If you have a penchant for picking random people up, or always wanted to know what it would be like to drive a taxi, the new smartphone application from SideCar should be your next download.

The San Francisco-based startup went live with the application at the end of June for both the iOS and Android platforms. Here’s how it works if you’re a driver and want to share your car with total random strangers:

1)      Download the application and go through a stern vetting process; background check, and proof of valid insurance, driver’s license and registration. This helps foster transparency and visibility and trust for passengers.

2)      Once approved, drivers are alerted by the application of people looking for rides, and then it’s up to the driver to decide if they want to pick someone up.

If you’re a passenger, all you need to do is sign up and provide a valid credit-card number. Passengers are subjected to reviews by drivers that get posted online, so if you’re a crappy passenger, no one will scoop you up. It’s like Yelp for people.

Here’s the kicker…there’s no payment required, only “suggested” fares. Declining to pay the “suggested” fares won’t win you better passenger reviews, so use the sliding scale wisely if you want to keep using the service.

All rides are tracked by GPS.

Not a bad way to try and decrease transportation costs and make some new friends.

Which is exactly the same thing that we do!