Ride sharing: how to find a car or travel companions for your trip
Who looks for ride-share partners, and why
There are three typical situations. A passenger looks for a car going to the city they need, to get there cheaper and more comfortably than by bus. A driver has empty seats and wants to share the fuel costs. And some people look for company for a shared holiday: to the beach, the hills, a trek.
On BlaBlaPrice you don't have to scroll through chats and notice boards. You describe the trip, and drivers and people who want to travel together reply in the chat: terms, price per person, departure time. Each one can see where their offer ranks, so terms often improve. It is free for the person searching.
Passenger or driver: what to say
First, say clearly who you are. For a passenger, the time, the pick-up point, the luggage and the price per seat matter. For a driver, it is how many seats are free, where people can be picked up, and the rules in the car: smoking, pets, a child seat, stops on the way.
For regular trips, for example every day from the suburbs to work, write which days and at what time you travel. That makes it easier to find a regular partner and agree a fixed amount per month.
What to put in your request
- Route — from where to where, for example Kuala Lumpur — George Town.
- Date and time — the day and the hour, or part of the day.
- Role — you are a passenger, a driver with free seats, or looking for a travel companion.
- Number of seats — how many people are travelling.
- Luggage — suitcases, pets, a child seat.
- Price — what you are ready to pay per person, or how you split the costs.
- Regularity — a one-off trip or daily.
- Type of trip — just the journey, or a shared holiday: beach, hills, trek, and how long.
Example: “I am a passenger looking for a car from Kuala Lumpur to George Town on Saturday morning, 2 seats, 2 suitcases. We are ready to chip in up to RM 25 each towards fuel.”
Safety and arrangements
Travelling with strangers calls for care. Agree an exact meeting point, the car number and the driver's name, and share these details with someone close to you. Ask in advance whether there are stops, whether the route can change, and what happens if someone drops out at the last moment.
It is best to discuss money openly: how much you pay and when, in cash or by transfer. Don't transfer large sums in advance. Reviews next to an offer help you judge whether a person can be trusted. You give your phone number only to the one you choose.
Common mistakes
Not giving the exact time, so someone waits for an hour. Not mentioning luggage and pets, and then the luggage doesn't fit in the car. Confusing a shared trip with a commercial service: when you need a reliable trip with a contract, it is better to look at passenger transport or international passenger transport. For those who need a personal driver, there are driver services. All the options are collected in the “Transport & delivery” section.
