Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you can use SafeCar for any purpose. In addition to its usefulness in emergencies, our members use our service for the convenience in everyday situations.

Taxi cost has a major impact on whether young adults will use a taxi. SafeCar Cards are proven effective with young adults because taxi fare is not coming out of their spending money or bank account. For parents, fare discounts and knowing cab fare is being used appropriately is very attractive too. Since it's refundable if it's not used, parents do not see any risk. And, with identity theft a growing problem, it's nice that the card you give a taxi driver is not connected with your bank account.

Yes, you need your card present for the driver to deduct the fare.

Our service is nationwide. Please click here to confirm coverage in a specific area.

When card balances fall below $25, an email notification is sent so that you can re-load the card to cover typical fares. Our website has an Account Management section where balances are checked and cards can be re-loaded. Additionally, when members call for taxi service, our operators inform them of the balance so that they know before they book a taxi. Our operators are instructed to work with our members in the event this situation comes up, however, it is ultimately up to the member to make sure sufficient balance is on the card at all times.

You can use your card in any taxi equipped to process debit cards. You do not have to call SafeCar if you do not wish.

As far as SafeCar is concerned, you can take as many as you want and they do not have to be SafeCar members. However, most taxicab companies are required by law to limit the number of passengers to 4 or 5.

Please report a lost or stolen card to SafeCar as soon as you realize it is missing. We will cancel your lost or stolen card, and re-issue you a replacement card immediately.

For your protection, we only send cards to the billing address of the purchasing debit/credit card.

Typically taxis arrive at a local residence within 15-30 minutes if not sooner. If a passenger is far away, traffic is particularly heavy, or it is a very busy time for taxi service, wait times can be affected. We give reliable estimates and also follow-up with our passengers on every taxi order to make sure the taxi has arrived as scheduled.

Any taxi equipped to accept MasterCard will accept our cards. Only certain cab companies accept cards at all. Many require you to be carrying cash. We have developed a network of card-accepting cab companies nationwide to make it easier for our customers.

Yes, we will refund your card balance at your request. This means there is really no risk.

Yes, many of our taxi partners offer discounts. The discount level is set individually be each taxi company.

We will be launching this feature very soon, where-by you can arrange to have your credit card reload your SafeCar Card when it falls below a certain balance. However, this feature is not yet implemented.

Many parents are concerned about the personal safety of young women, especially in a campus environment. Also, based on startling statistical data, many parents are worried their kids might be caught in a car with an unsafe driver. We are very popular with parents who are sending their kids off to college without a car, and find this to be a very useful service. Lastly, we always run into parents who want to make sure "just in case something comes up," and our refundable card makes it an easy choice for them.