Carpool

Carpool

Carpooling is an efficient, eco-friendly way to commute to campus.

An IU carpool is defined as two or more people, including the driver, who regularly share a ride to campus. Carpooling saves money on gas and vehicle maintenance, reduces parking costs, decreases traffic congestion, and lowers your carbon footprint.

Need a carpool buddy? Use the Hoosier Rideboard to find potential carpool matches in your area.

IU Bloomington carpool programs

Register for a carpool permit and enjoy exclusive benefits as a carpooling commuter.

All carpool permits are valid in any EMP or EMS zone and all parking garages, and all members of a carpool are eligible for the Emergency Ride Home program.

Please note that temporary employees are not eligible to participate in the carpool program.

Eligibility and benefits

Standard Carpool

Standard Carpool permits are available only to full-time IU employees.

  • Each member pays the carpool rate according to their salary band.
  • Standard Carpools include two members.
  • One person from each carpool is designated as the primary permit holder.
  • Non-permit holding carpool members receive 12 one-day EMP permits for the academic year and may request an Evening Permit at no charge.

Reserved Carpool

Reserved Carpool permits are available only to full-time IU employees.

  • Each member pays the carpool rate according to their salary band.
  • Reserved Carpools include three or more members.
  • Each Reserved Carpool group receives one shared-use permit valid in a reserved space requested by the group during registration.
  • One person from each carpool is designated as primary permit holder.
  • Non-permit holding carpool members receive 12 one-day EMP permits and may request an Evening Permit at no charge.

How to apply?

  1. Go to Register for carpool.
  2. Choose your carpool option.
  3. Provide information for each member of the carpool. Include:
    • Home address
    • Phone number
    • For Reserved Carpools, select a preferred space during registration.

Graduate Student Carpool

Graduate students may form carpools for passes issued by semester. Participants must be appointed graduate students or qualifying fellowship recipients who are eligible for EMP or EMS permits by semester. Graduate Student Carpool registration will be live Aug. 1, 2026.

  • Each member pays the semester graduate carpool rate.
  • Graduate Student Carpools are composed of two or more members.
  • Permits are issued by semester rather than by academic year. Each carpool receives one shared permit.
  • One person from each carpool is designated as the primary permit holder.
  • Non-permit holding members receive five Crimson Card garage validations and may request a semester Evening Permit at no charge.