Carpool

Carpool to BART with the BART Official App

BART’s Carpool Parking program, offered through the BART Official App, allows carpoolers to purchase parking and to park anywhere in the Reserved sections of BART parking lots, which typically are better located and have more availability. The program  is currently available at all BART stations with Reserved parking (all stations except Glen Park, Pittsburg Center, Milpitas and Berryessa/North San Jose stations).

Paper carpool permits are no longer accepted, and dedicated carpool stalls have been phased out.

Quick Links

How the new carpool program and app payment works

Before you go:

  • Download the official BART app.
  • Create a profile and enter a Clipper card number (multiple Clipper cards can be added) and a parking payment method (credit card, debit card, Venmo or PayPal account). Be sure to enter the Clipper card number accurately.
  • Obtain a Carpool ID by selecting parking/carpool within the app.  The Carpool ID will now be stored in the app. 
  • Ensure each person in a carpool has also obtained a Carpool ID through the app. 

Once at the station:

  • Park in the Reserved area of the lot.
  • Open the official BART app, select Parking/Carpool and follow the prompts to select the station, enter the parking stall number, and enter the Carpool ID of passengers.  
  • Select payment method and complete the purchase. Only one person needs to pay for the stall.
  • Both members of the carpool must enter the faregates within twenty minutes of completing the payment, using the same Clipper card numbers registered on their app profile.

Rules and what you need to know:

Clipper Only

Payment must be made either ten minutes before or after entering the faregates. Both passengers must enter the faregates using the Clipper number registered on their app profile. Having all parties tag into our faregates is an important step to curb abuse of the carpool program and ensure only BART riders are parking in our lots.

BART employees, LEO card holders, and Airport Employee Pass holders may use the app by registering their BART discount card serial number on the app instead of a Clipper card number.

Carpool IDs

A Carpool ID is specific to each person and will remain the same.  Each person in the carpool needs a Carpool ID. 

A valid and correct Carpool ID of the person you are travelling with must be entered.  If you get a prompt saying the passenger hasn’t joined carpool yet, you have entered the wrong Carpool ID. The person associated with the Carpool ID entered will be notified every time their ID is used and will be provided the opportunity to dispute the use of their ID, if they believe if it has been used without their authorization.  BART will block accounts after receiving warnings due to misuse.

Access to a Smart Phone

At least one person in the carpool needs a smart phone to make a carpool parking payment through the app.  Multiple accounts can be set up with one phone by logging out of one profile on the app and then creating another profile.   A user without a smart phone can use someone else’s smart phone to create the carpool account and then write their Carpool ID down for reference.

Carpooling Time Window

The carpool feature is currently available in the mobile application between 4 AM and 10:15 AM.

Limited Availability

BART may limit the number of carpool permits available for sale at each station. The number of permits remaining will be displayed in the app. If the app indicates that carpool parking is sold out, do not park in the Permit/Reserved area. You will need to find parking in the Daily Fee area or go to another BART station.

Carpool to BART FAQ

Logistics Questions

Where do I park?  Park in the Reserved/Permit section to take advantage of later fill times and improved parking availability.

How do I pay?  Pay within the app using credit card, debit card, Venmo, or PayPal.  

What’s the benefit of the program?  Carpool to BART gives you access to park in Reserved/Permit areas, which typically fill later than the Fee areas, allowing you more flexibility in choosing when to arrive at BART.

What if I don’t have a smart phone? You need access to a smart phone to obtain your Carpool ID.  You can use someone else’s smart phone to create a profile and set up your carpool account and then write your Carpool ID down somewhere for reference (perhaps store it in your wallet).   At least one person in the carpool needs a smart phone to make a carpool parking payment through the app. 

When entering my passenger’s Clipper ID I get a prompt that the passenger hasn’t joined carpool yet, what does that mean?

You likely entered the wrong Carpool ID. Check the alphanumeric ID again and re-enter. This prompt is displayed when an ID that is not registered to someone is entered.

Why do you require each rider to tag into the system with Clipper?

This step is required to ensure only BART riders are parking in our spots. It also prevents abuse of the carpool program by ensuring there is in fact more than one person in the carpool.

Can I create a carpool account and get a Carpool ID on a desktop?

No, you can only create an account and get a Carpool ID through the official BART app downloaded on an IOS or Android device.

I’m a BART employee/LEO pass holder/Airport Employee Discount pass holder can I use the app to pay for carpool parking?

BART employees, LEO card holders, and Airport Employee Pass holders may use the app by  registering their BART discount card serial number on the app instead of a Clipper card number.

Payment Questions

I don’t use Clipper, but I want pay for carpool parking with the app, is there an option for those of us who use paper tickets?

Magstripe tickets are no longer accepted for parking payment. 

I previously had EZ Rider set up to pay for parking, how can I get a refund?

Information on getting a refund from your EZ rider account can be found here (second to last question in the FAQ). 

Why can’t I use Clipper to pay for carpool parking?

Clipper is a regional transit card managed by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and does not support BART parking payment.

My company pays for parking through commuter checks, can I use those to pay?

If it is through a debit card, yes. You can not use a paper check as a payment option through the app.

Scoop Questions

Why did the Scoop to BART program end? 

The Scoop to BART program was a pilot program paid for with federal grant funds that have now been used up. The BART Official App carpool replaced the Scoop program.

511 Carpool Permit Program

BART no longer accepts paper carpool permits obtained through 511.org, and no longer offers dedicated carpool stalls. Those using the BART Official App to carpool can park anywhere in the Reserved areas of the station.