How carpooling works
A driver publishes a trip with a route, time, number of seats and a price per seat. You search your cities and date, read the driver profile and book a seat.
Some trips confirm instantly. On others the driver must accept your request. You can then message the driver in the app to agree the exact pick-up point.
The price is a contribution to fuel and tolls. BlaBlaCar terms say drivers must not profit and professional vehicles such as taxis are not allowed.
Prices and cancellations
The price shown includes a service fee, usually about 16 to 20 percent of the total. Where online payment is offered you must pay in the app, not in cash.
Under the current EU terms: if you cancel more than 24 hours before departure, the trip price is refunded but the fee is kept. Within 24 hours you usually get half back. A no-show gets nothing. If the driver cancels, you get a full refund including the fee. Rules can differ by country.
Safety
Members verify their phone number, and many drivers verify their ID. A verified label means the check was done, not that BlaBlaCar guarantees the person.
Drivers and passengers rate each other after the trip. Read the ratings, the number of past trips and the profile before booking. You may be asked to show ID, and drivers must show licence and insurance on request.
Women travelling alone may prefer drivers with many good reviews from other women, or choose daytime trips. Share the trip details with family.
Tips for travellers
Popular routes have many trips a day. Small towns may have few, so book a day or two ahead.
Ask the driver about luggage space before booking. Large suitcases may not fit.
Drivers may not speak English. Use the app chat and a translation tool.
You need mobile data to book, chat and find the meeting point.
Last checked: October 2026. Fares and timetables change, so confirm on the official website before you travel.