Poparide - Carpool connections & savings

Become part of a community of two million individuals who are sharing rides nationwide. Whether you wish to drive or ride, connect with others heading in the same direction and select your travel companions based on their profiles, ratings, and shared connections. This is an excellent way to save money, lessen your environmental impact, and meet interesting people along the journey.

What are the advantages of carpooling with Poparide?

• Register for free as either a driver or a passenger

• Share transportation expenses and cut down on travel costs

• Travel with verified users who have been rated by the community

• Arrange bookings and payments online - no need for uncomfortable cash transactions

• Make your daily commute more enjoyable and eco-friendly

• Contribute to reducing traffic congestion and emissions across the country

Poparide is proudly developed in Canada, and we recognize that it operates on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded lands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.

FAQ

Is it free to join Poparide?

Yes! Signing up to Poparide is free and there is no monthly or annual subscription fee. A fee is charged when you use our service.

Our fees

For passengers: A booking fee is paid when you book a seat online, which is usually around 20% (including GST). Find out more here.

For drivers: A 3.15% payout fee (including GST) is automatically deducted from the money we send you. Find out more here.

There are no other fees on Poparide.

Can I use Poparide outside Canada?

No, currently, you can only use Poparide to organize trips within Canada.

We also don't allow cross-border trips between Canada and the US on Poparide to prevent security and immigration problems at the border.

What is the difference between Poparide and Uber?

Poparide operates strictly under carpooling regulations. We are not a taxi or commercial service like Uber or Lyft. This means:

Drivers do not provide custom services (such as door-to-door pick-ups or detours).

Members share trips that drivers were already planning to take, with passengers contributing to travel costs.

There are three key differences between Poparide and Uber/Lyft:

1. Driver vs. passenger directed and scheduling

Poparide trips are driver-directed and prescheduled, meaning the driver decides on the origin, destination, schedule, pick-up and drop-off locations and post a trip well in advance based on their own schedule.

Uber trips are last-minute and passenger-directed, meaning passengers hail a ride in real-time (like a taxi) and the driver comes to them immediately.

2. Carpooling vs. driving for profit

Poparide drivers carpool by filling empty seats in their cars when they are already driving from A to B to cover the cost of their trip (gas, maintenance, etc.).

Uber employs Uber drivers who earn a wage to drive people on demand.

3. Intercity travel vs. travel within a city

Poparide helps people organize medium to long-distance trips between cities, usually a few days in advance.

Uber operates inside the city in real-time, much like a taxi.

See our article Uber and Lyft are not ridesharing for more information.

How to Get a Five-Star Driver Rating on Poparide

This article was written by Phil, one of many Poparide drivers you can find on the road. You can usually catch him traveling from Quebec to Montreal visiting old friends.

As a driver on Poparide, I know firsthand how important your rating can be. It shows potential passengers that you’re safe, reliable, and courteous. The higher your rating, the more likely you are to fill the seats in your car for carpooling trips. Getting five stars – the highest possible rating – takes some attention to detail and consideration, but it’s achievable.

I joined the app back in 2017 and in that time, I’ve learned a lot about carpooling – and I have the track record to prove it. Sharing has always been the essence of the Poparide community, so I thought: Why not share some tips to make every ride smoother and more enjoyable? Time to go the extra mile and give a five-star experience!

Communicate before the ride

The Poparide app is where you and your passengers will make plans before a ride. You’ll get ride requests that you’ll have to accept or deny, and you also might have passengers ask you questions or send you messages. Don’t leave anyone hanging! Passengers need to know if they’re carpooling with you, or if they have to find a ride elsewhere. You should try to respond to requests and messages immediately – and be friendly when you do so.

I also find it helpful to send a short courtesy message to passengers a few hours before the trip to confirm that it’s happening. There’s no such thing as over-communicating!

Check in often with your passengers 

“Is the music too loud?”

“Am I switching lanes too fast?”

“Is the temperature ok?”

“Do you want to chat, or do you want a quiet ride?”

Communication is just as important once your passengers are in the car, so try to be proactive. Ask your passengers how they feel and what they want in order to keep them comfortable.  Some passengers may simply be too shy to tell you when they’re freezing (or sweating!) in the back, and anticipating their needs shows you truly care about your passengers.

If you have to use your phone, ask for help!

We’ve all been there: You need to tap on your phone while driving to check something. Maybe it’s because there’s a detour alert on Google Maps, or maybe you just got an important SMS from a Poparide passenger you’re picking up later on the way. It happens!

Remember that yes, you are responsible for keeping your eyes on the road, but you’re not driving alone! The passenger next to you can check your phone for you. They trust you to be a safe driver, and there’s nothing safer than asking them to check your phone for you.

Passengers are usually happy that you care to ask them to help instead of splitting your attention between your phone screen and the road. I’ve learned that this habit makes the difference between getting a good review and a bad review for safety!