Keep your car insurance company up to date, always.
The word carpool has nothing to do with taking your vehicle out for a swim.
Nor does it have anything to do with singing along to some of today’s most popular songs, like you might’ve seen on a certain American talk show.
If it’s still not sounding familiar, that’s maybe because the word's origin is North American. We commonly refer to carpooling as a ‘lift club’ in South Africa.
Most people opt for carpooling to save money for both the driver and the passengers, as they can split the cost of fuel, tolls, and other expenses.
But before you go rushing off to start your lift club, there’s one important party that needs to be sign-off on this: your insurance provider.
What is carpooling?
Carpooling, or a lift club, is a form of transportation where multiple people share a vehicle to travel to the same destination, like work or school.
This system can be arranged between friends, family, coworkers, or even through online carpooling platforms.
As previously mentioned, carpooling helps to keep costs down by saving money for all ride-sharers.
Money is pooled together, like in a stokvel, and used for fuel. This shared expense is often lower than what each individual would pay for transportation costs.
Along with saving money, here are a few other benefits of carpooling in the modern age:
Reduced traffic congestion
Carpooling reduces the number of vehicles on the road, which can help to ease traffic congestion, particularly during peak hours.
Reduced stress
Passengers can relax and enjoy the ride rather than having to focus on driving, thereby reducing the stress of commuting.
Reduced parking costs
Carpooling reduces the demand for parking spaces, saving money on parking fees, especially in urban areas where parking can be expensive.
Improved air quality
With fewer vehicles on the road, there are fewer emissions and air pollution, leading to a cleaner environment.
Increased social interaction
Carpooling allows passengers to socialise and connect with others, which can be an enjoyable experience.
Lift Club: a South African perspective
The term "lift club" is primarily used in South Africa and is similar in concept to carpooling or ride-sharing.
A lift club is a transport arrangement where a group with a similar daily travel itinerary shares a ride in a single vehicle, like commuting to work or school.
Criteria for this definition.
- Schedules. The participants' schedules should be similar to coordinate their ride to and from their destination.
- Routes. Everyone should have a similar travel itinerary to share a ride without having to detour significantly out of their way
- Cost. There should be an agreement on the cost of fuel, tolls, and other expenses, and it should ensure that the cost is shared fairly among everyone.
- Reliability. The participants should be reliable and should be able to consistently make it to the agreed-upon pick-up and drop-off locations on time.
Factors that can impact your car insurance premium
Suppose you are the designated driver in the ride-sharing arrangements, and passengers reimburse you for fuel and maintenance; you must make your insurance aware of this.
The carpooling arrangement can influence your premium as it will determine the most frequent usage of the car, be it personal or business use.
Making a profit from your lift club could be considered a commercial transaction, and your insurance policy might be required to change from a personal to a business use policy, which could increase premiums.
If your insurance is unaware of this arrangement, they could decide to reject a claim should you be involved in an accident.
However, insurance companies typically view lift clubs as a positive thing; they help reduce the number of vehicles on the road, which can lead to a decrease in the number of accidents and a reduction in traffic congestion.
Sharing the cost of fuel and maintenance with other people also provides a cost-effective alternative to driving a car, which can also be seen as another positive.
However, it’s essential to note that lift clubs can also pose certain risks, such as accidents or incidents involving shared vehicles.
In these cases, insurance companies have to deal with multiple claims, which can be complex and time-consuming.
That’s why you need to sit your insurer down and break the news to them gently.
It’s always a good idea to check with your insurance company to understand their policy regarding lift clubs and ensure you have the appropriate coverage in place.
Several factors can impact your car insurance premium when carpooling, such as:
- Money changing hands
If money is changing hands as part of the carpooling arrangement, insurance companies may view it as a commercial transaction.
This can result in higher insurance premiums, as commercial transactions are typically considered higher risk.
- Carpooling classification
Some insurance companies may classify lift clubs as commercial activities, while others may not. And this can impact the premium that you pay for your insurance.
- The frequency of carpooling
If you are frequently carpooling, this may affect your insurance premium.
Insurance companies may consider frequent carpooling a higher risk, as there is a greater likelihood of an accident.
- The number of passengers
The number of passengers you carpool with can also impact your insurance premium.
Insurance companies may consider a car with more passengers at higher risk, as there is a greater likelihood of injury in the event of an accident.
- The distance travelled
The distance travelled during carpooling can also impact your insurance premium.
Longer trips may be considered a higher risk, as there is a greater likelihood of an accident occurring over a longer distance.
As always, you should discuss any concerns or questions about your car insurance with your insurance provider to ensure that you’re not breaking any rules unbeknownst to you.
To end off
We don’t blame you in these ever-trying times for seeking ways to save a Randela (Rand meets Mandela, get it?) here and there.
With carpooling reducing costs, traffic congestion, stress and parking fees while improving air quality and increasing social interaction, who in their right mind would say no?
It honestly sounds like a good idea to us.
But with great power comes great responsibility, so remember to check in with your insurance company to understand their lift clubs policy; if all is good, they can give you the go-ahead.
And off you’ll freely go, carpooling and possibly karaoke-ing just like that aforementioned talk show.
Need insurance? Get a quote!
Pineapple (FSP 48650) is underwritten by Old Mutual Alternative Risk Transfer Insure Limited, a licensed Non-Life Insurer and authorised FSP. T&Cs apply. Premium is risk profile dependent.
Please Note: The information provided above is for informational purposes only; you should not construe any such information as legal or financial advice.
.webp)
