Is an operating permit required for ride-sharing?
2 Answers
Running a ride-sharing service does not require an operating permit. Official information: The Ministry of Transport's official website has also responded: Hello, private carpooling, also known as ride-sharing, is a shared travel method where the carpool service provider publishes travel information in advance, and people with the same route choose to ride in the provider's car, sharing part of the travel costs or offering free mutual assistance. Business model: The legal private carpooling referred to here is significantly different from the commercial passenger service of ride-hailing. It does not require the relevant ride-hailing permits but should meet the following requirements: First, it should be based on the car owner's own travel needs, with travel information published in advance; second, people with the same route choose to carpool; third, it is not for profit, sharing part of the travel costs or offering free mutual assistance; fourth, there should be a certain limit on the number of carpool trips per vehicle per day.
I've been driving for over a decade and have encountered many ride-sharing situations. Whether you need an operating permit depends on the specific circumstances: If it's just occasionally giving rides to acquaintances to share fuel costs without additional profit, it may not be considered commercial operation and wouldn't require a permit; but if you do it frequently and charge fees as an income source, you must obtain a transport service license, commonly known as an operating permit. Not having one carries significant risks—traffic police could impose fines of several thousand yuan or even impound your vehicle. Insurance is another issue—if an accident occurs during commercial operation, regular insurance won't cover it, leaving you with much greater out-of-pocket losses. I recommend consulting local transport authorities first, as regulations vary by city—some major cities enforce stricter controls. Additionally, the permit application process is straightforward but time-consuming, involving annual inspections and vehicle condition checks starting from a few hundred yuan. Overall, if you just want to save some money casually, try sharing platforms that often handle compliance automatically; if you're serious about making it a business, it's safer to properly obtain the permit.
