Need Help?

These help pages are designed to make your experience on MyLifts.com easier and more productive. If the problem you are encountering is not covered by one of the following sections then please contact us at support@mylifts.com where we will endeavour to help you as soon as possible.

The help files are divided into sections:

1. How Do I Offer A Lift?

Offering a lift on MyLifts.com is very straightforward and the user is guided through the procedure with a series of questions. This page should give some guidance to the user in answering the questions.

Be Prepared
The information you should be prepared to divulge when offering a lift includes:

  • Where you are leaving from
  • Where you are going to
  • What date you are travelling on
  • What time you are departing
  • What vehicle you will be making the journey in.
  • How many seats you are offering

To offer a lift users should click on the LIFTS button at the top left of the site.

Know Your locations
A form requesting the user to state whether they are offering or seeking a lift and their departure and destination points will appear. Within this form there will also be a drop down list for each location that requests the type of place that the user is entering, the list includes:

  • UK Postcode - enter only the first half of the postcode for best results.
  • Town or City - you can opt to enter only the first 4 letters (minimum) to get your matches (e.g. Lond will get London), users should note that for speed we search for towns that begin with the letters the user enters, this means that entering Hull will not find Kingston Upon Hull.
  • Place of Interest - places of interest are often landmarks such as Angel of the North, if you are unsure of the proper name just enter the first few characters to get a list of possible matches.
  • Locality, Borough, Suburb or Village - Areas within cities such as Camden (London) or Rusholme (Manchester) fall under this category as well as actual villages.

The rest of the location options are self-explanatory.

Match Your Locations
Once the user has stated that they are offering a lift and selected a departure and a destination then they submit the form through to a page where their location entries will be matched against our database of UK places. From the drop down lists that are presented they should select their locations or the nearest place on our database to their desired location. On this page users will also be asked about the date and time of their offer and how many places are being offered. Once these are completed submitting the form will take the user through to the final stage which is for declaring the details of the vehicle to be used for the journey.

Enter Your Vehicle
The vehicle details page has a drop down list of all vehicles previously registered by the user and an option to Add a New Vehicle. If no vehicles have previously been registered then the list will only contain the option to Add a New Vehicle. If the list contains the registration numbers of previously entered vehicles then the user need only select one of these and click the Use This Vehicle button at the bottom of the page as opposed to entering the vehicle details again.

Adding a new vehicle requires the user to complete the essential vehicle details marked with an * and also gives the user the option to store their insurance and breakdown cover details, this information is optional and serves to allow MyLifts.com the option of sending special offers on discounted services related to their cover.

Calculate Costs
The running costs of the vehicle can be added in here in terms of how much the vehicle costs to run per kilometre. This cost can then be used by MyLifts.com to recommend the amount carsharers should contribute towards the cost of the lift. MyLifts.com bases this recommendation on the running cost of your vehicle multiplied by the estimated distance of the journey and the resulting figure is ONLY an estimate, it is not a figure that either party should consider legally binding.

Find a match!
Once the vehicle is entered or a previous vehicle has been selected then you are taken through to a page where your nearest lift matches are displayed. This page displays details of lifts requested that are similar to the lift you are offering. The list of matches descends in order of relevance to your offer, you may also view this list as a map where each lift requested is shown in relation to where you are departing from as passenger icons, clicking on any of these icons will bring up the details of the lift requested and who requested it.

If you find a lift request that interests you then you may contact the user that requested the lift by clicking on their icon or name. A contact user window will pop-up, this window also contains details of any advanced profile that they may have completed, if you are happy with the lift and the profile then you can send an instant message.

When a user contacts you about your lift then they become an 'interested party' in that lift and their icon will show against the lift when you are in your My Lifts section. Only the driver of a lift can allocate places in their vehicle to other users. To allocate a place the driver will click on the Allocate button in the My Lifts page under the relevant lift. Once a place has been allocated the user that requested the lift will receive a message alerting them to the fact that they have been allocated a place on a lift. They must then log in and visit the My Lifts section where they will see the lift and have the opportunity to Accept the allocation. Once accepted you will see a Remove button under their icon in your My Lifts section, use this to remove the user from your lift and free up a place again for others.

When all places have been filled your offer will no longer be viewable by other users, likewise when the date of your lift has passed the offer will no longer show.

2. How Do I Find A Lift?

Finding a lift is very simple.

Once you are logged in (you have to be registered to search for a lift), you have the following choices:

1. Did you see a lift on the ticker that interested you? Just click on it and you will see the details.

2. If you don't see what you are looking for you can use the quick search: just type in your location and where you 2want to go and whether you are looking for a lift that some one is offering or requesting and optionally choose a date for your lift. Click 'SUBMIT' and you will be shown all the matching lifts.

3. Click on 'mylifts' on the left and indicate if you are requesting using the dropdown. Then you can idicate your 'from' amd 'to' in combination with the the way you are describing them using the drop downs to indicate you are searching by town/city, postcode etc

4. Now you will have to give more details such as the number of seats, departure time, date or day and any preferences yo have such as No Smoking.

5. When you confirm the details you will be asked about your vehicle - if you have already registered a vehicle you can choose this and continue, alternatively you can enter the details of your vehicle or an additional vehicle.

6. When you submit your car details you will be presented with information on lifts that match the criteria your a trying to find. You will then be able to contact the person offering the lift.

3. How Do I Set Up A Group?

We can offer 3 types of group for you to set up or join on MyLifts.

1. Public Groups

These are ideal for event based lifts or ongoing events, good examples would be festivals, rock concerts or sporting events. Setting up a public group will allow you to specify events as locations that other users can seek or offer lifts to and from. Our powerful GIS systems will provide maps and distance information for these events.

2. Private Groups

If you want to create a company carshare scheme for fewer than 500 members then you should look at creating a Private Group. NB You will have to be registered on the site to create your own Private Group. Set up includes a one off cost and small annual licence fee for hosting and maintenance.

3. Resellers

Company carshare schemes would benefit from a private group where the userbase and information on there is more private and sensitive. This application can be rolled out to companies or organisations and re-branded as their own, please contact us directly about this type of scheme. Read more about this in our Company Travel Plans section.

Group functions are not yet implemented but will be available very soon.  Contact MyLifts if you require more information.

 

4. How Do I Contact Other Users?

Contacting other users is exclusively by using the MyLifts message area - MyMessages.

Once you have lift-matched with another member you can communicate via the message system.

You can also add a member to your favourites and contact then with a lift offer or just send a message.

 

5. How Do I Change My Details?

Your details can be changed by clicking MyProfile once you are logged in.

Make the changes you need and submit them.

6. How Do I View Other Users' Profiles?

The profiles of other users can be viewed by clicking on their avatar or name when they appear in a lift offer or lift request. You may only contact or view profiles in relation to a lift offer or request.

To view a profile click on the View Profile link in the Contact window that pops up when you click on their avatar.

Once you have been in contact with another user then the message thread can be found in your MyMessages section, at the bottom of each thread is a link to view the other user's profile.

7. How Do I Complain About Another User?

To complain about the behaviour or postings of another user, use the contact form found by clicking on the Contact Us button at the foot of every page. 

You should ensure that you include the member's username in your complaint so that we may deal with it comprehensively.

MyLIfts.com take all complaints about users very seriously and will not hesitate to delete accounts or even involve the authorities where necessary.

8. How Do I Set Up A Carshare Scheme For My Company?

To set up a carshare scheme for your company or organisation you will need to talk to us! Contact us to start discussions as early as possible in your planning stages. We have much experience in traffic schemes and application technology; a perfect combination for your needs!

We can roll out the technology used on this site to your own intranet, extranet, company web site or create a standalone web site for your scheme. Each case will be individually assessed and the price will be determined by the level of customisation that you require. Basic schemes can be set-up for for a small set-up fee plus an annual hosting fee. Corporate schemes will require much consultation and will involve not only the technology but the architecture for a working system within your company.

9. How Do I Register A Vehicle?

Registering a vehicle is essential before a lift can be offered. As part of our security policy we require that the details of the vehicle to be used in any carshare should be disclosed to the other parties prior to the lift being accepted. In order to facilitate this we require that drivers register the vehicles either whilst in the process of offering a lift or as a separate task prior to offering a lift.

Part of the procedure for offering a lift on MyLifts.com involves specifying which vehicle is to be used (immediately after the locations have been confirmed), the user is offered a drop down menu of all vehicles they have previously registered on MyLifts.com. If no vehicles have been previously registered then the user should complete the form on that page to register one.

If a user wishes to register a vehicle prior to offering a lift then they can, once logged in, visit the MyVehicles section of their personalised menu and click on the Register A New Vehicle link. This will take them through to the form for vehicle registration. Most of the details on this form are required. There are also optional details requested with regard to insurance cover; these details may be used by MyLifts.com to target special offers and discounts.

10. How Do I Use the Quick UK Search?

Using the Quick Search box on the right hand side is one of the most direct ways to access the car sharing database.

Users should be aware that this facility is for entering the names of LOCALITIES, VILLAGES, TRAIN STATIONS, AIRPORTS, MOTORWAY JUNCTIONS AND SERVICES, TOWNS or CITIES only. Entering anything else such as a county or a postcode will result in no matches being found as only the above type of placenames are searched, it is this narrowing of the search that makes it quick! To enter postcode searches use the New Lift button that appears once you are logged in and select 'MyLifts' from your menu.

Users can enter as little as the first four letters of the departure and destination places and our system will find matches for selection, again adding to the speed and ease of use.

11. Will My Insurance Be Affected by CarSharing?

No is the most likely answer. As long as you are not charging more than a fair contribution for petrol and running costs from your passengers then your insurance should remain uncompromised.

However, it is always worth checking your policy with respect to paying passengers.

12. Why Have I Not Received my Registration Email?

There may be a couple of reasons why this has happened.

The first is that you have entered your email address incorrectly to the system in the first place, if this is the case then you must re-register ensuring that you double check your email address.

The second, and most likely, is that you are using a web based email provider such as HOTMAIL or YAHOO.

Some web based email services such as MSN Hotmail and Yahoo may treat automatic emails sent from this site (and others) as Junk Mail and filter them into your junk mail boxes.

If you cannot find your registration email from MyLifts.com then please check your Junk Mail box.

If the email is in this box then be sure to click the link next to the mail that says THIS IS NOT SPAM, this will ensure that all future emails generated by MyLifts.com and MyLifts users will land in your inbox.

13. What Happens if I Don't Find a Liftshare?

If you are requesting a lift and you don't find a liftshare you will be presented with Travel Alternatives, such as public transport. You may be able to find a suitable alternative to your destination in this way.

Your request will remain active unless there is a specific date on which you want the lift. When that date is reached the lift request will expire.

As long as your lift request remains active there is a chance someone will match it.

If you are offering a lift and you don' find a match from someone who is seeking a lift, then you may find someone who matches you in the future.

 

14. What if I Normally Catch a Bus or Train?

We endorse the use of all other forms of public transport but recognises that this is not always convenient if you live or work some distance from a station. The service allows you to start carsharing - even if only catching a lift to or from the station.

15. Do I have to liftshare everyday and with the same people?

No, you can 'liftshare' one day a week, every day or just when it is convenient, you decide when. Remember MyLifts simply provides a journey matching service to link you with people who live near you, travel along your route or who are willing to be flexible.

16. What if I Don't Have a Car?

MyLifts will identify from the network who prefers to drive, be driven or share the driving. Just specify your trip preferences, view and select from a list of people willing to share a journey and prepared to drive. You just pay for your share of the cost of a journey.

17. Is it Legal to Accept Payment?

Cash contributions are made to the driver as long as this does not generate a profit. our vehicle cost calculator provide you with a general estimation for reimbursing driving expenses. 

If members do not share the driving equally come to an understanding of how the cost will be divided and agree on payment. Alternatively, you can opt to rotate driving if you regularly travel along the same route.

18. Will My Details be Kept Confidential?

To allow discrete contact with members, we provide you with multiple opportunities for anonymous communication so that you don't have to reveal any personal information until you choose to accept the lift and go.  If you're registered, you can send the other person an anonymous email and receive reply using the internal mail function.   We comply with the Data Protection. 

19. How Does the Message Centre Email Work?

If someone likes your offer, the person can send you an email from MyLifts.  This email will be found on your Homepage MyMessages mailbox. You will also receive an email alert to your regular email address. THE OTHER PERSON WILL NOT KNOW YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS unless you have provide it to them via the message centre.  This can be an excellent way to save your time (because you won't have to return here all the time to check your internal mailbox).

If the mail is sent by registered member, it will have the user name in there. if you send a mail to the user from MyLifts, the person will receive it the same way like you did - i.e. possibly just with your username. The reason for this is that it protects your personal information mutually before your decide to share a journey.

THIS IS A MEMBERS ONLY WEBSITE.

20. I'm Not Going Just Once, but Regularly - How about the Dates then?

In this case, choose "Regularly"  when you insert a new trip. You'll be prompted for the number of seats, time and date(s) of your commute: it can contain anything- e.g. pick up, drop off points, 'every Monday', general lift preferences etc.

21. I've Just Returned from the Trip and Have Something I'd Like to Say about the Other Person?

Please let us know by using MyRatings.  You are able to rate other users that you have arranged to share with. We're interested in both positive and negative experiences you had with a particular driver or rider. This information can help other people who'll be getting in touch with them.  It is only possible to make Ratings after the listed date of the lift you have shared.

22. I'm Concerned about Privacy. Won't Everybody See Where I'm Coming From and To When its On the Net?

Don't Worry at all!  When you register, you can insert your trip under a nickname. No one will know what your real-life data are until you let them know. Also, we won't release your email and personal information to any 3rd party.

23. There Must be Some Hidden Costs. How Could it Be all For Free Then?

As a registered user, you'll pay nothing and will have access to goodies such as the search agent who'll be busy for you looking for journeys. With your username, you can also manage your trips. You'll be also able to use anonymous e-mail. In addition, your trips will be saved and the searches will be easier, because some of the information will be inserted automatically based on your preferences. But most important of all, you'll join the social network for liftsharers that brings some fun into planning a journey.

Polls

I'm using MyLifts to?

View results »