Frequently Asked Questions

You have questions, we have answers. Explore our most frequently asked questions below.

Driver | Getting Started & Identity

What exactly do I need to register as a driver? expand_more
To protect our network, we verify the driver, the capability, and the vehicle. You’ll need:
  1. Your Fayda National ID Number (FIN) for instant identity verification.
  2. A valid commercial driver’s license matching your Fayda ID.
  3. Your vehicle’s Libre (ownership booklet).
  4. A current Bolo (annual technical inspection certificate).
  5. Active third-party vehicle insurance.
  6. An eligible vehicle plate: code 1, or code 3 with a “Taxi Service” endorsement. Private (code 2) vehicles can’t be onboarded.
Why do I need a Fayda ID? expand_more
Your safety — and the passenger’s — is our top priority. Linking your profile to your biometric Fayda ID eliminates fake accounts, look-alike fraud, and account sharing. It proves exactly who you are in seconds, so you don’t have to wait in a crowded office just to prove your identity.
Does my Fayda ID replace my driver’s license? expand_more
No. Fayda proves your identity and age, but it does not prove your legal driving classification. You must still upload a clear photo of your physical commercial driver’s license so our compliance team can verify your vehicle-class endorsement and expiration date.
Is my Fayda and personal data safe? expand_more
Yes. We store the minimum — your FIN, the verification result, and your document details — and never your raw biometrics or a copy of your government photo. Access is restricted and logged. Ethiopian law treats misuse of Fayda data as a serious offence, and GetRider is built to that standard.
Do I need to speak English? expand_more
No. The app works in English and your local language. Speaking more than one language helps you serve tourists and airport riders — and you can list the languages you speak on your profile — but it isn’t required.

Driver | Vehicle Documents (Libre & Bolo)

I rent my vehicle and my name isn’t on the Libre. Can I still drive? expand_more
Yes. We know many hardworking drivers operate rented vehicles. You still upload the official Libre so we can verify the vehicle’s legal status, and you’ll be prompted to enter the registered owner’s name during onboarding.
How strict are the Bolo (inspection) requirements? expand_more
100% non-negotiable. To guarantee a reliable fleet for our riders, your vehicle must be legally roadworthy. You upload a photo of your current Bolo certificate, and our system logs its expiration date. If your inspection lapses, your account is temporarily soft-locked from accepting rides until you upload the renewed certificate.
What vehicles qualify — and does the plate or the year matter? expand_more
Your plate must be code 1, or code 3 with a “Taxi Service” endorsement (private code-2 cars can’t be onboarded). Your car is then sorted into Mini, Sedan, or XL by size and seats. Motorcycles and bajaj can register, but note they’re restricted in the Addis city core.
Does GetRider inspect my car beyond the government Bolo? expand_more
Yes. Before you go live, your vehicle passes a GetRider quality check — safety items plus interior condition and cleanliness — with a photo set. This is separate from the government Bolo, and it’s what lets us tell riders every GetRider car is inspected, not just rated.

Driver | Quality & Platform Standards

How does GetRider track car cleanliness and reliability? expand_more
We don’t rely on flawed 1-to-5-star ratings, where passengers click “5” just to be polite. We protect a reliable, clean fleet through:
  1. Pre-shift photo gates. Periodically, the app asks you to snap a quick photo of your exterior and back seat before you go online.
  2. Specific rider feedback. If a rider reports a sub-standard trip, they must tag exactly what was wrong (e.g. “dirty interior,” “bad odor”).
  3. Quality audits. We use anonymous quality auditors who ride the network. Keep your car clean and reliable, and you’ll thrive here.
What happens if I reject a ride or cancel after accepting? expand_more
To keep riders trusting the platform, we use a strike system. If you accept a dispatch and then sit idle without moving toward the passenger — or cancel without a valid reason — you receive a strike. Repeated strikes lead to a 24-hour soft-lock where you can’t receive dispatches. Legitimate cancellations — a passenger no-show or a genuine safety concern — don’t count against you, and you can appeal a strike you believe was unfair.
How do I contest a strike or a deactivation? expand_more
You can appeal. Submit what happened, with any evidence, and a reviewer decides. Legitimate cancellations — a passenger no-show, a genuine safety concern, or a passenger who asked you to cancel — don’t count against you.
A passenger asked me to cancel, didn’t show, or wanted to renegotiate the price off-app. What do I do? expand_more
Use the in-app cancel and pick the correct reason. “Passenger no-show,” “passenger asked me to cancel,” and “passenger tried to renegotiate off-app” are all valid reasons that protect you. Never take a fare off the app — and you won’t be penalised for any of these.

Driver | Earning & Getting Paid

Is it really 0% commission on every ride? expand_more
Yes. Traditional apps take up to 12% out of your pocket on every single trip. With GetRider, you pay one flat monthly subscription to use our dispatch software — after that, you keep 100% of every cash fare and 100% of every Telebirr / CBE Birr transfer.
How much is the subscription, and when am I charged? expand_more
One flat monthly fee — the same whether you drive 10 trips or 100, so the more you drive, the less it costs you per ride. Your First Ten Drives are free, so you can start earning before you pay anything.
How and when do I get paid? expand_more
Cash fares are yours immediately, in hand. Telebirr / CBE Birr fares settle to you — there’s no waiting for a weekly payout of your own money, because we don’t hold your fares in the first place.
What if my subscription payment fails? expand_more
You get a grace period with reminders before anything changes — we won’t strand you mid-shift. If it isn’t resolved, you’re temporarily soft-locked from new dispatches until payment clears; any trip you’re already on finishes normally.
What if a cash passenger doesn’t pay, or pays less than the fare? expand_more
Report it in the app at the end of the trip and it’s logged against that rider’s account. Riders who don’t pay face restrictions on booking again.
Can I also drive for Ride, Feres, or other apps? expand_more
Yes. You own your car and your time — there’s no exclusivity, and many drivers run more than one app. The difference is simple: on GetRider, once you’ve paid your flat monthly fee, none of what you earn here is shared with us.

Driver | Safety & Support

How does the app keep me safe as a driver? expand_more
Every rider is tied to a verified phone number that stays masked — you never see it. The ride-start code confirms you’ve got the right passenger before you move, and there’s an on-screen SOS for the whole trip. You also set an emergency contact during signup.
I don’t want to carry a lot of cash, especially at night. expand_more
Encourage Telebirr / CBE Birr payment, particularly after dark. The more of your rides that are digital, the less cash you carry — safer for you — and it’s something we actively recommend.
How do I reach support? expand_more
Through in-app chat, or by phone. Local support that actually knows Addis.

Rider | Getting Started

How do I sign up? expand_more
Enter your phone number, confirm the 6-digit code we text you, and add your name. That’s it — no card required to get started.
Do I need a Fayda ID to ride? expand_more
No. Fayda is optional for riders. Linking it (or a Telebirr account) unlocks a higher-trust tier, but you can ride without it — and visitors can use GetRider with a foreign number.

Rider | Booking & Pickup

Why does the app ask for a nearby landmark? expand_more
Addresses and GPS pins can be imprecise in Addis, and drivers here navigate by landmarks. Adding the nearest one — a church, hotel, bank, or roundabout — helps your driver find you without having to call and ask.
Will my driver call me asking where I am? expand_more
We’ve built the app specifically to avoid that: a landmark field, pickup notes, and the driver already sees your route. If a driver does need to call, it goes through the app — your number stays private.
Can I use GetRider as a tourist or with a foreign number? expand_more
Yes. Foreign numbers work, calls are masked so drivers can’t screen them out, and you can prepay so there’s no cash confusion at pickup — no haggling with airport touts for several times the fair rate.
How do I know I’m getting into the right car? expand_more
Before pickup the app shows your driver’s name and photo, the car’s make, model, and colour, and the plate number — plus a ride-start code the driver must confirm before the trip can begin.

Rider | Paying

How do I pay? expand_more
Cash, Telebirr, or CBE Birr — your choice. The fare is shown before you book, and it doesn’t change on you.
Is there surge pricing? expand_more
No. The price you’re quoted is the price you pay — rush hour or rain, it stays the same.
Can I name my own fare? expand_more
Where this is available, you can propose a fare and let nearby drivers accept; otherwise the upfront fixed fare applies.

Rider | Safety

Is GetRider safe? expand_more
Every driver is verified against Fayda, Ethiopia’s national ID, with a live face match; every car is inspected; and every trip has a ride-start code, live trip sharing, and an on-screen SOS.
What is the ride-start code? expand_more
A one-time code shown in your app that you read to the driver. The trip can’t start until they enter it — so you never end up in the wrong car.
Can I share my trip with someone? expand_more
Yes. One tap shares your live route with a trusted contact for the whole ride.

Rider | After the Ride

How do I rate my driver or report a problem? expand_more
After each trip you rate the driver and can tag specifics — clean vehicle, professional driver, or a problem like “dirty interior.” Reports have real consequences: cars get re-inspected, not just down-rated.
I left something in the car. What do I do? expand_more
Contact support with your trip details and we’ll help you reach the driver.
How do I cancel, and will I be charged? expand_more
You can cancel from the app. Cancelling quickly — or before the driver has really started toward you — is free.