How to Prepare Your Car for Carpooling

If you are getting started with carpooling to work, that is great. It will save you a lot of money on gas, keep a lot of miles off your car, and help keep the environment clean. Here are some tips on steps to prepare your car for carpooling.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 
    
   Make sure the AC works

   First of all, you'll want to make sure your car is in good operating condition. Nobody wants to ride in a car that is dangerous on the road or is in danger of breaking down. Have your car serviced if necessary. Make sure that the heat and air conditioning works. You want the members of your carpool to be comfortable during the commute.

2. The next thing to do is clean up all the trash in your car. This includes all the pockets, cupholders and under the seats. Think about what you expect when you rent a car. You don't want to trip over empty food wrappers and drink cups when you get in, and neither do your carpool members. Remember the backseat too. I know you never go in the back, but go in there now and get all the junk out from under the seats and in the map pockets behind the front seats.

3. 
    
   Have the car detailed

   If you have kids, you'll need to be a little more thorough. If you have a car seat in back, wipe it down very well with wet wipes, as well as the seats and area around it. This includes the door handles and inside windows. People don't want to touch anything that's sticky, and they especially don't want to sit on stickiness, they are dressed for work. Wipe the seats down and get the back seat clean. Have the car detailed if you don't want to do it yourself. The money you're saving on gas when you ride with other drivers will cover the expense.

4. Next, make sure all your seatbelts are accessible and that they work properly. If they are pushed down behind the seats in back, pull them up and make sure they retract correctly and aren't twisted or stuck. If your kids ride in the car and have the front seats pushed way back or reclined, re-adjust them so people can sit comfortably and riders in back can slide in easily.

5. 
    
   Pre-program a few stations

   Finally, adjust your radio speakers so only the front ones are on. This lets you keep the radio volume at a low level for those early morning rides. Go through the radio dial and pre-program some easy listening options, perhaps an oldies station, a jazz station, National Public Radio, and a news, weather and traffic station. This way you can switch around easily and still be able to focus on the road. A carpool is not the time to share your personal tastes like gospel music, heavy metal, Rush Limbaugh or Howard Stern. People want to snooze on the way in anyway, they don't want to hear screaming.
   
   Taking these steps will make a pleasant ride for everyone in your carpool, and will ensure that your car is dependable and safe. Thank you for considering carpooling as a commuting option. Good luck!

Tips & Warnings

• If people have smoked in the car recently, wipe down the windows and all hard surfaces, and vacuum the seats. Put a gentle air freshener inside also.

[cherold598]

on 8/25/2009 Excellent tips for preparing for car pooling. 5* and recommend.

[tgillespie]

on 8/19/2009 great ideas for car pooling.