In an emergency, call 911. We are not an emergency or medical transport service.

Free Rides Save Lives

The Free Rides Save Lives program

One program. The Free Rides Save Lives program gives free rides to children going to local libraries; elderly and disabled people going to doctor appointments and grocery stores; and, for up to three rides a year, anyone who's been drinking, so they get home safe. Anyone else can ride by paying the normal local fare.

Who we serve

A mother and two young children carrying picture books walk toward a public library entrance, with a white electric SUV parked behind them.
Kids & families

Children going to local libraries

Free rides to the public library so every child can borrow books, join story time and learn. A parent or guardian gives permission, and car seats or boosters are used as Florida law requires.

A smiling driver loads grocery bags into a white electric SUV while an older man using a walker looks on.
Seniors & disabled neighbors

Doctor appointments and grocery stores

Free, friendly rides for elderly and disabled people to medical appointments and to the grocery store, with a patient driver who helps with the door and the bags.

At night, a passenger waves thanks after stepping out of a white electric car in front of a home with the porch light on.
Safe rides home

Anyone who's been drinking

Had a drink? Don't drive. Each rider gets three free rides home per calendar year. After that, a ride home is still available for a payment, suggested at the normal local fare, so nobody should ever drive impaired.

How rides work

Ride options & paying it forward

Free rides stay free for the neighbors our program is built for. Anyone else is welcome to ride by paying the normal local fare, and can give a little more to help fund free rides.

Free rides stay free

These rides stay free:

  • Children going to local libraries and back home, with a parent or guardian's permission.
  • Elderly and disabled people going to doctor appointments and grocery stores.

Safe rides home

If you've been drinking, you can get a free ride home three times per rider per calendar year. After that, a ride home is still available for a ride payment, suggested at the normal local fare, so nobody should ever drive impaired.

Paid rides for anyone

Anyone else can use the service for transportation by paying for the ride, suggested at the normal going rate for a ride in the area. You can choose to give more than the fare to support free rides for neighbors who need them.

Year-end receipts

Enter your email when you request a ride, and we'll send a year-end receipt listing what you paid. Ride payment details are coming at launch. We don't accept payments or donations online yet.

About taxes: A payment for a ride is payment for a service and is not tax-deductible. Any amount you give above the ride's fair market value (the normal local fare) is a charitable donation and may be tax-deductible once Free Rides Save Lives Inc. receives IRS 501(c)(3) recognition, which is pending. Your year-end receipt will show what you paid and the value of the rides you received, as the IRS requires. Talk to your tax advisor.

A donation with nothing received in return remains fully deductible once that status is granted, which is also pending. Donations are not yet tax-deductible.

Questions about rides and payments

Are all rides free?
Free rides stay free for children going to local libraries and back home, with a parent or guardian's permission, and for elderly and disabled people going to doctor appointments and grocery stores. Safe rides home are free for the first three rides per rider each calendar year. Anyone else can ride by paying the suggested normal local fare.
How many free safe rides home can I get?
Three free rides home per rider per calendar year. After that, rides home are still available for a ride payment, suggested at the normal local fare, so nobody should ever drive impaired.
Can anyone use the service?
Yes. Anyone can use the service for transportation by paying for the ride, suggested at the normal going rate for a ride in the area. Riders can choose to give more than the fare to support free rides.
Are ride payments a tax write-off?
A payment for a ride is payment for a service and is not tax-deductible. Any amount you give above the ride's fair market value (the normal local fare) is a charitable donation and may be tax-deductible once Free Rides Save Lives Inc. receives IRS 501(c)(3) recognition, which is pending. Your year-end receipt will show what you paid and the value of the rides you received, as the IRS requires. Talk to your tax advisor. A donation with nothing received in return remains fully deductible once that status is granted, which is also pending.
How do receipts work?
Enter your email when you request a ride. At the end of the year we'll send a receipt listing what you paid and the value of the rides you received, as the IRS requires.
Can I pay or donate online now?
Not yet. Donations are not open, and ride payment details are coming at launch. You can join the waitlist today and we'll follow up when rides begin.

How free rides help each rider

People who've been drinking

  • Prevents crashes and deaths. A free, sober ride home keeps an impaired driver off the road.
  • Protects families and everyone on the road—other drivers, passengers, people walking and the rider's own loved ones.
  • No excuse to drive impaired. The first three rides home each year are free, and a ride is still available after that for a payment, suggested at the normal local fare.
  • Avoids a DUI arrest and the fines, legal costs, license trouble and higher insurance that can follow.

In 2023, 12,429 people in the U.S. were killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes—about one every 42 minutes. Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts 2023 Data: Alcohol-Impaired Driving.

Kids: trips to the library and back home

  • Supports education and literacy by making the public library easy to reach.
  • Builds reading habits with regular visits to borrow new books.
  • Homework help and library programs like story time, reading clubs and summer reading.
  • A safe ride for working parents who can't always make the trip themselves, with a parent or guardian's permission and the right car seat or booster.
  • Equal access for every child, whether or not the family has a car.

Elderly people: doctor appointments and grocery stores

  • Fewer missed appointments when getting there is no longer a problem.
  • Better health from keeping up with checkups, treatments and prescriptions.
  • Access to healthy food with regular, unhurried grocery trips.
  • Independence to run their own errands on their own schedule.
  • Less isolation and a friendly face on every ride.
  • Peace of mind for families who know their loved one is getting there safely.

People with disabilities: doctor appointments and grocery stores

  • Independence to get where they need to go.
  • Access to care and food without depending on a ride from someone else.
  • Dignity with patient, respectful drivers who help with doors, walkers and bags.
  • Connection to the community beyond the front door.

About wheelchairs: our Teslas can carry riders who can move from a wheelchair to a car seat, and a folded chair. They can't carry someone who must stay seated in a wheelchair. Wheelchair-accessible vehicle options are on our list—please tell us about your needs when you join the waitlist.

Ride details

Cost
Free for children going to the library and for elderly and disabled riders going to the doctor or grocery store. Safe rides home are free for the first three rides per rider each calendar year, then a ride payment applies, suggested at the normal local fare. Anyone else can ride by paying the suggested normal local fare, and may give more to support free rides. See ride options & paying it forward.
Where
Starting with a pilot in Palm Coast and Flagler County, Florida, then expanding city by city across the state.
Cars
An all-Tesla, all-electric fleet.
Drivers
Human drivers who are screened and trained, until Tesla Robotaxi is available and approved in our area.

Safety first

  • Children ride with a parent or guardian's permission.
  • Car seats and booster seats are used as Florida law requires.
  • Drivers help riders with doors, walkers and grocery bags.
  • Safe rides home go straight to the rider's home address.
  • We are not an ambulance or medical transport. In an emergency, call 911.

Help us start rolling in Palm Coast

Join the rider waitlist, volunteer to drive, or tell us you'd like to sponsor a car.

Join the ride waitlistDrive with usSponsor a ride