Welcome to GoCarma — the app that rewards you for making sustainable commute choices.
Whether you carpool, take transit, bike, walk, or telework, GoCarma automatically detects your commute trips and helps you earn cash incentives for reducing your drive-alone miles.
This guide will help you get set up and ready to start earning rewards in the SBCTA VMT Mitigation Bank Pilot.
🚀 Step 1: Download the App
Download GoCarma from the App Store or Google Play Store on your smartphone.
Make sure you’re using the latest version to ensure accurate trip tracking.
🪪 Step 2: Create Your Account
Open the GoCarma app and tap Sign Up.
Enter your home and work addresses and the name of the company where you work.*
Enter your typical commute schedule.
Confirm your eligibility to participate in the program.
Consent to the Terms of Service
Enter your name, email address, and a secure password.
Verify your phone number by entering the code you receive by SMS
Verify your email by clicking the link sent to your inbox.
📍 Step 3: Enable App Permissions
To automatically detect your commute trips, GoCarma needs certain permissions on your phone.
It's highly recommended that you ensure the following are enabled:
Location: Set to “Always Allow”
Motion & Fitness / Activity Recognition: Enabled
Bluetooth: Enabled (for identifying when you carpool with another GoCarma user)
Notifications: To receive program updates and important system notifications
💡 These settings allow GoCarma to automatically recognize your commute trips — so you don’t need to manually log them.
📆 Step 4: Complete Your Baseline Period
Before you can earn and cash out rewards, GoCarma needs to establish your Baseline Period — a short period where you complete a few drive-alone trips so the system can verify that you do sometimes commute to your office by driving alone. (Incentives are available only for those who demonstrate that they have changed their commute behavior from driving alone to some other mode.)
Your baseline helps ensure that all future incentives represent real reductions in vehicle miles traveled (VMT).
You’ll see your Baseline Status on your Home Screen — it updates automatically as you complete eligible trips. Once your baseline period is complete, you’ll be eligible to start earning cash incentives.
💵 Step 6: Earn Incentives for Sustainable Trips
After your baseline is complete, GoCarma automatically awards incentives when you:
Carpool or vanpool
Take transit
Bike
Walk
Telework (stay home and avoid a commute)
Each trip earns credits based on your miles saved and your mode of travel. You can view your progress and total rewards in the app anytime.
💸 Step 7: Cash Out Your Rewards
Once your balance reaches at least $10, and you've established your baseline, you can cash out your incentives and receive a VISA eGift Card.
Cashing out is simple — just tap Cash Out in the app, and your reward will be delivered by email.
🔔 You can cash out once every 30 days.