1. Accepting these terms
These terms apply to the CoTrip website, mobile apps and related services. By creating an account or using CoTrip, you agree to them and to our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use the service.
2. Who may use CoTrip
You must be at least 18 years old and able to enter into a legal agreement. You must provide accurate information and use CoTrip for yourself. A ride request is for one identified passenger only unless CoTrip clearly allows otherwise.
3. What CoTrip does
CoTrip is a community ride-sharing platform. We help drivers with spare seats meet passengers going in the same direction and provide tools for matching, verification, communication, payment and trip support.
CoTrip is not a taxi service and does not employ drivers or operate their vehicles. Drivers and passengers decide whether to travel together. A search result or match is not a confirmed booking.
4. Your account
Keep your account details correct and your login information private. Tell us promptly if you think someone else has used your account. You may not impersonate another person, create misleading accounts, or let someone else use your verified identity.
We may ask you to complete identity, contact, driver, vehicle or payment checks before you can use certain features. Passing a check does not remove your responsibility to act lawfully and safely.
5. Rules for drivers
If you offer a seat, you must:
- hold a valid driving licence and be legally allowed to drive;
- use a roadworthy, legally registered and appropriately insured vehicle;
- provide accurate vehicle, route, time, seat and luggage information;
- offer seats only on a genuine journey you intend to make;
- obey road and transport laws and never drive while impaired, dangerously tired or distracted;
- carry only the number of people the vehicle can legally and safely accommodate; and
- treat passengers fairly and follow the trip terms you agreed with them.
CoTrip may not be used to operate an unlicensed commercial passenger-transport service.
6. Rules for passengers
If you request a ride, give accurate route, time, luggage and contact information. Arrive at the agreed place on time, follow reasonable vehicle rules, use a seat belt and treat the driver, other passengers and vehicle with respect. Do not bring an unverified additional passenger.
7. Matches, offers and bookings
CoTrip may suggest people whose routes and times appear to fit. You remain responsible for reviewing the person, trip and vehicle details available to you. A trip becomes booked only when the required offer, acceptance and payment steps are complete and the app shows it as confirmed.
People’s plans can change. Keep trip information up to date and tell the other person as soon as possible if you cannot travel.
8. Contributions and payments
A driver may ask passengers to contribute towards the shared cost of a trip. The amount and any CoTrip charges are shown before payment. Payments must be made through the payment method provided in CoTrip unless we clearly allow another method.
Payment services are provided by a third-party payment provider. Driver payouts may depend on the trip reaching the required status and on pickup or other trip evidence. You are responsible for any tax or legal duties that apply to money you receive.
9. Cancellations, refunds, no-shows and disputes
The cancellation and refund rules shown in CoTrip at the time of a booking apply to that trip. Timing, payment status, pickup evidence, no-show reports and information from both people may affect the result. If something is wrong, report it promptly and provide truthful information. We may pause a payment or payout while reviewing a dispute.
10. Safety
Verification and safety tools reduce uncertainty but cannot remove every risk. Check that the person and vehicle match the details in the app, agree on the trip before leaving, keep an emergency contact up to date and report concerns. In an emergency, move to a safe place and call 112 or the appropriate local emergency service.
11. Messages, photos and other content
You may use CoTrip communications only for the trip or support purpose for which they are provided. Do not send threats, harassment, unlawful material, spam, unwanted advertising or content that violates another person’s privacy.
You keep ownership of content you provide. You give CoTrip permission to store, display and process it only as reasonably needed to operate, secure and improve the service. You must have the right to provide that content.
12. Things you may not do
- use CoTrip for fraud, crime, discrimination, harassment or unsafe conduct;
- provide false identity, vehicle, trip, payment or safety information;
- avoid CoTrip’s payment or safety controls where they are required;
- scrape, copy, reverse engineer, disrupt or gain unauthorised access to the service;
- collect another person’s information for an unrelated purpose; or
- help another person break these terms.
13. Account restrictions and closure
We may warn you, limit a feature, pause a payment, suspend an account or close it where we reasonably believe this is needed to investigate a concern, protect people, prevent fraud, comply with law or respond to a serious or repeated breach. Where appropriate, we will explain the action and give you a way to contact support.
You may stop using CoTrip and request account deletion through our Delete my information page. Some records may be kept where the law or an unresolved payment, safety or dispute matter requires it.
14. Availability and changes
We work to keep CoTrip reliable, but we cannot promise that every feature, match, notification or provider will always be available. We may maintain, improve, replace or remove features. We will give reasonable notice where a material change affects an active paid service or your legal rights.
15. Consumer rights and responsibility
Nothing in these terms removes a right or remedy that South African law does not allow us to exclude, including applicable rights under the Consumer Protection Act, 2008.
To the extent the law allows, CoTrip is not responsible for indirect or consequential loss, another user’s conduct, or a trip that changes or does not happen. This does not exclude responsibility for gross negligence, intentional misconduct, or any responsibility that cannot lawfully be excluded.
16. CoTrip’s name and service
The CoTrip name, branding, software, designs and service content belong to CoTrip or its licensors. You may use them only as needed to use the service. These terms do not transfer any intellectual-property rights to you.
17. South African law and disputes
South African law governs these terms. Please contact info@cotrip.co.za first so that we can try to resolve a concern. You may also use any court, consumer body, regulator or other remedy available to you under South African law.
18. Changes and contact
We may update these terms as CoTrip or the law changes. We will publish the updated version here, change the effective date and provide additional notice where a change materially affects you. Questions can be sent to info@cotrip.co.za.