Compliance

Legal Compliance

How My Car Pool operates within Indian law | www.mycarpool.co.in

Our Legal Position

My Car Pool is a non-commercial, cost-sharing carpooling platform. We connect people travelling the same route to share rides and split only the actual fuel and toll costs. No profit is made by any driver. This model is explicitly recognized as legal under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2020.

Applicable Laws

Motor Vehicles Act, 1988

The MVA permits private vehicles to be used for personal travel. Carpooling where costs are shared (not profit-making) does not constitute "hire or reward" and is therefore legal for white-plate private vehicles.

Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2020 (Central Government)

Issued by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways under Section 93 of the MVA. These guidelines recognize pooling of non-transport vehicles as a congestion and pollution reduction measure, subject to state adoption.

Maharashtra State Compliance

Maharashtra - First State to Legalize App-Based Carpooling (April 2025)

  • ● Carpooling with private vehicles allowed ONLY via registered apps/platforms
  • ● Platforms must register with Maharashtra Transport Department as Carpooling Intermediary
  • ● Maximum 14 pooled trips per week per driver
  • ● Mandatory ID verification for all users
  • ● Women can choose female-only rides
  • ● Minimum Rs.5 lakh insurance coverage per pooled passenger
  • ● Trip logging and data retention required
  • ● GPS tracking mandatory during rides
  • ● Emergency contact features required in the app
  • ● Background verification of drivers required

Cost Sharing Rules

ALLOWED (Offer a Ride)

Fuel cost (manufacturer mileage-based) + Toll + Parking, divided equally among ALL occupants including driver

ALLOWED (Repeat Ride)

Zero cost - each member drives their own car on rotation days

NOT ALLOWED

Maintenance/wear charges, profit margins, surge pricing, waiting charges, or any amount beyond actual fuel + toll

Disqualification Criteria

Users will be permanently banned if they:

  • ✕ Do not possess a valid Indian driving licence (for drivers)
  • ✕ Are found driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or intoxicants
  • ✕ Have contagious diseases posing health risks to co-riders (without medical clearance)
  • ✕ Use the platform for commercial purposes (taxi-like charging)
  • ✕ Have pending criminal cases related to road safety or violence
  • ✕ Engage in harassment, threats, or any form of misconduct

Prosecution Warning

Any driver using My Car Pool for commercial purposes (charging fares beyond fuel/toll sharing, operating like a taxi) will face:

  • ⚠ Permanent ban from My Car Pool platform
  • ⚠ RC (Registration Certificate) suspension for 6 months
  • ⚠ Fine of Rs.5,000 to Rs.10,000 under Motor Vehicles Act
  • ⚠ Possible vehicle seizure by transport authorities
  • ⚠ Private vehicle insurance becomes VOID (no accident coverage)
  • ⚠ My Car Pool will cooperate with authorities in prosecution

How Other Platforms Comply

QuickRide

Positions as carpool matching platform. Enforces per-km caps to keep charges below taxi rates. Requires valid DL, RC, insurance, PUC. Implements ride and earning caps.

BlaBlaCar India

Long-distance carpooling model. Fare caps based on distance and fuel cost. Drivers cannot make profit. Passengers are "co-travellers" not customers.

Poolit

Carpool/commute platform. T&C requires non-commercial certification. Prohibits charging more than fuel + toll sharing. In-app wallet labeled as "cost sharing".

Questions? Contact helpdesk@mycarpool.co.in

My Car Pool | Non-commercial carpooling | www.mycarpool.co.in

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