Frequently Asked Questions

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Q: How will volunteering to drive affect my auto insurance?
A: Insurance policy is regulated by states, not nationally by the federal government. You can look at the policies in your state through the 50 State Policy Database. Your personal automobile policy should cover your volunteer activities.

Q: Do I need separate or additional insurance?
A: Some volunteer drivers purchase a personal umbrella policy to add to their automobile insurance policy.

Q: Do I get a mileage reimbursement?
A: Most nonprofit and government transportation services that provide rides with volunteer drivers offer mileage reimbursement. It varies by individual service. When you select a transportation service through America’s Volunteer Driver Center, be sure to ask about mileage reimbursement.

Q: Do I use my own car?
A: Typically, yes. Most nonprofit and government transportation services have opportunities for volunteers who use their own cars. Others have volunteers drive agency vehicles. Be sure to ask when you select your preferred transportation service.

Q: Is there any training?
A: Yes. Most transportation services offer training, and many require it. ITNAmerica offers free training resources to volunteer drivers in the Community in the Cloud. Training helps you understand how to be most helpful to older adults and people with mobility challenges. Some riders will have canes, walkers, or other assistive devices. Some will need help carrying in packages, and others will need a steadying arm to step over a curb or navigate a slippery sidewalk.

Q: How are volunteer drivers scheduled?
A: Each transportation service schedules volunteers differently. Some may have volunteers commit to a weekly or monthly block of time for scheduling ease, some ask volunteers to share availability weekly, and some ask volunteers to select from a list the rides they would like to provide. This is a good question to ask when you speak with the transportation services in your community.

Q: Can I volunteer on my own if there is no service in my community?
A: ITNAmerica is currently developing a program for motivated volunteers to drive in their local communities when there is no local service available.

If you are interested in starting a service in your community, go here to learn more.

Q: What information do I need to provide to participate?
A: For nonprofit, charitable services, America’s Volunteer Driver Center asks you to provide a 501c3 determination letter, a list of board of directors, and most recent 990 form.

For government or municipal transportation services, please provide a town or municipal affiliated email address and/or website during the sign-up process.

Q: How much does it cost to participate in this program?
A: The program is free.

Q: Does my organization need to screen volunteer drivers?
A: Yes. America’s Volunteer Driver Center introduces volunteer drivers to transportation services in their community. Providers have different training and screening requirements, so it is up to you to provide these services for your volunteers.

Q: Does America’s Volunteer Driver Center require moving violations and criminal history checks?
A: Yes. ITNAmerica requires participating transportation services to conduct criminal history and moving violations checks for the sake of safety.

Q: Does my organization need to train volunteer drivers?
A: Yes. Every nonprofit transportation provider has their own way of doing things, so America’s Volunteer Driver Center leaves training up to you. The Center highly recommends a good training program.

Q: Can a volunteer driver from America’s Volunteer Driver Center volunteer for more than one service?
A: Yes. Volunteers may drive for more than one transportation service at a time.

Q: I want to volunteer but there are no services in my community.
A: Everything starts somewhere, including every transportation service now operating. If you want to volunteer and there are no services in your community, there are ways to start a new transportation service. Please visit the ITNAmerica Community the Cloud. This one-stop resource is free and walks you through the process at each and every step.

Q: Do I need to start a new nonprofit organization?
A: Not necessarily. It may be easier to partner with an existing nonprofit organization in your community. Some successful examples include local places of worship, senior centers, nonprofit hospitals or any local social service organization. You may also work with your local town or county government to start a transportation service through your county health department, local Area Agency on Aging (AAA), library or Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).

If none of these options are available to you, you may wish to start your own 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization.

The Community in the Cloud walks you through this important decision-making process in greater detail.

Q: Should I work alone, or with others?
A: Nonprofit community-based transportation programs, like any other nonprofit organization, accomplish what individuals alone cannot. Leadership is always important, but successful nonprofits bring together interested members of the community to collaborate, exchange ideas, and support each other in a shared goal. This is the foundation of a successful community effort, and it usually begins with something called a Steering Committee. It is a good idea to invite people with different skills to join the Steering Committee. For example, you may wish to invite an accountant, someone familiar with management, someone who has worked with volunteers, and if you are partnering with a local nonprofit organization, you may wish to invite someone from that organization.

Q: What resources do I need to start a nonprofit transportation service?
A: Every nonprofit transportation service, like every community, is a little different, but it always takes some resources to get started. There are public funds and private funds, but the amount you need depends on several thoughtful decisions you and others will need to make.

Will you have paid or volunteer staff, or both? Will you purchase vehicles, or will volunteers drive their own? Will you charge a fare, or will you provide rides for free? All these factors, and many others, influence the resources necessary to start your service.

The Community in the Cloud will help you make these decisions and think through your budgeting.

Q: What does sustainability mean for nonprofit transportation?
A: Sustainability for a nonprofit transportation program refers to financial sustainability. If you are starting a transportation service to address an unmet need in your community, it is necessary to think beyond the initial startup, to the longer-term success of your program. You will never regret developing a realistic plan for your program’s sustainability.
Learn more about sustainability in the Community in the Cloud.