Travelling with strangers, with peace of mind.
Every person on a Seatmates trip is verified, every vehicle is checked, and every trip can be followed live by someone at home.
Before the trip
- Owners verify NIC, licence, insurance and vehicle papers
- Travellers verify their phone and NIC
- Ratings and reviews on every host
- Women-only trips with women hosts
On the road
- Live location shared with your emergency contact
- SOS button in the app connects to our support team
- Host and passenger list visible to everyone on board
- Fixed pick-up points in public places
After the trip
- Travellers and hosts rate each other
- Low ratings are reviewed by a person, not a bot
- Payment released to the host only after the trip
- Report any problem within 72 hours
One simple fee, paid by the owner
Travellers
- Pay only the seat price shown
- No booking fee
- Full refund if the trip doesn't reach its minimum
- Free cancellation up to 48 hours before
Vehicle owners
- Free to register and publish trips
- 10% of each seat sold, nothing on unsold seats
- Weekly payouts to your bank
- Cancellation by you is free if made 72 hours before
Frequently asked
Is it legal to sell seats in my own van?
Trips on Seatmates are shared private trips where travellers split the cost of a journey the owner designed. Owners must hold the licences and passenger insurance that apply to their vehicle, and we check these before the first trip.
What if not enough people book?
Each trip has a minimum number of travellers set by the owner. If it is not reached 48 hours before departure, the trip is cancelled and every traveller gets a full refund.
Can I book seats for my friends?
Yes, up to six seats in one booking. Add each friend's first name so the host knows who is coming.
Who can see my details?
Other travellers see your first name and interests only. Your host sees your name, phone number and pick-up point.
How do owners get paid?
Payments are held by Seatmates and released to the owner's bank account on the Monday after the trip, minus the 10% fee.