Privacy Policy
Effective date: 20 August 2026
Last updated: 20 August 2026
Sidetrip ("Sidetrip", "we", "us", "our") is operated by Sidetrip, based in New Zealand. This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use and share it, and the choices you have. We handle personal information in accordance with the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020.
By creating an account or using the Sidetrip app, you agree to this Privacy Policy.
1. Who we are
Sidetrip is a peer-to-peer marketplace that connects people to share car trips and send parcels along journeys others are already making. Drivers list trips; passengers and senders request seats or parcel space. Payments are held securely and released when a trip is completed.
Contact: letsgo@sidetrip.nz
2. Information we collect
Information you give us
• Account details: name, email address, and password.
• Profile: profile photo, and whether you are a verified driver.
• Driver verification: driver licence details (licence number, version, and expiry) used to confirm you are licensed to drive. We use these only to verify eligibility.
• Emergency contact (optional): a name and phone number you provide for safety situations. This is private and is not shared with other users.
• Trip and parcel details: pick-up and drop-off locations, dates and times, seats or parcel information, and any notes you add.
• Messages: the content of in-app messages you send to other users.
• Reviews and ratings: the star ratings and comments you leave after a trip.
Information collected automatically
• Location you enter: the places you search and select for trips (via Google Places). We do not continuously track your device's background location.
• Device and usage information: app version, device model, and basic diagnostics needed to run and improve the app.
• Push notification token: a device identifier that lets us send you notifications (for example, "your driver started the trip").
Payment information
• Card payments are processed by Stripe. We do not collect or store your full card number. Stripe provides us with limited information such as payment status and the last four digits, so we can show your payment history and manage protected payments and payouts.
3. How we use your information
We use your information to:
• create and manage your account and profile;
• match trips with seat and parcel requests, and show relevant listings;
• verify drivers and support trust and safety on the platform;
• process protected payments, release payouts to drivers, and manage refunds
(via Stripe);
• enable messaging between trip participants;
• send you notifications and reminders about your trips and payments;
• display reviews and ratings;
• respond to support requests;
• detect, prevent, and address fraud, misuse, or safety issues; and
• comply with our legal obligations.
4. What other users can see
To build trust, some information is visible to other users you interact with:
• your name, profile photo, verified-driver status, and your reviews and average rating;
• trip details you publish (route, date, seats, parcel/pet options).
Other users cannot see your email address, phone number, emergency contact, licence details, or exact payment information. Phone numbers are never shared between passengers and drivers — communication happens through in-app messaging.
5. How we share your information
We share information only as needed to run Sidetrip:
• Other users, as described in Section 4.
• Service providers who process data on our behalf:
- Stripe — payments, protected payments, and driver payouts (Stripe Connect). See Stripe's Privacy Policy.
- Supabase — secure hosting of our database, authentication, and app backend.
- Google (Places API) — to power location search and suggestions.
- Expo / Apple — to deliver push notifications and distribute the app.
• Legal and safety — where required by law, or to protect the rights, safety, or property of Sidetrip, our users, or the public.
We do not sell your personal information.
6. Location information
We use the pick-up and drop-off locations you enter to match trips and estimate distances. We do not track your precise device location in the background. Location search suggestions are provided by Google.
7. Data storage and international transfers
Your information is stored using service providers (such as Supabase, Stripe, and Google) that may store or process data on servers outside New Zealand. Where information is transferred overseas, we take reasonable steps to ensure it is protected by comparable safeguards.
8. Data retention
We keep your personal information for as long as your account is active and as needed to provide Sidetrip, comply with our legal, tax, and accounting obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. When information is no longer needed, we delete or de-identify it.
9. Security
We use technical and organisational measures to protect your information, including encryption in transit, access controls, and secure infrastructure. No system is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security, but we work to protect your information and to promptly address any issues.
10. Your rights
Under the Privacy Act 2020, you have the right to:
• access the personal information we hold about you; and
• request correction of information that is inaccurate.
You can update much of your information directly in the app (Profile → Edit profile). For other requests, contact us at letsgo@sidetrip.co.nz. You can also ask us to delete your account and associated personal information, subject to information we must retain for legal reasons.
If you're not satisfied with how we've handled your information, you can contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (privacy.org.nz).
11. Children
Sidetrip is not intended for people under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If you believe a minor has provided us information, contact us and we will remove it.
12. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we'll update the "Last updated" date and, where appropriate, notify you in the app. Your continued use of Sidetrip after changes take effect means you accept the updated policy.
13. Contact us
Questions or requests about privacy?
Email: letsgo@sidetrip.nz
Sidetrip Refund & Cancellation Policy
Effective date: 20 August 2026
Last updated: 20 August 2026
This policy explains how payments, cancellations, and refunds work on Sidetrip, operated by Sidetrip in New Zealand. It should be read together with our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Nothing in this policy limits your rights under the New Zealand Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 or Fair Trading Act 1986.
1. How payments work on Sidetrip
Sidetrip uses protected payments. Here's the flow:
1. A driver accepts your request for a seat or parcel space.
2. When the driver starts the trip, you are asked to pay. Your payment is held securely (in escrow) by our payment provider, Stripe — it is not released to the driver yet.
3. When you mark the trip complete, the payment is released to the driver, minus Sidetrip's 10% platform fee.
Because payment is only taken when the driver starts the trip, no money is charged if a trip never starts.
2. When you can get a refund
You are eligible for a full refund of a held payment if the trip does not go ahead as agreed, including where:
• the driver cancels after you've paid;
• the driver does not show up or the trip does not take place;
• the trip is materially not as described (for example, the route, seats, or parcel arrangement is substantially different from what was agreed); or
• there is a duplicate or clearly erroneous charge.
If your payment is still held (you have not marked the trip complete), refunds are straightforward because the funds have not been released to the driver.
3. Situations that are usually not refundable
Refunds are generally not available where:
• the trip was completed as agreed;
• you changed your mind after the trip was completed;
• you did not show up for a trip you booked (passenger no-show); or
• the request relates to matters outside Sidetrip's control that were delivered as described.
These situations are assessed case by case, and your rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act still apply.
4. The 10% platform fee
• If you receive a full refund because a trip did not go ahead, the platform fee is also refunded — you are not charged for a trip that didn't happen.
• For completed trips, the platform fee is non-refundable, as the service was provided.
5. Cancellations
• Before the driver starts the trip: no payment has been taken, so there is nothing to refund — simply cancel in the app or let the other party know.
• After you've paid but before you complete the trip: if the trip does not proceed, contact us for a refund of the held payment (see Section 6).
• We encourage drivers and passengers to communicate through in-app messaging as early as possible if plans change.
6. How to request a refund
1. Contact us at letsgo@sidetrip.nz within 7 days of the trip date.
2. Include your account email, the trip (route and date), and a brief description of what happened.
3. We may ask for additional details to review your request.
We aim to review refund requests within 3–5 business days.
7. How refunds are processed
Approved refunds are issued through Stripe to your original payment method. Once processed, it typically takes 5–10 business days for the funds to appear, depending on your bank or card provider. Sidetrip does not store your card details.
8. Payments already released to a driver
If a payment has already been released to a driver (the trip was marked complete) and you believe you're entitled to a refund, contact us. These cases are handled individually and may require us to recover funds from the driver, so they can take longer to resolve.
9. Disputes and chargebacks
If you have a problem with a payment, please contact us first — we can usually resolve issues faster than a bank dispute. You retain the right to dispute a charge with your card provider, and to pursue remedies available under New Zealand consumer law.
10. Contact us
Email: letsgo@sidetrip.nz