What’s the Difference Between Vanpool, Carpool & Ridehailing?

Nov 2, 2020 | Commuter Resources

A man sitting in the driver 's seat of a car.

Find the right ride for you to save money and connect with others.

You may be looking to move away from your single car commute option, or looking to hit the road with others, but the benefits of vanpooling, carpooling or ridesharing are endless! While these options are currently limited due to COVID-19, use these options in the future to meet new people, save money and resources. Here’s a quick rundown of the differences between vanpool, carpool and ridesharing.

Carpool Vanpool Ridehailing Carshare
What is it? Carpooling is using your or your commute partners’ vehicle to share a ride to a similar area. Pay a low monthly fare to commute with 5 – 15 other commuters who live and work near you. Vehicle is provided by the program. Ridesharing is through operators like Uber and Lyft, who offer rides by request in exchange for a fee. ZipCar and Enterprise CarShare have vehicles around the city that you can rent by the hour or the day.
What are the benefits?
  • Reduce wear and tear on your vehicle
  • Take turns driving, enjoy a relaxing ride
  • Cut down on commute costs
  • No car needed
  • Leave the vehicle maintenance and insurance to someone else
  • Personal use of the van
  • On-demand ride-hail service
  • Easy for first-mile or last-mile connections with other commute options
  • Pay as little as $9 an hour to have a car during the day when you need it and have the parking, gas and insurance all included
How do I start? Simply register with Share the Ride NC then enter the details of your daily commute. You’ll be matched with potential carpool partners. Explore Commute with Enterprise Vanpool Program Explore the Uber app, as well as our local taxi system.

Enterprise: Choose a car-sharing program near you and fill out the online application.

ZipCar: explore availability, pricing and register
Resources Share the Ride NC

Share the Ride NC

Commute by Enterprise

 Uber

Durham Taxi		 Enterprise Carshare

ZipCar

 

Involve Your Employer

Ask your employer if they offer premium parking spots or discounts for carpoolers or rideshares so you can save even more money and time by not hunting for that perfect space.

Emergency Ride Home

We get it, life happens fast and schedules change at the last minute. But having a car isn’t the only way to be prepared for those changes. Register for Emergency Ride Home and you’ll always have a backup ride should you or your family have an emergency, your carpool driver can’t take you home for some reason, or you have to work overtime unexpectedly.

 

What Moves You?

No matter if you prioritize time savings, cost savings or connectedness, carpool, vanpool and other options can work for you!

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