Questions and answers
Poolina is free: no fees, no ads. Here’s how rides and the contribution work, and what happens with your data.
What is Poolina?
Poolina is a free website for sharing long-distance car rides. Drivers offer the empty seats on a trip they’re making anyway, and passengers going the same way find a ride and write to the driver.
Does Poolina cost anything?
No. Poolina charges no fees, no commission and no subscription, for drivers or passengers. It’s a private hobby project with no ads and no commercial interest.
How does the contribution work?
Each ride shows a contribution per seat towards the driver’s costs, such as fuel and tolls. Poolina suggests an amount based on the distance, and the driver can adjust it. Together, all contributions for a ride may not exceed what the trip actually costs. You settle it in person with the driver; Poolina never handles money.
Should I pay in advance?
No. Never pay in advance, for example by bank transfer. Settle the contribution in person, at the car. If someone asks you to pay upfront, report them.
Where can I find rides?
For now, rides start and end in Germany. Poolina is open to people in the EU, Norway, Switzerland and the United States, and more countries will follow.
How do I offer a ride?
Enter where you start, where you’re going, the date and how many seats are free. Poolina suggests pickup points at motorway exits along your route and a contribution for each section. Passengers who want to ride along write to you. If you drive the same route every week, the ride can repeat automatically.
What if there’s no ride for my trip?
Post a ride request with your route and date. Drivers going your way can see it, and you get an e-mail when a ride that fits is posted.
How do I know who I’m travelling with?
Members can add a photo, a few words about themselves and their car to their profile. After a ride, both people confirm that they travelled together, and only then can they review each other. You can report a member from their profile or from a conversation.
Who can use Poolina, and how do I sign up?
Anyone aged 18 or older. You sign in with your e-mail address: Poolina sends you a link, no password needed. Searching for rides works without an account.
What happens with my data?
Poolina stores only what’s needed, on a server in Germany, with no ads, no tracking and no analytics. You can download or delete all your data at any time on your profile.
Who runs Poolina, and why?
A private person, as a non-commercial hobby project. Sharing rides makes long trips affordable, saves fuel and is better for the environment, and finding each other shouldn’t cost a fee.
How is Poolina different from other ridesharing platforms?
Poolina takes nothing: no fees for drivers or passengers, no ads and no selling of data. The contribution goes directly from passenger to driver and only covers the costs of the trip.