Carpooling Can Save Money in Gas, Repairs, Mileage, Insurance

Want to cut your gas bill in half? How about save money on car repairs? Carpooling to work everyday can save you a lot of money and the idea is accelerating in the Upstate. The state is considering adding carpool lanes. We'll show you how to start a carpool in this Seven On Your Side Consumer Watch.

Suzanne Garnmeister is looking to carpool on her way to work in Greenville. Said Suzanne, "With the high price of gas, I thought every little bit helps and if I could save even $50 a month, that would be a good thing."

So she posted a note on www.erideshare.com, a website that pairs drivers headed the same way for carpools. There are 41 Upstaters looking to share rides right now. Suzanne previously carpooled when she lived in Chicago. Said Suzanne, "I drove everyday and split the cost of the gas. So it was the same schedule everyday and I just got reimbursed for half of my costs."

While carpooling is common in larger cities, the idea is now getting some gas in the Upstate. The South Carolina Department of Transportation is looking at making a carpool lane along I-385 in Greenville. And AAA Carolinas is encouraging drivers to double up.

Said Linda Birch with AAA, "There's many different ways above and beyond the gas savings... Some employers give incentives for people to carpool."

Depending on how many carpoolers per car, you could more than cut your gas costs in half, not to mention save on parking, tolls, repairs, and mileage.

To be a carpooler, you may have to give up your control over the radio, the luxury of driving by yourself everyday, maybe evening having the car during the day if you need it. But what you may make up in savings, and cutting down pollution, could be well worth it.

Suzanne wishes more businesses would encourage carpooling. Said Suzanne, "That would be a huge benefit if something were coordinated through work. There are hundreds of people who work in this building and if I could ride everyday with one of them, it would be much more convenient."

That would put her on the road to a carpool and pooling some extra money.

Check your auto insurance policy before you begin a carpool. You may need to add a little insurance to cover extra passengers. But several insurance companies we spoke with say it's already included. You can also cut your insurance costs if you're driving your car less often.

Here are some free websites that will help you connect with other carpoolers in your area:

www.erideshare.com
www.icarpool.com
www.sharetheride.com
www.carpoolworld.com
www.commuterchoice.com