Vanpool FAQs
South Florida Vanpool Basics
Where to begin? When you share a ride to work, you’re saving time and money, reducing pollution and enjoying the company of coworkers. Plus, you’ll be riding into work in a recent-model vehicle that may be more comfortable than your personal vehicle.
Saving On Your Commute
When you break down the savings, every ride really adds up.
- Split the costs, including gas, with your crew.
- Reduce wear and tear on your personal vehicle.
- Lower your insurance premiums.
Get Back Time
By taking turns driving, everyone gets back time in their work week. And you can use that time your way.
- Catch up on work.
- Relax or recharge with a nap.
- Chat with coworkers.
Eco-Friendly Commuting
Sharing a commute isn’t just good for you, it’s good for the environment.
- Collectively, our riders reduce 812 million lbs. of CO2 yearly1.
- South Florida Vanpool commuters take 45,000 vehicles off roads2.
- Vanpooling eliminates 1 billion commuter miles annually
When you vanpool, you get to choose the vehicle that’s the right size and style for your crew. South Florida Vanpool has a wide selection of recent-model SUVs, crossovers and vans, each with:
- Low mileage
- Flexible seating
- Insurance & physical damage protection
- 24/7 roadside assistance
- Optional amenities, like in-vehicle WiFi
South Florida Vanpool helps you share a ride with coworkers who live nearby. Your crew will determine where to meet to board your vehicle. We recommend choosing a central location in a safe, well-lit area near public transportation. Be sure to set a departure time that gives you plenty of time to safely get to work (even with traffic).
When you vanpool, we recommend sharing driving duties between the members of your group. That way everyone gets time back to relax or be productive. You can designate different days of the week, being sure to plan ahead and choose a backup driver if a commuter is out on vacation or working from home.
All drivers must submit an application for approval before they are given the keys. Each driver’s MVR (Motor Vehicle Record) will be checked annually. The program requires that each approved vanpool driver meet the following criteria:
- Possess a valid driver’s license.
- Be 25 years of age or older*.
- Have no more than two moving violations and/or at-fault accidents in the previous three years and no more than four moving violations and/or at-fault accidents in the previous five years.
- No major convictions in the past five years (i.e. driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving while impaired, failure to stop and report an accident, driving while license is suspended or revoked, possession of drugs or open containers of alcoholic beverage, reckless driving and/or participating in a speed contest, drag or highway race, or attempting to elude authorities).
- Be licensed a minimum of five years in the United States.
- Meet and comply with any laws/criteria required by the state where the vanpool is operated (i.e. medical requirements, drug screen).
It’s easy to start sharing a ride to work when you vanpool. Fill out our Join Vanpool form at the top of the page to get started.
Like it sounds, trip recording is the act of logging the miles each passenger traveled and the mode of transportation used each day. Some commuters are required to record their trip based on the rules of their program. Currently, only those commutes that are required to log trips can access the corresponding functionality in the website and mobile app.
Vehicle Options and Amenities
No long-term commitments here. Vanpool vehicles are rented on a month-to-month basis, and the cost is split among participants. If the size of your group fluctuates, you can upgrade your ride or get a different model at any time.
We’ve got you covered. You share the ride to work, and South Florida Vanpool takes care of both minor and major repairs, as well as comprehensive maintenance. With more than 80,000 service partners, we’ll help you locate a maintenance shop that’s convenient for you. If the van needs to be kept overnight, we may provide a backup vehicle at no cost to you.
Your vanpool includes:
- 24/7 roadside assistance
- Comprehensive maintenance
- Insurance & physical damage protection
Since you’re vanpooling, you’ll save money by splitting the cost of gas with your crew. Most South Florida Vanpool groups use a fuel card which is accepted at most major gas stations.
Whatever is easiest for the group you ride with! The South Florida Vanpool van, SUV or crossover can be left at the meeting point, or a driver may take it home. We recommend choosing a central location in a safe, well-lit area.
Yes, using your recent-model vehicle after work or on the weekends is one of the perks of South Florida Vanpool. The vehicle can be used outside of your commute for 200 additional miles a month at the discretion of your group.* We recommend creating a calendar where members can request additional vehicle time.
Cost And Savings
When you share a ride to work through South Florida Vanpool, your monthly costs depend on the vehicle type, amenities and commute distance.* Everyone in the group will split the cost of the ride and fuel. Government and company subsidies may lower the cost of your monthly payment—sometimes covering it entirely.
Additionally, employees can fund their vanpool with up to $300 of pre-tax income per month. This means you pay less tax and keep more cash. For employers, this pre-tax deduction reduces the amount of taxes on payroll.
One of the biggest benefits of vanpooling to work is the savings. Your monthly payment includes:
- A recent-model van, SUV or crossover
- Comprehensive maintenance program
- 24/7 roadside assistance
- Insurance & physical damage protection
The only additional expenses may be fuel, parking and toll road fees, where applicable.
Because vanpooling to work helps reduce traffic and emissions, many of our riders receive federal or local subsidies or subsidies from their employers to help further lower the cost of their commute.
If you’re a federal employee, you can get up to $300 a month in transit benefits—which means your vanpool is mostly covered.
Call and we’ll help you determine if you qualify for subsidies.
You can pay for your South Florida Vanpool using pre-tax income through IRS Code 132(f).
For most people, driving to work is a part of life. When you’re trying to get from point A to point B efficiency is important. Before you hit the road, check out some tips that can help save on fuel costs for your commute:
- Try a corporate ridesharing program and share the cost of riding to work.
- Try to fill up on Mondays and Fridays
- If you can, skip the premium gas option
- Pay with cash instead of card to reduce fees at the pump where applicable
- Join available rewards programs with fuel partners
- Check your tire pressure
- Accelerate slower and leverage cruise control to keep consistent speeds where applicable
- Remove unnecessary cargo from your vehicle
- Ensure your gas cap is secured tightly
- Be mindful of heat and air conditioning usage and reduce fan speed when necessary
- Reduce idle time in your vehicle when not commuting
Planning For The Unexpected
No worries—we have you covered. If something comes up and you miss your vanpool, just call for a Guaranteed Ride Home.
Don’t sweat it. When you vanpool, you’ll be covered with 24/7 breakdown assistance. Just call and ask for roadside assistance.
We’ll help ensure your crew gets back on the road, and provide a replacement vehicle in the meantime.
We’re here to help. South Florida Vanpool offers your commute group auto liability and uninsured motor insurance. We take care of physical damages to the vehicle as well. If a small accident or breakdown occurs, call us. For more serious emergencies, dial 911.
Our ride match program to help you fill any empty seats. If we can’t find anyone to join the group, you have the option to switch to a smaller vehicle.
Customer Tips
It’s easy. Just log into your account and select “Apply to Drive for your Commute” from the dashboard. Then complete and submit the driver application. We’ll email once your application is approved.
Keep in mind, you’ll need to meet the following criteria in order to be approved:
- Possess a valid driver’s license. Be 25 years of age or older.
- Have no more than two moving violations and/or at-fault accidents in the previous three years and no more than four moving violations and/or at-fault accidents in the previous five years.
- No major convictions in the past five years (i.e. driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving while impaired, failure to stop and report an accident, driving while license is suspended or revoked, possession of drugs or open containers of alcoholic beverage, reckless driving and/or participating in a speed contest, drag or highway race, or attempting to elude authorities).
- Be licensed a minimum of five years in the United States. Meet and comply with any laws/criteria required by the state where the vanpool is operated (i.e. medical requirements, drug screen).
It’s easy. Just log in to your account, select the payment tab, then choose to make a one-time payment or to setup a recurring payment. You can enter and store multiple credit cards in your profile to make the process even faster the next time.
Trip recording sounds complicated, but our system makes it quick and easy, especially when you enter details daily. Simply log into your account, select Trip Recording, then enter the day’s commuting details, including who rode and what leg of the trip they took.
Keeping your roster and route information current helps ensure we can calculate and display the most accurate savings details in your profile. From the roster tab, a Coordinator can invite new riders, remove existing riders and review the status of participants’ applications. (S)He can adjust each rider’s pick-up and drop-off location, and the website will automatically recalculate the route distance and time. The Coordinator can also assign Billing Viewer or Trip Recording roles to other participants to share the responsibilities of commuting with Enterprise.
Our vehicles do tend to be larger, heavier and taller than single-passenger vehicles, so there are a few suggestions for ensuring a safe and comfortable ride.
- Perform pre-trip inspections
- Take the vehicle in for regularly scheduled maintenance
- Put cellphones away while driving
- Know your vehicle height
- Allow for more space when turning
- Drive carefully and at a safe speed
- Set a schedule and communication plan with your co-commuters
With our new payment management feature, Coordinators and/or participants assigned the Billing Viewer role can split invoices among participants, add credits for those who may have overpaid or add incremental fees for those who underpaid. An email will be generated to everyone on the roster, streamlining communication among participants.