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Carpools and Vanpools

Faculty, staff and students who live off campus, commute to UC San Diego and are committed to carpooling daily can form a carpool or vanpool and receive incentives. Note: Undergraduates cannot participate in vanpools and are not eligible for incentive parking permits.

  • Carpools consist of 2‒4 eligible members. Use UC San Diego’s ridesharing network or personal networking to find other UC San Diego faculty, staff and students who want to carpool.
  • Vanpools are large carpools consisting of 5+ eligible members that use a third-party leased vehicle. The SANDAG Vanpool Program provides a convenient, cost-effective way for groups of five or more people to get to work in and around the San Diego region.

Registered Member Incentives

  • Save time: Vehicles with two or more passengers can use high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes.
  • Save money: Share the cost of an annual permit and gas.
  • Park in reserved carpool spaces based on your permit type, e.g., S permit in S Carpool only, B permit in B or S Carpool and A permit in A, B or S Carpool:
    • 3+ Person Reserved
      • Receive a 3-Person Carpool access sticker when you have 3 or more registered carpool members.
      • Carpool space access requires that 3+ members carpool on the day of use.
    • 2+ Person Reserved
      • Receive a 2-Person Carpool access sticker for use in 7–11 a.m. limited reserved S parking spaces near ramps in Osler and Hopkins Parking Structures.
      • Carpool space access requires that 2+ members carpool on the day of use.
  • 3+ person carpools park free in campus valet lots: A and B permit holders in a carpool with three or more members can valet park for free with a current Carpool Sticker on the permit.
  • Get guaranteed rides home: Register in advance for SANDAG’s Guaranteed Ride Home program that provides rides for employees and students who work on campus in case of illness, unscheduled overtime or family emergencies.
  • Drive shared vehicles: Pay no Zipcar application fee and receive rental credits (when you meet UC San Diego eligibility requirements).

How to Register a Carpool

  1. Each carpool must choose a primary driver who purchases a single valid multiyear, annual or student quarterly parking permit that the carpool shares. Other members can share driving responsibilities.
    • Student S quarterly permit sales are limited and student carpools must complete in-person registration at the Gilman Commuter and Visitor Information Center within the first two weeks of classes.
    • Freshmen cannot be primary drivers or permit users unless they have received an approved quarterly permit exception.
  2. All new carpoolers must go together to the Gilman or Osler Commuter and Visitor Information Center to register the carpool and receive incentives.
    • All carpoolers must present a valid UC San Diego photo ID card.
    • The primary driver presents the parking permit for verification.
    • All student carpool members must show class/work schedules with three weekdays in common (no specific hours required).
  3. A parking office representative issues a carpool access sticker to the permit owner.
    • At least three members must register as regular carpoolers to receive a 3-Person Carpool access sticker.
    • At least two members must register as regular carpoolers to receive a 2- Person Carpool access sticker.

Questions?

Contact the Gilman or Osler Commuter and Visitor Information Center.