tampa Bay Area Transportation Authority (TBARTA) will provide carpool registrants with 4 FREE* taxi rides from work to home per year if you have an emergency or have to work unscheduled overtime—ask us about our Emergency Ride Home Program for more information.

*certain restrictions apply 

"Doesn't carpooling make the commute longer?" 

After an initial adjustment period, most participants find carpooling only adds a few extra minutes a day for the drive to a scheduled pick-up point, and that may be a pretty fair trade-off for the cost savings.

"I need my car for errands during the day. Can I still carpool?"

Discuss schedule changes with other carpoolers in your group. You may be able to set your pick-up point close to a shopping center or bank to accommodate errands after work. Or, you may choose not to carpool on the days you must run an errand. 

"Can I meet a carpool somewhere other than my home?"

Yes. There are various Park-and-Ride lots that are available for commuters to meet their carpools, vanpools or bus. To find a Park-and-Ride location near you, contact TBARTA at 800.998.RIDE (7433). 

"How Do I Find a Carpool Partner?"

Whether you need another person for an existing carpool, or you need to find partners to form a new carpool, TBARTA can help you. At TBARTA, carpool partners are located through an online matching program that matches commuters with similar commutes. Our database contains thousands of potential carpool partners in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties.

Finding a carpool partner is simple with TBARTA. Access our online matching program by clicking the button at the top of the page or HERE. Once there, you can register for carpooling, vanpooling, Bike Buddies, and/or Emergency Ride Home Program. Your personal information is confidential. And you can see immediately if you match with other potential carpool or vanpool partners.

"Do I have to pay to receive a carpool matchlist from TBARTA?"

NO. TBARTA is a FREE carpool referral service which is funded through the Florida Department of Transportation to enhance the Bay area’s competitiveness and economic vitality by reducing roadway congestion, air pollution, and fuel consumption.