
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 Reserved
- 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
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.