With a lot of workers going back to in-office employment or a hybrid model nearly three years into the pandemic, it’s been quite an eye-opening experience to see much more driving you have to do when you don’t work remotely. People may not be able to afford the gas prices or the insurance costs accompanying this lifestyle change.
There’s a solution for people who live close to their coworkers: carpooling. Riding with your friends, loved ones, or colleagues to your destination can save a ton of money for all parties involved. Low-milage car insurance savings are available for those who drive sparingly, and you also have the peace of mind that you are helping the environment by driving less.
We’ll talk about all of the ways carpooling has become an effective and even fun way to drive to work in the past-pandemic world.
It’s Great to Socialize on the Way to Work
Many people have had a difficult time making friends and socializing during the pandemic because of remote work. When you’re in your house, you can’t meet new people at your in-person job. Carpooling allows you to get reacquainted with your fellow workers and learn what’s been happening in their lives in the last several years.
If you are someone who gets easily distracted while driving, this may not be the best thing to do, though. Make sure talking and interacting with your passenger doesn’t detract from your attention or driving skills.
Some people find it easier to multitask than others. If your passenger is more comfortable with driving and talking, have them get behind the wheel. You’ll both find it will make the drive to work more enjoyable when you have good company by your side.
On the other hand, driving with someone beside you will prevent you from falling asleep before or after work. So many Americans are sleep deprived. This unfortunate fact means people get drowsy while commuting, and having a carpool will prevent you from falling asleep. Your passenger should theoretically wake you up if you start nodding off.
Save Money on Gas
There are several different ways you can manage saving money on gas while carpooling. If one person is always driving their car to work, and you’re the passenger, this isn’t really fair. The driver will be footing the bill for all of the fuel costs, while you get off free of charge. Offer to pay for half of the gas when it’s time to fill up at the gas station.
If the driver is using a lot of fuel when driving for other non-work reasons, this becomes an issue for the passenger. You’re then paying partially for their recreational driving.
Come to an agreement with your driving partner about what you both think is fair. The costs don’t necessarily have to be split evenly, you just have to feel both sides are benefiting from and contributing to the carpool as much as possible.
If you drive an electric car to work, this makes the carpool even more efficient. Nobody will have to worry about the costs of paying for gas, and you know you’re saving the environment.
Carpooling is Eco-Friendly
We all want to find ways to help keep the planet clean, right? Working from the home office was a great way to help the environment because there were fewer people driving to work. Now that more folks are returning, carpooling is a great way to still cut back on drivers on the road.
Only one car is used instead of two or three for the same amount of people is great for the environment. In fact, if your carpool is larger, consisting of three or even four workers from your job, you can really cut back on the carbon footprint your office is contributing to.
Once again, an even better way to be eco-friendly is to carpool in an electric or hybrid vehicle. If there are several people trying to choose which car to carpool in, decide on the person who owns the electric car if possible.
Save Money on Car Insurance
You probably didn’t think about how carpooling can save you money on insurance, but it definitely can if you are creative and aware of your insurance company’s discounts.
Taking turns carpooling means that both you and your other driver are putting less miles on your vehicle than you typically would. Talk to your agent about installing a tracking device or app on your phone that can tell the company how many miles you drive each month.
If you have cut down on your time on the road because of carpooling, you can get significant discounts on your policy.
Insurance companies care about this because you present less of a risk of getting into an accident if you drive less. Combine this factor with the type of car you drive, where you live, and your driving habits, and you can get an excellent policy.
Some insurance companies have something called a pay-per-mile policy. These types of coverage charge you primarily based on the amount of driving you to do. If you are still driving a long way to work, though, you may not get the discounts you were expecting. Pay-per-mile might be better for you if the commute is shorter.
Alternatives to Carpooling
Maybe carpooling isn’t something you want to do. It’s difficult to match your schedule to other people’s and be ready to leave for work at the same time as them. It doesn’t mean you can’t still help the environment and reap the benefits of driving less.
If you live really close to your job, consider an alternative route of transportation. Riding your bicycle or even walking on a sunny day is ideal if the place you work is only a couple of miles away.
Taking a bus or a taxi is another way to save money on gas. Both of these methods are pretty affordable to get to work. Uber or another rideshare may not be a good way to get to work because they are pretty expensive to take every day.
You can see how carpooling is a great way to get back in the groove of driving to work, while also helping out your coworkers and enjoying the social experience of riding together. Everyone is adjusting to returning to the office, and carpooling can help.
Shawn Laib writes and researches for the car insurance site, CarInsuranceComparison.com. He wants to help drivers understand the pros and cons of carpooling to work.