Last Updated: January 1, 2025 • Effective Date: January 1, 2025
Please read these Terms carefully. By creating a GoPool account or using the GoPool Platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree, you may not use the Platform.
These Terms of Service ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("User," "you," or "your") and GoPool, Inc. ("GoPool," "Company," "we," "us," or "our"), a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business at 340 Pine St Suite 800, San Francisco, CA 94104. These Terms govern your access to and use of the GoPool website, mobile applications, and all related services (collectively, the "Platform").
By registering for a GoPool account, accessing the Platform, or completing a carpooling trip through the Platform, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated herein by reference. If you are using the Platform on behalf of an organization, you represent that you have the authority to bind that organization to these Terms.
To use GoPool, you must: (a) be at least 18 years of age; (b) have the legal capacity to enter into binding contracts under applicable law; (c) not have been previously suspended or banned from the Platform; and (d) complete GoPool's identity verification process. Drivers must additionally hold a valid driver's license and pass GoPool's motor vehicle record screening.
By using the Platform, you represent and warrant that you meet all of the foregoing eligibility requirements. If you do not meet these requirements, you must not access or use the Platform.
Account Creation: To access GoPool's matching and trip services, you must create an account by providing accurate, complete, and current information including your legal name, email address, phone number, and commute details. You are responsible for maintaining the accuracy of your account information and updating it promptly when it changes.
Identity Verification: All users must complete GoPool's identity verification process, which includes submitting a government-issued photo ID and completing a biometric verification step. GoPool uses a third-party verification provider for this purpose. Failure to complete verification will prevent access to matching services.
Driver Verification: Users who wish to drive on the Platform must additionally provide a valid driver's license and consent to a motor vehicle record (MVR) check. GoPool reserves the right to decline driver approval based on MVR results at its sole discretion. Driver approvals are reviewed annually and may be revoked if circumstances change.
Account Security: You are responsible for maintaining the security and confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account. You must notify GoPool immediately at hello@gopool.house if you suspect unauthorized access to or use of your account.
One Account Per Person: You may maintain only one individual GoPool account. Creating duplicate accounts is prohibited and may result in suspension of all associated accounts.
Nature of Service: GoPool provides a technology platform that connects commuters for the purpose of sharing vehicle trips. GoPool is not a transportation carrier and does not provide transportation services. Drivers using the Platform are independent individuals offering to share their personal vehicle trips with others for the purpose of shared cost reduction — not for profit or as a commercial service. GoPool does not control, direct, supervise, or manage carpool arrangements beyond facilitating the matching process.
Matching: GoPool uses automated algorithms to suggest carpool matches based on route compatibility, schedule overlap, and preference data. GoPool does not guarantee that you will receive any specific match or any match at all. Match quality and availability depend on the density of users in your area and the quality of your profile information.
Cost Splitting: GoPool's automated cost-splitting feature calculates each rider's share of trip costs (fuel, tolls, parking) based on vehicle efficiency data, actual fuel prices, and trip details. These calculations are estimates based on available data and may not reflect exact actual costs. All financial arrangements between carpool participants are ultimately between those participants; GoPool provides tools to facilitate fair cost sharing but is not responsible for disputes regarding cost accuracy.
Platform Availability: GoPool makes the Platform available "as is" and does not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free access. We may modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the Platform at any time with or without notice.
Accuracy: You must provide accurate and truthful information in your profile, including your commute route, schedule, and vehicle information. Providing false information to obtain matches is a material breach of these Terms.
Safe Driving: Drivers are solely responsible for operating their vehicles safely and in compliance with all applicable traffic laws. Drivers must not use mobile devices while driving in any manner that violates applicable laws. GoPool encourages the use of hands-free devices and reminds drivers that passenger conversation should never interfere with safe driving attention.
Respectful Behavior: All users must treat their carpool partners with courtesy and respect. Harassment, discrimination, intimidation, or any conduct that makes other users feel unsafe is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate account suspension and potential permanent ban.
No Commercial Activity: GoPool is designed for cost-sharing among commuters, not for commercial transportation services. You may not use the Platform to transport passengers for compensation beyond the shared cost of the trip. Drivers may not charge passengers more than their fair pro-rata share of fuel, tolls, and parking costs as calculated by GoPool's cost-splitting feature.
Compliance with Laws: You are responsible for complying with all applicable local, state, and federal laws in connection with your use of the Platform, including traffic laws, vehicle insurance requirements, and any applicable regulations governing carpooling or ride-sharing in your jurisdiction.
Prohibited Activities: You may not: (a) use the Platform for any illegal purpose; (b) impersonate any person or entity; (c) use the Platform to transmit spam, viruses, or harmful code; (d) attempt to circumvent any Platform security measures; (e) use automated means to access or scrape the Platform; (f) resell or sublicense access to the Platform; or (g) engage in any conduct that interferes with other users' enjoyment of the Platform.
Drivers are solely responsible for ensuring that their vehicle is insured in compliance with applicable law and, where applicable, that their auto insurance policy covers carpooling activities. Many standard personal auto insurance policies do not cover commercial use or driving-for-hire arrangements. Cost-sharing carpooling (where no profit is made and costs are merely split) is generally considered personal use under most personal auto insurance policies, but you should verify coverage with your insurer before using GoPool.
GoPool does not provide vehicle insurance for trips arranged through the Platform. GoPool is not liable for any uninsured losses arising from trips arranged through the Platform.
After each trip, users may rate and review their carpool partners. Ratings and reviews must be honest, based on the actual experience, and compliant with GoPool's Community Guidelines. You may not submit false, misleading, or retaliatory ratings. GoPool reserves the right to remove ratings that violate these standards.
Community trust scores derived from ratings are used in GoPool's matching algorithm and may affect your ability to receive match offers. Users whose scores fall below GoPool's minimum thresholds may be suspended from the Platform pending a review.
GoPool's individual commuter platform is free to use. Trip costs are split between participants using GoPool's automated cost-splitting system. Payment processing fees charged by our payment processor (Stripe) may apply to some transactions. GoPool's enterprise and corporate programs are subject to separate pricing agreements.
By adding a payment method to your GoPool account, you authorize GoPool to charge that payment method for your share of carpool trip costs as calculated by the Platform. All payment transactions are processed by Stripe in accordance with Stripe's terms of service. GoPool does not store full payment card numbers.
Trip cost calculations are final unless you submit a dispute within 48 hours of trip completion. Disputes are reviewed by GoPool's support team and resolved in accordance with available trip data.
The GoPool Platform, including all software, algorithms, content, trademarks, and designs, is owned by GoPool, Inc. and protected by applicable intellectual property laws. These Terms do not grant you any ownership interest in the Platform or its content.
You grant GoPool a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use content you submit to the Platform (profile photos, reviews, bios) for the purpose of operating and improving the Platform. You retain ownership of such content and may delete it at any time by removing it from your profile or deleting your account.
THE GOPOOL PLATFORM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. GOPOOL DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE PLATFORM WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS.
GOPOOL DOES NOT INVESTIGATE, ENDORSE, OR GUARANTEE THE IDENTITY, CHARACTER, INTENTIONS, OR QUALIFICATIONS OF ANY USER. BACKGROUND CHECKS AND IDENTITY VERIFICATION REDUCE BUT DO NOT ELIMINATE RISK. YOU ASSUME ALL RISK ASSOCIATED WITH CARPOOLING WITH OTHER USERS.
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, GOPOOL, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, GOODWILL, OR USE, ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF THE PLATFORM OR FROM CARPOOL TRIPS ARRANGED THROUGH THE PLATFORM.
GOPOOL'S TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM ARISING FROM THESE TERMS OR THE PLATFORM SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF FEES PAID BY YOU TO GOPOOL IN THE THREE MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR $100, WHICHEVER IS GREATER.
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless GoPool, Inc. and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from or related to: (a) your use of the Platform; (b) your violation of these Terms; (c) your violation of any applicable law; or (d) any carpool trip you participate in through the Platform.
You may delete your GoPool account at any time through the account settings. GoPool may suspend or terminate your account at any time, with or without notice, for violation of these Terms, safety concerns, fraudulent activity, or for any other reason at GoPool's discretion. Upon termination, your right to use the Platform immediately ceases.
Sections 9 (Intellectual Property), 10 (Disclaimers), 11 (Limitation of Liability), 12 (Indemnification), and 14 (Governing Law) survive termination.
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any dispute arising from these Terms or the Platform that cannot be resolved informally shall be resolved by binding arbitration in San Francisco, California, under the rules of the American Arbitration Association. You waive your right to participate in a class action lawsuit or class-wide arbitration.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, either party may seek injunctive or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to prevent irreparable harm.
GoPool reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will provide notice of material changes by posting the updated Terms on the Platform and, where appropriate, by email. Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date of any updated Terms constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.
For questions about these Terms, contact:
GoPool, Inc. — Legal
340 Pine St Suite 800, San Francisco, CA 94104
Email: legal@gopool.house | Phone: +1 415 555 0247