RideAlong is operated by A.C.N. 702 408 348 PTY LTD (ACN 702 408 348) (“RideAlong”, “we”, “us”). These terms govern your use of RideAlong. By creating an account or using the app you agree to them. RideAlong is a platform that helps people share genuine journeys and split costs. RideAlong is not a taxi, hire-car or emergency service, and does not employ drivers.
Accounts and eligibility
You must be at least 18 and provide accurate information. Drivers must verify their identity and vehicle before offering rides. We may verify, suspend, or remove accounts to protect the community.
Driver responsibilities
If you offer rides, you must hold a current and valid driver licence, keep your vehicle registered, roadworthy and lawfully insured, and comply with all road and transport laws. You are responsible for ensuring you are legally entitled to carry passengers on a cost-sharing basis in your state or territory. You must not carry more passengers than your vehicle can lawfully and safely seat with appropriate restraints. RideAlong does not provide insurance, does not employ drivers, and is not a party to the journey between riders and drivers.
Fees and contributions
Drivers set their own seat price, which is a contribution towards the cost of the trip, not a fare. Seat prices are capped at $1 per kilometre of the trip, per seat, and RideAlong will not publish a ride priced above the cap. Optional extras (luggage, pets, surfboards, child seats) are charged separately and capped at $10 each.
All amounts are in Australian dollars, shown in full before you confirm. Pay direct: the rider pays RideAlong a $5.50 booking fee per booking, and pays the driver the seat and extras separately. The $5.50 booking fee is non-refundable if you cancel the booking yourself; it is refunded automatically if the driver declines the booking or does not accept it by the scheduled pickup time. Pay securely in app: the rider pays the seat and extras total in the app; RideAlong deducts a 10% service fee from the driver and the driver receives the remaining 90%. Optional extras are charged once per rider who selects them. Seat contributions must reflect genuine shared journey costs.
Payments and payouts (Stripe)
Payments and payouts are handled by Stripe. Card details are sent directly to Stripe and not stored by RideAlong. Secure in-app payments are held by RideAlong until both travellers confirm the trip is complete and both leave a review, after which the driver's share becomes an available balance. Drivers withdraw earnings to their own bank account; a $3.00 fee applies to each standard withdrawal. Where it is available to you, an instant withdrawal to an eligible debit card costs 5% of the amount plus $3.00; the exact fee is shown before you confirm.
Driver payouts and verification
Before withdrawing, a driver must complete a one-time secure verification provided by Stripe that collects identity and bank account details. This is required by law before money can be paid to any person and is separate from RideAlong's own identity check. RideAlong does not store the driver's full bank account details. Drivers agree to Stripe's Connected Account Agreement during that step.
Refunds and cancellations
RideAlong is responsible for refunds and card chargebacks to riders. A paid booking that is declined or cancelled by the driver, or a booking that the driver has not accepted by the scheduled pickup time, is automatically refunded to the rider's original payment method. Where a refund becomes due after a driver's earnings have already been paid out, RideAlong may recover the amount from the driver's balance or future earnings. You can also cancel an in-app booking yourself for a full refund up to 2 hours before pickup. Refunds for cancellations you make are processed within 3–5 business days; your bank may take longer to show them. (The $5.50 booking fee on pay-direct bookings is not refunded if you cancel yourself.) Closer to pickup, contact us or use Request a refund in the app and we will review it. These terms do not exclude rights that cannot lawfully be excluded under Australian Consumer Law.
Conduct and safety
Use RideAlong lawfully and respectfully. We may investigate conduct before, during or after a journey, including in messages and at pickup, and may warn, suspend, or permanently remove accounts, including immediately for serious safety concerns. Repeated confirmed late cancellations or no-shows may lead to removal. You can seek a review of a decision except where that would create a safety, legal or investigative risk.
RideAlong has zero tolerance for objectionable or abusive content and users, including harassment, threats, hate speech, sexual content, scams and impersonation. You can block and report another user from any conversation in the app; blocked users can no longer message you. Staff review reports and aim to act on them within 24 hours, which may include removing content and suspending or removing the account responsible.
Women-only rides
RideAlong offers an optional women-only travel preference as a personal safety measure. Only users whose eligibility has been confirmed through RideAlong's government-document review may offer or request women-only rides. Eligibility is assessed from accepted government documents, not from profile photographs. RideAlong may amend or suspend this feature to comply with applicable law, including anti-discrimination law, or a regulator's direction.
Location and safety features
Location and trip tracking are optional and controlled by you. RideAlong does not automatically share your location and is not an emergency service. If you choose to share a live location link, your device sends its location to RideAlong while sharing is on, and anyone who has the link can see your latest position until you stop sharing or the link expires (up to 4 hours). In an emergency, contact local authorities.
Tax
RideAlong does not currently add GST to booking or withdrawal fees. Receipts show the actual amount charged. Tax treatment will be updated if RideAlong becomes GST-registered. Drivers are responsible for their own tax obligations.
Liability
RideAlong provides a platform to connect travellers and does not control the conduct of users or the condition of vehicles. To the extent permitted by law, RideAlong is not liable for the acts of users. Nothing in these terms excludes rights or guarantees that cannot be excluded under Australian law.
Your content and intellectual property
You keep ownership of the content you create, such as your profile, messages, photos and reviews. You grant RideAlong a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to host, store, display and use that content for the purpose of operating, moderating and improving the service. The RideAlong name, app and design are owned by RideAlong and may not be copied or used without permission.
Indemnity
To the extent permitted by law, you agree to indemnify RideAlong against claims, losses and costs arising from your misuse of the service, your breach of these terms, or your conduct during a journey. This does not limit rights that cannot lawfully be excluded.
App store terms
If you downloaded RideAlong from Apple’s App Store, Apple’s standard Licensed Application End User License Agreement also applies. These terms are between you and RideAlong, not Apple or Google. Apple and Google are not responsible for the app or its content, have no obligation to provide maintenance or support, and are not responsible for any claims relating to the app. Apple and its subsidiaries are third-party beneficiaries of these terms and may enforce them against you.
Governing law and disputes
These terms are governed by the laws of Queensland, Australia, and you submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of its courts. If you have a problem, please contact us first at the email below so we can try to resolve it. Nothing in these terms limits your rights under the Australian Consumer Law.
Changes and contact
We may update these terms and will change the date above. Questions: [email protected].