Would you actually get in this car?

[DRAFT — pending solicitor review]

There are three checks, and that is all. First, before anyone can request a seat or publish a ride, their ID is checked with Stripe Identity: they photograph a government-issued ID and take a live selfie on Stripe’s screens, and Stripe tells us whether the face matches the photo on the ID. Second, a driver uploads their motor insurance document and we review it (see Insurance below). Third, a member may upload a utility or phone bill and we review it, only to confirm the address on it (optional for now; we will give at least 30 days’ notice before it is ever required). There is no phone or video appointment, and we do not check where anyone lives beyond that.

Yapalift does not keep copies of ID or licences. The documents we do collect are a driver’s motor insurance document and, if a member uploads one, a utility or phone bill (we delete it 7 days after we decide). We record the outcome of the ID check and its date. Stripe holds its own copy of the images from a Stripe Identity check, under its own privacy policy.

An “ID checked” badge is not a guarantee. It means only that the person’s face matched the photo on a government ID. It is not a criminal record check, Garda vetting or a driving-history check, and it says nothing about a person’s conduct, their driving, their car or their insurance. Use your own judgement about who you travel with, and see the next sections for what you can check yourself.

Before you request a seat, you see a driver’s first name, photo, bio, interests, gender, age band, rating, number of rides, whether their ID has been checked, and the year they joined — enough to decide if you want to travel with them.

You do not see a driver’s surname, phone number, email, ID, insurance details or full registration. We hold a driver’s full registration so that we know who is driving; it is released only to An Garda Síochána, a court, or an insurer handling a claim, where the law requires it.

Drivers may upload an insurance document and we review it. We do not see their NCT certificate or check their car, and a review is not a guarantee, so you don’t have to take any of it on trust. You can ask the driver for the car’s registration and check the NCT and tax for free, before you get in:

• NCT status — look up any Irish registration at ncts.ie to confirm the vehicle has a current, valid NCT certificate.
• Motor tax status — check at motortax.ie to confirm the vehicle is currently taxed.

Neither site requires you to sign in or give any personal details — just the registration number, which the driver can give you.

You are never obligated to complete a lift, even if it’s already been agreed. If you don’t feel comfortable — for any reason, or no reason at all — you can back out. No penalty, no explanation needed.

Our cancellation terms explain how cancelling works. The permission to cancel is unconditional and it always exists, for both drivers and passengers.

[DRAFT — pending solicitor review]

Yapalift does not provide insurance for any journey. Drivers can upload their motor insurance document, and we may review it. When we have, you see “Insurance reviewed” on the driver’s ride, with this note: Yapalift has reviewed this driver’s insurance document, and this is not a guarantee of cover. We do not contact insurers, and only Yapalift ever sees the document. Each driver is responsible for their own motor insurance and for confirming with their insurer that it lets them carry the passengers on their ride (see Terms section 5). If you are unsure, ask your driver before you travel.

If something happens on a trip, in a message, or anywhere on the platform that doesn’t feel right — tell us directly. Reports go to Colleen Doherty, who runs Yapalift and reviews them herself. You can use the Report option on a trip in the app or on the website, or email us.

Email concerns@yapalift.ie with what happened. We review every report and may warn, restrict, or suspend an account as a result. A serious safety report suspends the person reported straight away, for up to 72 hours, while we look at it — see how reports and moderation work in our Terms.

If you or anyone else is in immediate danger, contact An Garda Síochána or emergency services first — reporting to us is not a substitute for that.