iDVROOM: everyday carpooling

iDVROOM, a former major player in daily carpooling in France with over 800,000 users, ceased operations in 2019. SNCF indeed decided to refocus its strategy around other shared mobility solutions.

Since then, other platforms have taken over the commute carpooling market. Among them, Klaxit, co-founded by Julien Honnart in 2012, has established itself as the European leader in short-distance carpooling. Its main competitor remains BlaBlaCar Daily, the local version of the famous BlaBlaCar service.

With a growing offer and increasingly accessible alternatives, all that's left is to choose your ideal partner for your daily commutes!

How did you choose your seat when carpooling with iDVROOM?

With iDVROOM, you had to be quick... and sometimes have negotiating skills to get the seat you wanted on board!

It was recommended to contact the driver ahead of the trip to find out about available seats and possibly request a specific seat. A simple little tip to make your journey even more pleasant back when iDVROOM made everyday carpooling easier.

It all depended on the vehicle, the driver and the other passengers. It was always advisable to bring something to snack on, or even some music to create a friendly atmosphere!

Sharing was at the heart of the carpooling experience with iDVROOM: whether it was exchanging thoughts on what you were currently reading or discussing the latest film release, every occasion was good for creating exchanges that were as light-hearted as they were enriching.

A good carpooler knew how to liven up the trip to make it an enjoyable moment for everyone!

How did getting on board work with iDVROOM carpooling?

When booking on the iDVROOM site, a specific meeting point was communicated. All you had to do was find your driver, load your bags into the trunk, choose your seat on board... and the trip could begin!

If there was any difficulty locating the meeting point, passengers could contact their driver directly by phone. Contact details were sent after the booking was confirmed, making boarding easy and hassle-free.

How did you book your carpool with iDVROOM?

Back then, all bookings were made directly online via the iDVROOM website or its mobile app.

A tip: it was always wise to compare prices before booking. Some trips were offered free of charge, but for others, it was sometimes more advantageous to opt for a bus journey or use other platforms such as BlaBlaCar.

Comparing options thus made it possible to choose the offer best suited to one's budget and needs!

Still couldn't find the answer to your question?

Back then, you could visit iDVROOM's help platform. There you could find articles answering the most frequently asked questions (like the ones we've summarized here), as well as a forum where answers to other travelers' questions were available. If the information you were looking for wasn't available, you could also post your own question directly via a dedicated form.

At iDVROOM, young travelers aged 16 had to obtain parental authorization before boarding a vehicle. This may have seemed restrictive, but this formality was essential to guarantee everyone's safety, particularly in case of the unexpected.

Carpooling trips with iDVROOM were booked directly via the iDVROOM platform or its mobile app. At the time, booking could be instant or require the driver's approval, who had 2 to 12 hours to respond, depending on how close the trip date was.

Once the booking was confirmed, you could pay online or directly to the driver when boarding, using a validation code to present. The system was designed to adapt to everyone's preferences, making carpooling simpler and more flexible with iDVROOM.

Once again, it all depended on the driver. It was important to check beforehand whether your four-legged companion could join the trip without any problem.

Indeed, not warning the driver could lead to unpleasant surprises, particularly in case of allergies. You then risked either cancelling your trip or having to leave your pet behind... which was pleasant for no one!

It was also recommended to carry your pet in a travel carrier rather than simply on a leash. This ensured its safety during the trip and helped keep the vehicle clean, for everyone's comfort.

iDVROOM offered toll badges to its drivers!

For passengers, a partnership with Transilien also allowed Navigo card holders to enjoy a free carpool trip in case of works on their line. A benefit made possible thanks to iDVROOM's integration within the SNCF group.

Additionally, iDVROOM regularly published practical tips in its Help/FAQ section, to help drivers and passengers carpool under the best conditions.

It all depended on the vehicle, as not all private vehicles were necessarily suitable. If in doubt, it was recommended to contact the driver to check whether their car was suitable for people with reduced mobility, so you could organise your trip with peace of mind.

It was recommended to check carefully with the driver to make sure there would be enough room for your luggage, especially if it was bulky or if other passengers were also sharing the trip.

All information regarding the travel conditions had to be confirmed directly with the driver before departure.

If you had paid online and your driver cancelled their booking, you were refunded 100% within 24 hours. iDVROOM's purpose was to foster connection and sharing between carpoolers, not to create complications.