Kango

• Focus on Kids
• Rides for Young Children
• Childcare Service
• Carpool Options
• Driver Screening Process
• Child Safety

Focus on Kids

While ride companies like Uber don’t allow a passenger under 18 to ride alone, Kango specializes in this demographic.

Just put in your ride request that you need a child car seat, and one will be provided for free.

Kids under two should be accompanied by a parent or guardian, but older than that, solo or group rides are okay. Drivers can take as many kids as their car fits (three in a sedan, five in a minivan). This is the Uber for kids that you have been looking for.

Although the app’s target market is young kids, if you need rides for unaccompanied adults with special needs, you need to get prior approval to see if a properly trained driver is available.

Rides for Young Children

Riders under age two should be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Other services put the minimum age cap for passengers at age five or six, and don't offer child seats, like HopSkipDrive.

This is really helpful, especially when you are looking to transport preschool kids needing a carseat and teenage kids at the same time, whether you are traveling to San Francisco tourist destinations like the Golden Gate Bridge or a recurring ride to extracurricular activities.

Childcare Service

If you need someone to pick up your kids from school or your kids just have conflicting activities across town, this app has you covered. Not only does it provide safe rides, but it also offers childcare and after-school care, easily scheduled on its own within the app or in conjunction with a ride.

Carpool Options

You can schedule group rides with friends, if they all need to go to Karate class or other after-school activities, or if the school bus takes too long. It also offers free features like joining school and neighborhood groups to connect with parents.

Driver Screening Process

There is an extensive hiring process for prospective Kango drivers. The ride service only uses drivers that are background-checked and fingerprinted.

Here are a few of the driver requirements:

• 21+ years old
• Childcare experience required
• Periodic background checks (Criminal, sex offender check for states, counties, databases, and aliases)
• TrustLine verification (includes fingerprinting)
• DMV record checks (multiple DMV checks)
• Phone screen
• In-person interview
• Employer reference checks
• Vehicles 10 years old or newer
• Vehicle safety inspection (19 point vehicle inspection by a certified mechanic)
• In-person driver or sitter training

Parents can even interview or do a ride-along with drivers beforehand. You can call or message them directly in the app. The first interview is free, but subsequent interviews or ride-alongs will be charged.

Drivers also babysit. You can request driving, babysitting, or both. Babysitting is a minimum of one hour

Child Safety

While most rideshare apps focus on getting riders from point A to Point B efficiently, this service caters to families. That means that rider safety is a huge focus.

Not only do prospective drivers and sitters have to fulfill several requirements to get a job, but they have commercial insurance, and parents can easily stay in contact with them via phone and text through the Kango app for the duration of the trip or babysitting appointment.

The auto liability coverage is a commercial policy. It covers up to $1 million per occurrence and even includes uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.

• Cancellation Fees
• Availability

Cancellation Fees

When it comes to cancellation fees, Kango could end up costing a bit if something unexpected comes up.

If you cancel a Kango ride less than 24 hours before the scheduled pickup time, you will be charged the estimated cost of the ride.

If you cancel Kango childcare less than 24 hours before a scheduled pickup, you will be charged 50 percent of the pre-service estimate. However, if you cancel less than one hour before a child care session is set to start, you will be charged the full estimate for your babysitting appointment.

As a courtesy, first-time cancellation fees are waived. Only after the first time will you be charged a fee.

Availability

Unlike apps like Uber and Lyft, Kango isn't widely available. It is only for trips in a few different service areas, but all are located in California: the San Francisco Bay Area, L.A. County area, San Fernando, and San Gabriel.