Ride Local Ride · Driver handbook
Driver guide
From your first assigned ride to the final drop-off.
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Ride Local Direct — no app to download
Ride Local runs on our web platform, Ride Local Direct. You never download or update an app from the App Store or Google Play. Scheduling, ride offers, navigation and trip completion all happen in your phone browser at www.ridelocalride.com/driver-account.
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Apply to drive
Apply at www.ridelocalride.com/become-a-driver or /driver-application with your full name, phone and email. Upload your driver’s license (front and back), vehicle registration and vehicle insurance — JPEG, PNG, WebP or PDF up to 10 MB each, with all text readable.
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Review & approval
"Application received" confirms your submission but is not approval to drive. Background reviews take 3–5 business days; watch your phone and email. Dispatch may ask for a short vehicle walkaround video.
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Sign in to your Driver Account
Go to www.ridelocalride.com/driver-account, enter your cell number and your private 4-digit PIN from Dispatch, then tap Open My Schedule. Your phone stays signed in for 30 days. Five wrong PINs lock sign-in for 15 minutes — call Dispatch at (412) 218-5584 for a reset. Your private driver link still works as a backup. Keep your PIN and link private.
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Profile & vehicle setup
Open My profile, vehicle & documents. Confirm your name, phone, email and license number and add a clear profile photo. Add a car photo, brand, model, year, seats, color and plate, then tap Save profile. Keep your license, registration and insurance current under My documents (5 MB per file). Assigned riders see your name, photo and vehicle.
- 06
Add Ride Local to your home screen
iPhone (Safari): open /driver-account, tap Share (square with up arrow), then Add to Home Screen. Android (Chrome): tap the 3 dots, then Add to Home screen (or Install). A tip at the top of your schedule walks you through it on your first visit.
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Schedule, shifts & daily total
All schedules and times use Arizona time. My schedule shows shifts, assigned rides, active jobs and pre-orders. Dispatch keeps 45 minutes clear before and after each pickup. "Today’s fares so far" shows your running total and resets at Arizona midnight.
- 08
Ride offers & reminders
Immediate rides and pre-orders go out to all active drivers — the first to accept gets the ride. Every ride card shows your distance to pickup automatically (your location never leaves your phone). Tap View ride details, then Accept or Reject; rejecting only hides it from you. At the 30-minute reminder, tap I’m confirmed. If you haven’t confirmed by 15 minutes before pickup, or haven’t started driving by 10 minutes before, the ride goes to other drivers.
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Trip steps — slide to confirm
Every step is a slider, so a pocket touch can’t advance a ride. Accept assigned ride → slide Start Drive to Pickup when you leave (the rider gets your vehicle and a tracking link) → slide Arrived at Pickup only when you are there (already there? use the arrival shortcut) → slide Start Ride to Drop-off once the rider is seated → slide Complete Ride at the final drop-off. Keep the page open so GPS can work; GPS warnings never block a step.
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Trip rules & navigation
Up to 4 passengers per car (airport trips 3), children included — larger groups book another car. Tap Navigate for Google Maps directions. Call rider or Text rider from the trip screen. Pull over safely before using your phone. Dogs are welcome. Riders must get in and out of a wheelchair themselves.
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Payment & fares
Cash rides: collect the cash shown — cash is always rounded UP to the next whole dollar. Credit card rides: collect $0; payment runs when you slide Complete Ride. Subscriber and hotel rides: collect $0; billed to the plan or hotel. You keep 100% of tips and tolls. Rider-approved extra time ($0.35/min) is paid by the rider on their phone, with the 18% booking fee taken before payout. Never push for tips or post tip signs.
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Waiting, no-shows & cancellations
Wait 5 minutes after marking arrival. If the rider doesn’t come out, tap Confirm no-show ($7 fee). Can’t make a ride? Before arriving, tap Cancel — I can’t make this ride and it goes back out to other drivers.
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Safety & support
Zero tolerance for alcohol or drugs while driving. In danger or an accident, tap SOS 911 or call 911, then tell Dispatch. Driver Support & Dispatch: call or text (412) 218-5584.
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Referrals & rewards
Share your link from My referral link & rewards. New riders get $5 off their first trip; once it’s completed you earn a $5 credit for your own rides or cash on payroll day.
Payment & trip details
Upfront estimate
New fares use the saved fare worksheet for the ride type and route. Card holds are the estimated fare plus 20%, rounded up to the next cent. The hold is not the final charge. Standard fares use actual onboard time and miles, never below the quote and capped at the approved card hold. If GPS drops out, the booked road distance (or tracked miles if higher) is used. Fixed and subscriber fares stay unchanged.
Cancellation & pickup wait
Under the cancellation policy, canceling within two minutes of driver acceptance is free; afterward the fee is $7. Drivers wait five minutes at pickup before reporting a $7 no-show. Existing bookings may be excluded; cash rides never charge a card.
Safety & support
In an emergency, use SOS 911 on your trip page. For trip help, use Support to call (412) 218-5584. Keep your personal trip or portal link private.
Call Support