Terms & Conditions
Version 1.1 — Effective September 5, 2026
Version 1.1 of these Terms of Service is effective as of September 5, 2026.
Please read these Terms of Service ("Terms") carefully before using Rydze. They contain important information about your legal rights, obligations, and the limitations of our liability. By creating an account or using the Service, you agree to be legally bound by these Terms, whether you complete a Trip or not.
Rydze operates a digital platform that connects Drivers who have empty seats in their personal vehicle and are travelling along a planned route, with Passengers seeking to share that route in exchange for a fixed cost contribution (collectively, the "Service").
Rydze is not a transportation provider, taxi service, ride-hailing service, transportation network company (TNC), or common carrier. Rydze does not provide transportation services. Rydze provides technology that allows Drivers and Passengers to coordinate non-commercial, cost-shared carpooling trips directly with one another. The agreement to carpool is between the Driver and the Passenger. Rydze is not a party to that agreement and is not an agent, broker, employer, or insurer of any Member.
1. Definitions
“Member” means any registered user of the Service, whether acting as a Driver, Passenger, or both.
“Driver” means a Member who offers spare seats in their personal vehicle for a planned Trip.
“Passenger” means a Member who books a seat in a Driver’s vehicle for a planned Trip.
“Trip” means a journey between an origin and a destination, on a specific date and time, posted by a Driver and made available for Passengers to book.
“Booking” means the act of reserving a seat on a Trip through the Service before the Trip takes place. When a Booking is made, the Passenger’s payment card is authorized for the Payment amount; the Payment is charged only if the Passenger is picked up (see Sections 5 and 7).
“Contribution” means the fixed sum of money paid by a Passenger to share the costs of a Trip with a Driver. The Contribution is intended to cover a share of the Driver’s actual travel costs (fuel, wear and tear, tolls) and may not generate any profit for the Driver.
“Service Fee” means the fee charged by Rydze on each Booking to operate and maintain the Service.
“Payment” means the total amount paid by a Passenger for a Trip (Contribution + Service Fee).
“Payout” means the Contribution amount transferred to the Driver after a successfully completed Trip.
“Carpooling” means the act of sharing a private, planned Trip among a Driver and one or more Passengers in exchange for a Contribution, in a strictly non-commercial and non-professional context.
2. The Service
Rydze facilitates the pairing of Drivers and Passengers along shared commuting corridors. Drivers post Trips by entering an origin, destination, date, time, and the number of available seats. Passengers browse and book available seats.
Rydze does not disclose a Member’s phone number, email address, or home address to any other Member. Once a Booking is confirmed, each party sees only the other’s in-app profile (name as displayed in the app, profile photo, and rating) and the meeting point details. Pickup is confirmed with a four-digit pickup PIN: the Passenger shows the PIN displayed in their app, and the Driver enters it at pickup. Coordination happens inside the app, so Members never need to exchange personal contact information to complete a Trip.
Rydze may modify, expand, suspend, or discontinue any feature of the Service, in whole or in part, at any time and without prior notice or liability to any Member.
3. Strictly Non-Commercial Carpooling
The Service is strictly limited to non-commercial, cost-shared carpooling. The Service may not be used to offer or accept transportation for profit, or in any commercial or professional context.
By using the Service, each Driver agrees and warrants that:
Driver warranties
1. The Trip they are posting is a journey they would be making regardless of whether any Passenger books a seat;
2. The Contribution they receive will only cover a share of their actual travel costs and will not generate any profit;
3. They will not post more than two (2) Trips per day through the Service;
4. They will not use the Service in any manner that could constitute transportation services regulated under the Act respecting remunerated passenger transportation by automobile (CQLR c T-11.2) or any equivalent legislation in other provinces;
5. They are the primary and only Driver for any Trip they post, and will not delegate driving to another person;
6. They will not provide additional services to Passengers (including but not limited to package delivery, additional pickup or drop-off points, or waiting time) for additional compensation;
7. They will not collect any payment from Passengers outside the Service.
Any breach of this section may result in immediate suspension or termination of the Member’s account, withholding of any pending Payouts, and reporting to the relevant authorities where applicable.
Drivers are reminded that using a personal vehicle for commercial or professional purposes may invalidate their personal automobile insurance. It is the Driver’s sole responsibility to verify that their insurance covers the carpooling activities conducted through the Service.
4. Eligibility and Account Registration
To use the Service, you must be at least eighteen (18) years of age and legally capable of entering into a binding contract; provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration; have a valid email address and Canadian mobile phone number; and agree to these Terms and our Privacy Policy.
Drivers must additionally hold a full, valid, non-expired driver’s licence issued by a Canadian province or territory; be the registered owner or authorized driver of the vehicle used for Trips; maintain valid automobile insurance that covers their use of the vehicle, including the carrying of Passengers; drive a vehicle in good working order with a maximum of seven (7) seats; and not have any history of impaired driving (DUI) that requires the use of an ignition interlock device.
4.1 Identity Verification for Drivers
Before activating a Driver account, Rydze requires each Driver to complete an identity verification process through a third-party provider. This process typically involves submitting a government-issued photo identification document and a live selfie, which are matched against each other.
Successful completion of this verification process confirms only that: (a) a government-issued identity document was presented; (b) the document appeared authentic to the verification provider; (c) a live selfie matched the photograph on the document.
Identity verification does not constitute a criminal background check, a driving record check, an insurance verification, or any guarantee of the Driver’s character, conduct, fitness to drive, or suitability as a carpooling partner.
4.2 No Background Checks
Rydze does not perform criminal background checks, driving record checks, employment verification, or any other vetting of Members beyond the identity verification described above and the document checks described in Section 8. Rydze does not investigate, verify, or guarantee the reputation, conduct, character, criminal history, driving history, or any other information about any Member. You are solely responsible for evaluating the suitability and trustworthiness of any other Member you interact with through the Service.
5. Contributions, Payments, and Fees
Rydze operates a fixed-contribution model to ensure that no Driver profits from any Trip and that the Service remains a true cost-sharing platform.
The Payment per seat is fixed at CAD $3.75. It is made up of a Contribution of CAD $3.00, which goes to the Driver to cover a share of their travel costs, and a Service Fee of CAD $0.75, which is retained by Rydze.
Each Payment is processed by our payment processor to the Driver’s connected payment account. Rydze collects the CAD $0.75 Service Fee from that Payment as a platform fee, which is a commission charged on each Booking. The Driver receives the remaining CAD $3.00 Contribution. Rydze’s revenue comes exclusively from the Service Fee.
When you make a Booking, your payment card is authorized for the Payment amount but not charged. If you are picked up, the Payment is charged to your card when the Trip ends, without further action on your part. If you are not picked up, the authorization is released and nothing is charged (see Section 7).
All amounts are in Canadian dollars (CAD). All Payments must be processed online through the Service using a valid credit or debit card. Cash payments, e-transfers, or any other form of payment outside the Service are strictly prohibited.
Driver Payouts are processed through Stripe Connect after the Trip has been completed and a clearing period has elapsed. Drivers are solely responsible for ensuring their banking information is accurate and up to date.
Drivers are solely responsible for any tax obligations arising from their use of the Service. Rydze does not collect, remit, or provide tax advice to Members.
Rydze reserves the right to modify the Contribution amount and Service Fee at any time, with notice provided through the Service.
5.1 Chargebacks and Payment Disputes
If a Passenger disputes a Payment with their card issuer (a “chargeback”), Rydze will notify the Driver of the dispute and give the Driver the opportunity to provide information in response within the time allowed by the card network. Rydze submits the Trip record and any information provided by the Driver to the payment processor.
If the dispute is resolved against Rydze, the Contribution (CAD $3.00) for that Booking is reversed from the Driver’s connected payment account, whether or not it has already been paid out. Only the Driver’s share is reversed: the Service Fee and any dispute fee charged by the payment processor are borne by Rydze. If the dispute is resolved in Rydze’s favour, no amount is reversed from the Driver.
Rydze may suspend or terminate the account of any Member who repeatedly initiates disputes for Trips that were completed.
6. Trip Conduct and Member Responsibilities
6.1 Driver Responsibilities
Provide accurate and truthful information in Trip postings, including meeting points and departure times; arrive at the meeting point on time; wait a reasonable time for Passengers (at least five (5) minutes) and attempt to contact them before leaving; verify the identity of Passengers before departure; drive safely and abide by all applicable traffic laws; drop off Passengers at the agreed location safely; not post Trips on behalf of any other person; treat Passengers and Rydze staff with respect; report any inappropriate behaviour.
6.2 Passenger Responsibilities
Arrive at the meeting point on time; wait a reasonable time for the Driver (at least five (5) minutes) and inform Rydze if the Driver fails to appear; verify the Driver’s identity, vehicle make, model, colour, and licence plate before entering the vehicle; respect the Driver’s vehicle and preferences; treat the Driver and other Passengers with respect; report any inappropriate behaviour; provide accurate information when booking.
6.3 General Conduct
All Members agree not to use the Service for any unlawful purpose; harass, threaten, abuse, stalk, or discriminate against any other Member; impersonate any person; interfere with the Service or its infrastructure; use the Service to collect personal data about other Members without consent; use the Service to facilitate any illegal activity; reverse engineer or decompile the Service.
7. Cancellations and No-Shows
A Driver may cancel a Trip at any time. If the Trip has booked Passengers, those Passengers are not charged: the authorization on their payment card is released. The cancellation is logged, and repeated cancellations may result in account suspension.
A Passenger may cancel a Booking at any time before pickup. If a Passenger is not picked up for any reason — cancellation by either party, a no-show by either party, or the Trip ending without the Passenger being picked up — the authorization on the Passenger’s card is released, nothing is charged, and the Driver receives nothing for that Booking.
If the Passenger is picked up, the full Payment (Contribution + Service Fee) is charged when the Trip ends. There are no partial charges, cancellation fees, or no-show fees.
Rydze reserves the right to suspend or terminate the account of any Member who repeatedly cancels Trips or Bookings or fails to appear.
8. Document Checks; No Background Checks; Member-to-Member Risk
Before a Driver can post Trips, Rydze requires the Driver to submit a driver’s licence, vehicle registration, and proof of automobile insurance. Rydze reviews these documents to check that they were submitted, are legible, correspond to the Driver and vehicle on the account, and are not expired. A Driver whose licence, registration, or insurance document has expired cannot post Trips until an unexpired document is submitted.
This document check is limited to what appears on the face of the documents. Rydze does not verify with any insurer whether a policy is in force, what it covers, or whether the coverage is adequate for carpooling, and does not verify licence class or driving record. The document check is not a guarantee that a Driver is insured for any Trip.
You acknowledge and accept that, beyond the identity verification described in Section 4.1 and the document check described above, Rydze does not conduct criminal background checks, driving record checks, or any other vetting of Members. You are solely responsible for your own safety when interacting with other Members.
Rydze strongly recommends that Members verify the identity of the other party before the Trip; share Trip details with a trusted contact; trust their instincts and decline any Trip that feels unsafe; report any concerns to Rydze and to the appropriate authorities.
Rydze is not responsible for any loss, damage, injury (physical, psychological, or material), or death — direct or indirect — that any Member or third party may suffer before, during, or after a Trip, whether arising from the conduct of another Member, from a traffic accident, or from any other cause.
9. Insurance
Each Driver is solely responsible for maintaining valid automobile insurance that covers their use of the Service. Drivers must verify with their insurer that their policy covers the carrying of Passengers in the context of cost-shared, non-commercial carpooling.
Rydze does not provide any insurance coverage to Drivers, Passengers, vehicles, or third parties. Rydze is not an insurer, agent, or broker. Members acknowledge that personal automobile insurance policies may exclude coverage for vehicles used in commercial or for-profit transportation.
10. Disclaimer of Warranties
THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, AND EXCEPT WHERE SUCH EXCLUSIONS ARE PROHIBITED BY THE QUEBEC CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT (LOI SUR LA PROTECTION DU CONSOMMATEUR) OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE LAW, RYDZE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT; THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE; THAT ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE ACCURATE OR RELIABLE.
11. Limitation of Liability
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, AND EXCEPT WHERE PROHIBITED BY THE QUEBEC CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT, RYDZE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, REVENUE, GOODWILL, USE, OR DATA; PERSONAL INJURY, BODILY HARM, EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, OR DEATH; PROPERTY DAMAGE; THE CONDUCT OF ANY MEMBER OR THIRD PARTY; OR ANY OTHER MATTER ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE.
IN NO EVENT SHALL RYDZE’S TOTAL LIABILITY TO ANY MEMBER EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE TOTAL AMOUNT PAID BY THAT MEMBER TO RYDZE IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR (B) CAD $50.
12. Indemnity
You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Rydze, its affiliates, officers, employees, agents, and partners from any claims, demands, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses arising out of your use of the Service, your breach of these Terms, your violation of any applicable law, your conduct toward any other Member, any content you post, or any Trip you offer or take part in.
This indemnification obligation applies to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law and does not apply where prohibited by the Quebec Consumer Protection Act.
13. Privacy
Your use of the Service is subject to our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, and disclose your personal information. By using the Service, you consent to the processing of your personal information as described in the Privacy Policy.
14. Intellectual Property
The Service, including all software, design, graphics, text, logos, trademarks, and other content, is owned by Rydze or its licensors and is protected by Canadian and international intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, distribute, sell, or create derivative works from any part of the Service without Rydze’s prior written consent.
15. Termination
Rydze may suspend or terminate your account at any time, with or without notice, for any reason, including breach of these Terms, conduct harmful to other Members, suspected fraud, inactivity, or a request from law enforcement.
You may delete your account at any time from the app (Profile → Account → Delete account) or by following the steps at rydze.co/delete-account. Deletion takes effect after a thirty (30) day grace period, during which you may reactivate the account by signing in. Termination does not entitle you to any refund of Service Fees or other amounts paid.
16. Modifications to These Terms
Rydze may modify these Terms at any time by posting an updated version on the Service. Material changes will be communicated at least thirty (30) days before they take effect, except where immediate changes are required for legal, regulatory, or security reasons.
By continuing to use the Service after the modified Terms take effect, you agree to be bound by them.
17. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
These Terms shall be governed by the laws of the Province of Quebec and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein. You and Rydze agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Province of Quebec, district of Montreal, except where applicable consumer protection law grants you a right to bring proceedings in another forum.
18. Quebec Consumer Protection Notice
If you reside in the Province of Quebec, certain provisions of these Terms may be subject to the Loi sur la protection du consommateur (Consumer Protection Act, CQLR c P-40.1). Nothing in these Terms is intended to limit or override any non-waivable rights you may have under that Act. Where any provision is found to be inconsistent with the Quebec Consumer Protection Act, that provision shall be read down or severed only to the extent necessary to comply, and the remainder of these Terms shall remain in full force and effect.
19. General Provisions
Entire Agreement: These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Rydze regarding the Service.
Severability: If any provision is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in full force.
No Waiver: Failure to enforce any provision does not constitute a waiver.
Assignment: You may not assign your rights without Rydze’s consent. Rydze may assign these Terms at any time.
No Third-Party Beneficiaries: These Terms do not create any third-party beneficiary rights.
Language: The parties have requested that these Terms and all related documents be drafted in English. Les parties ont exigé que la présente entente et tous les documents s’y rattachant soient rédigés en anglais.
20. Contact
For any questions about these Terms or to report a violation, please contact us at legal@rydze.co.