I Tried HopSkipDrive Kids Car Service

When I was contacted by HopSkipDrive to possibly try out their service and share it with my readers, I'd have to say, I was very hesitant at first. The idea of someone else picking up my child and driving them to a destination without my supervision put my mom nerves into high gear.

At the same time...I was curious.

Having 4 kids with four different schedules has been a real struggle at time. I can't be at four different places at once, and I can't always find someone else to carpool or help me drive some of them their extracurricular activities. How do I choose which kid gets to go, and which kid doesn't?

I've done my best to schedule things in a way that i can take them all myself, but it doesn't always work. so i thought, HopSkipDrive could really be helpful on certain days of the week. especially on my wednesdays when the boys have swimming, water polo, dance class and Boy Scouts. i know that sounds like a lot, but three kids means a lot of different commitments. i know there are a lot of moms in my situation that could use a service like this, and that maybe it would be the answer to my crazy wednesdays. 

So, i decided that i really needed to try this service out.

A kids taxi service!

HopSkipDrive is a car service for kids ages 6 and older who need to go when their parents can't. Today's busy families could really use this! It was created by three moms who understand the stress of driving kids to all of their activities, and the safety concerns parents have putting their children in someone else's car.  

Co-founder, CEO and mom of two, Joanna McFarland, started the business out of need, stating:

"You can go online, go on the app, create an account in just a few minutes...you can book a ride for your child!" Plus it's safe!!! "The service had to be safe enough for my kids, so it's safe for yours."

What are the Hop Skip Drive Locations?

HopSkipDrive is available in many locations of the U.S. including:

• Arizona
• Colorado: Front Range
• Michigan: Midland
• Nevada: Las Vegas
• Northern California: San Francisco Bay Area and East Bay
• Southern California: Ventura County, Los Angeles, Orange County, Inland Empire and San Diego
• Texas: Austin, Dallas, Houston and Fort Worth
• Washington: Seattle and Spokane
• Wisconsin: Madison and Milwaukee
• Virginia / D.C.

What Places Hop Skip Drive take my kids to?

Basically, HopSkipDrive can help deliver your children to most of the places you would need! As long as the location is within the service area.

• To school, pickup from school
• Extracurricular activities - Karate class, music lessons, athletic practices, etc.
• Tutoring
• School Activities and enrichment classes

I was able to try the whole process for myself first-hand. Additionally, I got to talk to one of the founders of HopSkipDrive, and also interview a driver so that I could become very familiar and knowledgeable about the hop Skip Drive company. I wanted to make sure it would be something that I could recommend...which means that I myself would have to be comfortable with the service.

How Does HopSkipDrive Work?

Using the HopSkipDrive service was very simple. Simply download the app on your phone, and then register your child via the app or on the HopSkipDrive website.

When you register, you can add locations, special instructions you need the CareDriver to know and also give your child a special security question that only you and your child know. once your child is registered, then you can start to schedule a HopSkipDrive ride.

How Much Does HopSkipDrive Cost?

Our Experience with HopSkipDrive: An Honest Review

I scheduled a ride for my thirteen year old to be picked up at my home and dropped off at a local high school 3 miles away for swim practice. The morning of the scheduled ride, I received a confirmation email with the name of my CareDriver, her picture and her bio. This gave me a greater peace of mind. She happened to be a local mom who homeschools her own children that are around the same ages as my own kids and also lives in my same city. She looked like she could be one of my girlfriends...so I began to get more comfortable with the idea of using the HopSkipDrive car service.

When it came time for Jackson to be picked up, I got a knock on the door at the correct time. Our CareDriver was there to pick him up. When you set up your child's ride, you can specify whether you want the driver to knock on the door, pull-up and wait, or honk/text your child to let them know they are there. You can also leave any location-specific notes.

Since I wanted to learn more about HopSkipDrive, the company had scheduled some extra time for me to interview our driver so that i could get a feel of who are picking up our kids. I have to say that I was really impressed with everything she told me.

She explained how the screening process for the CareDrivers is very thorough to make sure you are getting the safest of drivers. She told me everything she had to go through just to qualify!

A HopSkipDrive background check includes:

• Background checks
• Fingerprinting
• Valid drivers license and DMV check
• Child abuse and neglect scan
• Personal reference checks
• Vehicle safety checks
• In-person training
• Adopts a zero tolerance policy

I also got to know her a little and found the she graduated the same year as me in the next high school over, we have mutual friends, her son is involved in the same activities as my son and she lives less than a mile away from me. i really felt that Jackson would be in good hands.

Before our CareDriver left with Jackson, she told him his security password so that he knew she was the correct person to be picking him up. I haas specific this secret passcode on our profile. It was a match, so Jackson was on his way.

Before taking off, she made sure he was buckled up and ready to go. All cars used to drive the children have to be inspected for safety. And everything looked good to me. the HopSkipDrive cars have these colored flags on them so that the kids know the correct car.

My driver told me that if your child is uncomfortable with having a car pull up with the flags, you can request for them to be removed in your notes for the driver. CareDrivers also will be wearing a bright orange HopSkipDrive t-shirt.

For the purpose of this post, I actually followed them all the way to swim practice. so that I could experience for myself the entire process. Of course, I would not normally follow them in my car...I would be able to follow them on their route via the HopSkipDrive phone app, where you can see them being tracked by GPS to the destination in realtime.

CareDrivers are not allowed to use their phone while driving, but they do text when they arrive for pick-up and when they drop-off your child to let you know they have made it. She also made sure that Jackson was inside the pool gate before she left...per my instructions, and Jackson made it safely to practice. Everything went perfectly...even better than I imagined.

I asked Jackson what he though about the experience, and he said it was great, the CareDriver was very nice and the he would be comfortable taking a ride with HopSkipDrive again.

Best of all, i figured out a solution to my wednesday driving problem. Now I can take the little ones to their dance class, and Jackson will still be able to get to his swim team and water polo practice by taking HopSkipDrive. All my children will get to attend their extra curricular activities. Win win!

Facts about HopSkipDrive Rideshare for Kids

Not only did I get to interview my HopSkipDrive CareDriver and follow the whole process in person, I also interviewed one of the three founders of HopSkipDrive. All this to make sure I could get every question I had about the HopSkipDrive service answered. I really needed to be 100% comfortable having my child leave with someone other than myself or a family member.

Here are some of the facts that I learned about HopSkipDrive and why I ultimately decided to try it:

• Every driver goes through a rigorous 15-point certification process. This includes being screened in person, receive background checks, DMV checks, their personal references are checked as well as their driving records. Fingerprinting is done for every driver as well as in-person training. Can you believe that the drivers receive more screening than a school bus driver.
• You can read the bio of your CareDriver on the app.
• Each vehicle is inspected regularly by a licensed mechanic who certifies the vehicle has passed a 19-point inspection. CareDrivers are only permitted to drive the vehicle that passed these car inspections.
• HopSkipDrive now offers carpools as a way for parents to easily organize rides with other families while saving money. Parents can invite other families to carpool with them. CareDrivers can make multiple stops, like picking up friends from their individual homes and taking them to camp or school together.
• CareDrivers can text your child or yourself to get a hold of you or let you know they have arrived. But they do not have access to your phone number or information. all phone business is done through the HopSkipDrive system to keep your info private. and once your ride is over, the CareDrivers can no longer contact you.
• You can leave special instructions for your CareDrive on how or where to pick-up/drop-off your child.
• Your child should not go with a CareDriver that doesn't know their special code word.
• You can follow your child's route in real-time via the HopSkipDrive app. you can also sign up for text notifications. A safe rides support team monitors the ride, plus there is always live customer support.
• No one 18 years or older, except for the driver, is allowed to ride in the car with your child.
• The easy to uses app makes it easy to set up repeating rides, multi-stop rides, and carpools.
• Yes, you can carpool or send multiple children.
• There are special protocols if there is an accident...although accidents are very very rare.

Good News! HopSkipDrive now offers rides for Senior Adults

Have a senior adult in your life that needs help with reliable transportation? HopSkipDrive has Caredrivers that can help! This new solution enables greater independence for seniors to get around to the places they need and want to go to.

• Grocery Store and Shopping Trips
• Doctor Appointments
• Dental Appointments
• Vaccine Clinics

CareDrivers have a minimum of 5 years of caregiving experience to be in a position to be caregivers to those who need it. Drivers also follow stringent COVID-Safe Ride Guidelines to protect this vulnerable population from Covid-19.

PLUS...the CareDrivers still have to meet all the requirements that a are mentioned above with the kid Caredrivers.

and of course, you can still follow the ride on the app and they will be monitored by the safe ride support team.

What a great option for families who are looking for transportation solutions for their senior loved ones. HopSkipDrive gets them to the places they need to be when you can't get them there themselves.

If you have any additional questions about HopSkipDrive, they have a whole archive of FAQ on their website. hop over to read them.

HopSkipDrive Review

Would i use HopSkipDrive again?

YES. Now that I have done my research into this service, I would be very comfortable having my oldest two children use it. There are times when us parents just can't make our schedules work to get our kids where they need to be. So I'm happy that I now have HopSkipDrive as an option for when I get in a pickle.

HopSkipDrive Promo Code

Save some moola!

If you would like to try out HopSkipDrive, you can! Use the promo code POPSICLE to get your first ride free. (up to $20)

Want to Drive For HopSkipDrive?

Working for HopSkipDrive can be a rewarding job and a great way to make money on your own schedule. It's like lyft for kids and senior adults!

To be a CareDriver, you must:

• Pass the HopskipDrive background check
• Have 5 years of caregiving experience
• Have a good driving record
• Be 23 years or older
• Have a 4-door vehicle no more than 10 years old

How Much Do HopSkipDrivers make?

CareDrivers can earn up to $60 per hour, plus bonuses. HopSkipDrive’s Welcome Guarantee, guarantees that drivers will earn $1000 for 25 completed trips by the end of the month immediately following activation. Of course, payment varies upon the amount of driving you do.

{Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All thoughts an opinions are 100% my own. I would only share this service if I would personally use it.}