Waze Carpool is gone — here's what to use in 2026
Google shut down Waze Carpool in September 2022 and never brought it back. If you loved the idea — regular people sharing a ride and splitting the cost, no commercial markup — the model didn't die. Here's where it lives now, depending on the kind of trip you take.
What made Waze Carpool different
Waze Carpool wasn't Uber. Drivers weren't working a job — they were already making the drive, and riders just chipped in for gas at a price capped near the IRS mileage rate. That cost-sharing model kept rides cheap and kept it a carpool, not a taxi. When Google pulled the plug, nothing directly replaced it — but the model split into two lanes:
The alternatives in 2026
| Option | Best for | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Seat Sherpa | City-to-city trips (SF–LA, LA–Vegas, LA–San Diego…) | Same cost-sharing DNA as Waze Carpool: verified drivers already making the trip, seat prices capped at real cost split across seats, payment held securely until pickup, no surge |
| Employer / regional vanpools (e.g. 511.org in the Bay Area) | Daily commutes | Organized commuter matching, sometimes subsidized |
| Facebook & college carpool groups | Ad-hoc trips | Post and coordinate yourself — no verification or payment protection |
| Craigslist rideshare | Ad-hoc trips | Classic classifieds board; everything on trust |
| Uber / Lyft | Short on-demand hops | Commercial pricing — impractical for long trips ($200+ SF–LA) |
An honest note: Waze Carpool focused on daily commutes. Seat Sherpa focuses on the trips where sharing saves the most money — medium-to-long-distance, city-to-city travel. If you're looking for a daily 9-to-5 commute match, start with your employer or regional programs. If you're going SF→LA, LA→Vegas, or down to San Diego, read on.
🚗 The same idea, alive for road trips
Seat Sherpa keeps the part of Waze Carpool that mattered: drivers can't profit — seat prices are capped at the trip's real cost (IRS mileage rate ÷ seats), so a SF → LA seat runs $40–$55 and LA → Vegas $35–$50. Drivers are ID- and license-verified, payment is held until a pickup code confirms the trip, and both sides rate each other. Live across California & Nevada.
Browse live ridesFAQ
Why was Waze Carpool shut down?
Google discontinued it in September 2022, citing post-pandemic commuting changes. It hasn't returned.
What replaced Waze Carpool?
Nothing directly. Commuters moved to employer/regional vanpools; city-to-city riders use cost-sharing marketplaces like Seat Sherpa.
Is there still a carpool app where drivers don't profit?
Yes — Seat Sherpa caps seat prices at the driver's actual trip cost, exactly the cost-sharing principle Waze Carpool used.
Missed Waze Carpool? You'll feel at home.
Split the gas with a driver already headed your way.
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