Terms of Service

1. Acceptance and Changes to the Terms

Welcome to ecoTriver! By creating an account or using our platform, mobile application or services (collectively, the "Service"), you agree to these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree, please do not use our Service.

These Terms are a legally binding agreement between you and ecoTriver. Every version carries a version number and an effective date. We record on your account which version you accepted.

We may change these Terms, for example when the Service or the law changes. A changed version applies to you only once we have shown it to you in the Service and you have explicitly accepted it. Until then, the version you last accepted continues to apply to you. If you do not wish to accept a new version, you can terminate your account at any time (§16.1).

2. Service Description

ecoTriver is a platform for shared travel to events: concerts, festivals, sports events, races and private gatherings. Our Service includes:

• Ride sharing: drivers offer rides to events; passengers book free seats
• Rides by organisations: clubs, organizers and venues offer their own rides, for example team coaches or shuttles (§4.2)
• Travel groups: users coordinate shared rail or flight journeys
• Event discovery: events, artists, teams and venues with detailed information
• Location services: maps, routes and distance calculations
• Weather forecasts and accommodation search: forecasts and embedded third-party accommodation offers
• Messaging: communication with other users about rides and logistics
• Impact tracking: your environmental impact and CO₂ saved

ecoTriver facilitates connections between users. We are not a transportation company, we do not employ drivers and we do not own vehicles.

3. Eligibility & Account Registration

3.1 Age Requirement

You must be at least 18 years old to hold a personal account, offer rides or book seats. By creating an account you represent that you meet this requirement. A function account (§3.3) is operated by an adult.

3.2 Account Accuracy

You agree to provide accurate, current and complete information during registration and to keep it up to date. You are responsible for:

• Maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials
• All activities that occur under your account
• Notifying us immediately of unauthorised account access

3.3 One Personal Account per Person, Function Accounts for Organisations

Each person may hold only one personal account. Creating several personal accounts may result in suspension or termination.

Organisations (§4.2) may additionally hold function accounts, for example for a shared mailbox such as fans@club.com. A function account acts solely for the organisation: it can create and manage the organisation's rides, but it cannot ride, book or submit ratings itself. The person operating a function account may hold a personal account alongside it. The organisation is responsible for everything done under its function accounts.

4. Platform as Intermediary

4.1 Rides between Individuals

ecoTriver is a ride-sharing marketplace. We connect drivers and passengers who wish to travel together to events. We are not a transportation provider, carrier or mobility service operator. All rides are arranged directly between users. We facilitate the connection and provide the platform infrastructure; we are not a party to any ride.

The contract for each ride, including any cost-sharing arrangement, is formed exclusively between driver and passenger. ecoTriver bears no responsibility for the performance, safety or outcome of any ride.

4.2 Organisations as Providers

Clubs, organizers, venues and other organisations ("organisations") may offer their own rides on ecoTriver, for example a team coach to an away game or a shuttle to a festival. For such rides the following applies in addition:

• The contract of carriage is formed exclusively between the organisation (or the carrier it has commissioned) and the passenger. ecoTriver remains an intermediary and is neither carrier nor party to the contract.
• The organisation ensures that the carriage is lawful, in particular that a commercial carrier holds the licence required under the German Passenger Transport Act (PBefG).
• Seats on rides by organisations are booked free of charge through ecoTriver. If an organisation charges a fee outside ecoTriver, that is solely its own matter; ecoTriver collects no money.
• The organisation receives, for the passengers of that ride, their name, profile picture and the messages in that ride's group chat, and uses them solely to run the ride, never for advertising. Details are in our Privacy Policy, section 4.5.
• People acting for an organisation appear to passengers under the organisation's name and are not rated personally by passengers.

5. Driver Requirements & Responsibilities

5.1 Legal Requirements

If you offer rides as a driver, you must:

• Hold a valid driver's licence for the applicable jurisdiction
• Maintain valid vehicle registration and inspection (where required)
• Hold appropriate vehicle insurance cover as required by law
• Comply with all traffic laws and regulations
• Ensure your vehicle is roadworthy and safe

5.2 Driver Conduct

Drivers must:

• Provide accurate information about their vehicle, route and availability
• Honour confirmed bookings unless unforeseen circumstances arise
• Treat passengers with respect and courtesy
• Not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Not use mobile devices while driving (except hands-free for navigation)

5.3 Cost-Sharing Limitations

ecoTriver enables private peer-to-peer ride sharing within the meaning of a non-commercial carpool, not a commercial transportation service. Drivers may accept a contribution from passengers toward the actual operating costs of the shared journey (in particular fuel, tolls and parking), but may not operate for profit or as a commercial carrier.

This reflects § 1 (2) no. 1 PBefG (German Passenger Transport Act): a ride stays outside the scope of that Act where the total consideration collected does not exceed the operating costs of the journey. ecoTriver only brokers such rides; neither the ride nor its brokerage is therefore subject to the Passenger Transport Act. Rides whose total consideration exceeds the operating costs may not be offered on ecoTriver and will be removed by us.

The ceiling applies to the ride as a whole: the sum of all contributions from all passengers of a ride may not exceed the operating costs of that ride. As a reference value for the operating costs of a passenger car, ecoTriver uses €0.30 per kilometre driven. Where ecoTriver displays an amount, it is a non-binding recommendation within that reference value. The parties remain free to agree less.

Insurance warning for drivers: if the total amount you collect from passengers exceeds the actual operating costs of a journey, the ride may be classified as unlicensed commercial passenger carriage. This can void your motor insurance cover, including comprehensive (Kasko) cover, and expose you to regulatory and civil liability. Do not collect more than your costs.

5.4 Driver Identification (Vehicle & Licence Plate)

Drivers may voluntarily deposit their vehicle details and licence plate in their profile. Depositing this information is optional and is never a condition of offering a ride.

Where deposited, this data is processed solely for identification and safety purposes, so that a passenger can recognise the correct vehicle at the meeting point. Vehicle make, model, colour and body type may be shown to prospective passengers before booking; the licence plate is disclosed only after a booking has been confirmed, and only to the confirmed passengers of that ride. See our Privacy Policy for the legal basis and retention period.

ecoTriver does not verify, inspect or validate any deposited vehicle or plate. The wording used in the Service, "vehicle and licence plate on file", describes what has been stored, not a check we have performed.

5.5 Payment Coordination (PayPal.me)

Drivers may voluntarily add a PayPal.me handle to their profile so that confirmed passengers can settle an agreed cost share (§5.3, §8.2) digitally. We deliberately request only the public PayPal.me handle, never an email address or IBAN. A driver's PayPal.me handle is shown only to confirmed passengers of that ride. ecoTriver is not a party to, and does not process, any PayPal payment made between users.

6. Passenger Responsibilities

As a passenger, you agree to:

• Provide accurate pickup location and contact information
• Be punctual and ready at the agreed pickup time and location
• Treat drivers and other passengers with respect
• Honour confirmed bookings or cancel with reasonable notice
• Settle any agreed cost share (§5.3) promptly and directly with the driver
• Follow the driver's reasonable requests (e.g. no smoking, seatbelt use)
• Not bring prohibited items (weapons, illegal substances, etc.)

7. Location Data & Geographic Services

ecoTriver uses geographic location data to provide core functionality:

• Ride matching: we use your city and pickup/drop-off locations to match you with nearby rides
• Distance calculations: distances are calculated to estimate travel time, costs and CO₂ figures
• Maps: we display interactive maps using OpenStreetMap/Leaflet to show event locations and routes
• Event discovery: location data helps you find events and venues near you

By using location-based features, you consent to the collection and processing of geographic data as described in our Privacy Policy. You can manage location permissions through your device settings and profile preferences.

8. Fees & Cost Sharing

8.1 No Fees for Users

ecoTriver charges users no fees. The account, booking a seat and every other function of the Service are free. ecoTriver collects no payments, holds no money for users and processes no payments between users.

Should ecoTriver introduce paid services for users in the future, this will happen only through a new version of these Terms, shown to you before the first paid use and requiring your explicit acceptance (§1).

8.2 Cost Sharing between Driver and Passenger

A driver and a passenger may agree that the passenger contributes toward the actual operating costs of the shared journey (fuel, tolls, parking) within the limits of §5.3.

This cost share is a bilateral, voluntary arrangement between driver and passenger only. Any figure ecoTriver displays is a non-binding recommendation. ecoTriver does not collect, hold, process or become party to this money; it is settled directly between the two users, for example in cash or via the driver's PayPal.me handle under §5.5. Drivers are prohibited from profiting from rides.

8.3 Cancellations

Bookings are free, so there are no cancellation fees and no refunds. Drivers and passengers can cancel a booking through the Service until departure; the other party is notified. A cost share already paid (§8.2) is settled directly between driver and passenger.

8.4 Disputes

Disputes between users about a cost share should be reported to support@ecotriver.com within 7 days. We will review and mediate; a final resolution may require agreement between the parties.

9. Prohibited Conduct

You may NOT:

• Use the Service for illegal purposes or to violate any laws
• Harass, abuse, threaten or discriminate against other users
• Provide false or misleading information
• Operate a commercial transportation service through ecoTriver or demand more than the operating costs of a ride
• Fake ratings, submit them in exchange for benefits or offer incentives for them
• Scrape, copy or harvest data from the platform
• Interfere with or disrupt the Service or servers
• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to accounts or systems
• Share your account credentials with others
• Post spam, viruses or malicious content
• Violate intellectual property rights

10. Intellectual Property

All content on ecoTriver, including text, graphics, logos, icons, images, software and the compilation thereof (the "Content"), is the property of ecoTriver or its licensors and is protected by copyright, trademark and other intellectual property laws.

You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, create derivative works from, publicly display or exploit any Content without our express written permission, except as necessary for normal use of the Service.

Artist images, event data, team and venue information may be sourced from third parties (for example Spotify, Ticketmaster, TheSportsDB, MusicBrainz) and are subject to their respective licences and terms.

11. Disclaimers & Limitation of Liability

11.1 Platform Nature

ecoTriver is a platform that connects users. We do not:

• Provide transportation services
• Employ or control drivers
• Own, inspect or maintain vehicles
• Guarantee the safety, quality or legality of rides
• Verify user credentials, licences or insurance, though we encourage compliance

11.2 Free Service, No Guarantee of Quality

The Service is provided free of charge and in the form available at the time. We do not guarantee its uninterrupted availability, freedom from errors or fitness for a particular purpose, and we give no warranty for the accuracy of weather forecasts, maps, event information or information provided by other users.

11.3 Limitation of Liability

ecoTriver is liable without limitation for intent and gross negligence, for culpable injury to life, body or health, under the German Product Liability Act and to the extent it has given a guarantee.

For slightly negligent breach of an essential contractual obligation, meaning an obligation whose fulfilment makes the proper performance of the contract possible in the first place and on whose observance you may regularly rely, liability is limited to the typical, foreseeable damage. Otherwise, liability for slight negligence is excluded.

In particular, ecoTriver is not liable for:

• Accidents, injuries, property damage or death during rides
• Actions or omissions of other users or of organisations
• Loss or theft of personal belongings
• Cancellations, delays or no-shows
• Reliance on weather forecasts, maps or event information

These limitations also apply to the personal liability of our employees, representatives and agents.

12. Indemnification

You indemnify ecoTriver against third-party claims that arise from a breach of these Terms, of the law or of third-party rights for which you are responsible, including the reasonable costs of legal defence. This applies in particular to rides you offer as a driver and to content you post. The indemnity does not apply where you are not responsible for the breach.

13. Privacy & Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us. Please review our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use and protect your personal data. It is not part of these Terms; it informs you about our data processing.

14. Environmental Data & Climate Reporting

As part of using ecoTriver, anonymised, aggregated data from rides may be used for the following purposes. This is a standard condition of using the platform and part of ecoTriver's core environmental mission.

• Academic climate research: aggregated mobility and CO₂ data shared with climate science institutions and universities studying sustainable event travel.
• Sustainability reporting by organizers and organisations: aggregated CO₂ impact data provided to organizers, clubs, leagues and corporate partners for verifiable Scope 3 emission reporting. This is part of how ecoTriver makes sustainability measurable and auditable for organisations.

These reports contain no names, email addresses, home addresses or GPS traces. Shared data is aggregated at event level; origin information appears at most at the level of the departure city. Individual users are not identified in these reports. Organisations receive information about individual persons only for rides they offer themselves (§4.2).

By using ecoTriver, your rides contribute to a real, verifiable picture of how shared travel choices reduce carbon emissions, without exposing anything about you personally. This is fundamental to what ecoTriver is built to do.

15. Right of Withdrawal (Widerrufsrecht)

If you are a consumer within the European Union, you have the right to withdraw from the contract for the use of ecoTriver within 14 days without giving a reason, pursuant to § 355 BGB and Directive 2011/83/EU. The withdrawal period begins upon conclusion of the contract (account creation). As the Service is free, withdrawal has no cost consequence; it takes effect like a termination of your account.

To exercise your right of withdrawal, please contact us at support@ecotriver.com or use the model withdrawal form below.

16. Termination

16.1 Termination by You

You may terminate your account at any time through your account settings or by contacting us at support@ecotriver.com. See our Data Deletion Instructions for information about deleting your data. Organisations can have a function account retired through support; the organisation's upcoming rides are then handed over to another account of the organisation or cancelled.

16.2 Termination by Us

We may suspend or terminate your account immediately and without notice if you:

• Violate these Terms or our policies
• Engage in fraudulent, abusive or illegal behaviour
• Create risk or legal exposure for ecoTriver or other users
• Receive repeated complaints from other users

16.3 Effects of Termination

Upon termination, your right to use the Service ends. Existing confirmed bookings are cancelled and the other party is notified. Provisions on limitation of liability, indemnification and dispute resolution survive termination.

17. Dispute Resolution

17.1 Informal Resolution

If you have a dispute with ecoTriver, please contact us at support@ecotriver.com to attempt an informal resolution before pursuing formal action.

17.2 Consumer Dispute Resolution (VSBG)

Pursuant to § 36 VSBG (German Consumer Dispute Resolution Act), we inform you that we are neither obliged nor willing to participate in dispute resolution proceedings before a consumer arbitration board.

17.3 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany. Mandatory consumer protection provisions of the country in which you habitually reside remain unaffected.

17.4 Jurisdiction

If the user is a merchant, a legal entity under public law or a special fund under public law, or has no general place of jurisdiction in Germany, the place of jurisdiction is Braunschweig. For consumers, the statutory places of jurisdiction apply.

18. Ratings & User-Generated Content

After a ride, drivers and passengers may rate each other. Only someone who took part in the same confirmed ride can submit a rating; ecoTriver enforces this link technically but does not check the content of individual ratings. Ratings in exchange for benefits or incentives are prohibited (§9). People acting for an organisation (§4.2) are not rated personally.

By posting content (ratings, messages, profile details, images) you grant ecoTriver a simple, royalty-free right to store, display and transmit that content within the Service. You represent that you hold the necessary rights to the content and that it does not infringe third-party rights. ecoTriver may remove content that violates these Terms, the law or third-party rights, and will inform you. Ratings are tied to the accounts of both parties: if either person deletes their account, the rating is deleted with it (see Data Deletion).

19. Miscellaneous

19.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and ecoTriver regarding the Service. Our Privacy Policy informs you about data processing and is not part of the contract.

19.2 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, the remaining provisions remain in effect. The statutory provisions take the place of the invalid provision.

19.3 No Waiver

Our failure to enforce any provision of these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that provision or any other provision.

19.4 Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms or your account without our written consent. We may transfer our rights and obligations under these Terms to a company that continues the Service; we will inform you, and you may terminate in that case.

20. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us:

• Email: support@ecotriver.com
• General contact: Contact form