1. What the start code is
Every seat you book on Car Share comes with its own 4-digit start code. You will find it on your booking in the app. It proves that you are the passenger who booked that seat, and the ride cannot start without it.
It is a small step that answers the big question at every pickup: is this the right car, and is this the right passenger?
2. What happens at pickup
- Before the car arrives. Once the driver accepts your request, chat opens and you see the full number plate. You can follow the car on the map and get a “1 stop away” alert before it reaches you.
- When it pulls up. Check the car against the photos of the front, inside and plate in the app. If something does not match, do not get in.
- When you board. Show your 4-digit code to the driver.
- To start the ride. The driver taps Start trip and enters your code. The ride begins only when the code is right.
3. One code for each passenger
On a shared ride, every passenger has a code of their own. The driver enters each one as that person gets in, so each passenger’s ride starts only with their own code. Nobody boards by mistake, and the driver knows exactly who is in the car.
4. Keep your code to yourself
Treat the start code like a ticket. Show it to your driver when you get in, and do not share it with anyone else. It is a different code from the 6-digit SMS code you use to sign in, and you should never share that one either.
5. Part of a wider safety net
The start code is one of eight protections that come with every Car Share ride:
- Verified drivers: licence, vehicle photos and number plate are checked before a driver’s trips go live.
- Start code: the ride starts only with your code.
- Live trip tracking: follow the car on the map.
- Be Safe: send your driver’s name, vehicle and plate to trusted contacts over WhatsApp.
- SOS button: one tap during a ride alerts our safety team.
- Masked calls and chat: talk to your driver without showing your real number.
- Women-only rides: choose Women only when you search or post.
- Ratings and reliability: reviews and a reliability score are visible before you share a ride.
See how each one works on How It Works. And if you are ever in danger, call 997 for police or 998 for an ambulance in Malawi first.
