Online bus and flight-ticket sales specialist JustGO has launched a new CarPooling service.

Using an online booking platform on which drivers can post their availability for inter-city travel, JustGO CarPooling connects drivers and passengers along city-to-city routes throughout South Africa.

“Our goal is to put drivers travelling to a given destination in contact with passengers going in the same direction, to enable them to share the trip and the costs,” says JustGO business unit manager Elmie Venter.

Drivers register online on the JustGO LiftOffer system, and upload the details of their upcoming trips at no charge.

Potential passengers are immediately able to see the range of trips on offer along all routes, using the JustGO website and app.

Both passengers and drivers share their contact and ID information with JustGO.

Drivers need to be older than 21 and have a professional driver’s licence to offer a carpool ride.

Both the driver and their car need to be fully licensed. The driver and vehicle are linked through their ID number and registration, which means the journey cannot be passed on to a third party.

JustGO also includes accidental death cover for each paying passenger, as well as vehicle tracking.

The JustGO CarPooling product allows passengers and drivers to plan their journeys and make connections as far as six months in advance, or with as little as 24 hours’ notice.

The JustGO app allows passengers to pay in a variety of ways, including Capitec Pay, EFT, credit or debit card, EasyPay, Mobicred, as well as NSFAS funds, using Cellbux vouchers.

Because all the financial aspects of the trip are handled through the JustGO app, no physical cash changes hands, and all transactions are guaranteed.

The JustGO app and website also allow travellers to find and compare routes and price offers from all licensed inter-city transport service options – including carpooling, bus services and airlines – from all major travel operators.