Key Facts:
• Minimum age lowered from 21 to 18 (from 25 September 2025) • 30,000+ trips completed across the Gold Coast • Free-floating car share; locate and unlock hybrid cars via the RIIDE app • Fuel and basic insurance included in every trip • Hybrid fleet designed for short urban trips and lower emissions
RIIDE, Australia's first and only free-floating ('drive-and-drop') car-share service, will open access to 18–20-year-olds holding a P2 (Green Ps) licence, reducing its minimum age from 21. The change coincides with the Gold Coast car-share platform surpassing 30,000 trips since launch, signalling strong demand for affordable, flexible mobility on the Coast. (Company data)
"Dropping the minimum age to 18 gives students, apprentices and young workers a fair, affordable way to get around without the cost of owning a car," said Ricards Staks, CEO of RIIDE. "We're widening access while keeping standards high with ID checks and clear community rules."
External perspective
"RIIDE is a real solution for students who arrive car-free… it's perfect for less frequent trips," said Professor Matthew Burke, Cities Research Institute, Griffith University. Griffith University News
How it works
Members locate, unlock and drive hybrid cars via the RIIDE app, then end trips within a designated home-zone with fuel included. Usage has been consistent around Gold Coast Griffith University precincts since early 2023, where a floating model offers students and staff on-demand access without the cost or admin of a full-day rental. Griffith University
Why it matters
Independent studies of one-way/free-floating car share have found members sell or defer private car purchases and reduce driving, which in turn cuts congestion and emissions. Local councils also report car-share users typically avoid or curtail ownership, easing parking pressure.
