Description
This guide clarifies the relationship between Ride.cars and Wheelbase, explaining how to manage your business across both the consumer marketplace and your own direct booking engine.
Ride is a marketplace for professional fleet operators using Wheelbase. There is no separate "Ride Host Login"; all administrative tasks, vehicle management, and booking approvals are handled directly within your Wheelbase Dashboard. While guests use the Ride.auto site or iOS app to shop, you manage the "back-office" operations through Wheelbase. Understanding the differences in how these bookings are handled—from insurance to taxes—is critical for your operational success.
Prerequisites
- An active Wheelbase Auto account.
- Verified bank account and insurance settings configured in Wheelbase.
- Published vehicles with accurate pricing and photos.
- Only vehicles approved for Insurance will show on Ride.auto
Comparison: Direct vs. Ride (Marketplace)
Managing your fleet involves balancing two distinct lead sources. While both appear in your Wheelbase dashboard, they follow different rules.
| Feature | Direct Bookings (Wheelbase) | Marketplace Bookings (From Ride) |
| Lead Source | Reservations made directly via your Wheelbase widget. | Reservations made from Ride.cars site or app. |
| Sales Tax | You are responsible for setting the amounts and remitting taxes. | Ride (the marketplace) withholds sales tax for you. |
| Insurance | Uses your Wheelbase episodic insurance and you may choose to allow renters to bring their own. | Follows the marketplace protection policy and applies insurance. |
| Guest Verification | Automated via Wheelbase (if Wheelbase insurance is applied). | Completed by the guest via the Ride platform. |
Operational Workflows
The Marketplace Guest Experience
Guests browse Ride.cars or the Ride app to find high-quality, professionally managed vehicles.
- Self-Service: Guests manage their own trip details and extensions through their guest account.
- Identification: Marketplace customers will have a Ride tag on their profile in your dashboard.
The Host Experience (Your Wheelbase Dashboard)
You do not log in to Ride to manage your business. You use the Wheelbase Dashboard as your centralized command center.
- Monitor Bookings: Incoming Ride reservations appear automatically on your Dashboard and Calendar.
- Inventory Sync: Any changes you make to vehicle pricing or availability in Wheelbase update the Ride.auto marketplace in real-time.
- Tax Management: Do not add sales tax to marketplace bookings in your settings, as these are handled by the platform. If you have additional non-sales taxes you are liable for, use the Apply to Outdoorsy booking? option.
Pro-Tips & Notes
Note: There is no separate "Host App" for Ride. To manage your fleet on the go, use the mobile-optimized Wheelbase web dashboard.
Warning: Ride.auto guests expect a seamless "Skip the Counter" experience. Ensure your Pickup/Drop-off Instructions are clearly detailed in your Wheelbase settings.