To best help recently impacted hosts, hosts can now BYOD to Drive mate. The UCS Otoplug, OBD dongle, secondary GPS and lockbox will all seamlessly integrate into the Drive mate app and website.

  • The Otoplug will give an instant remote lock and unlock solution for Drive mate listings.
  • The OBD dongle or secondary GPS satisfy Drive mate’s mandatory GPS criteria for our listings.
  • We recommend avoiding hanging lockboxes on vehicles wherever possible, but again the UCS lockboxes will integrate with Drive mate.
Enrol now

Interested hosts need to…

  1. Enrol in the program by accepting the agreement here - you’ll need to sign-up to Drive mate first. This will transfer device ownership to Drive mate, essential to enable integration with our systems.
  2. Send us device serial numbers. We will advise on the process soon.
  3. ⁠Pay a monthly connectivity fee depending upon your chosen plan, but only after devices go live.
  4. Next steps including enrolment link will follow mid September, aiming to have devices live by end September.

Drive mate will…

  1. Activate devices in order of enrolment - first come / first served.
  2. Provide cloud connectivity to these devices and integrate with your listings on our car sharing platform.
  3. No charges made until the devices are active and integrated by Drive mateZ
Enrol now

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How BYOD integrates into our host plans:

  • Just mates 

    • Your car must have your own working GPS installed otherwise theft cannot be covered - Airtags or similar are not secure enough

    • Excess mileage reporting by hosts based on odometer photos

    • Key handover

    • Free

  • Good mates 

    • Primary GPS installed via OBD

    • Key handover 

    • Automated mileage calculations 

    • $10/month

  • Best mates 

    • Keyless access tech

    • Remote handover 

    • Automated mileage calculations

    • $30/month 

A one time transfer fee of $2 per BYOD device will apply 

Add-ons available

  • BYO lockbox - $10/month 

  • BYO secondary GPS for enhanced security - $5/month

    • This will be mandatory in certain postcodes

    • We can also provide a secondary GPS for just the $5/month

  • Between booking  insurance - cost and criteria advised soon 

FAQ

How will devices work directly in the Drive mate app and website?

Otoplugs (connected via OBD)

  • Guests and hosts able to lock/unlock vehicles via Drive mate app/web.
  • Location tracking available to hosts outside of Drive mate trips.
  • All other features like remote immobilisation and bluetooth connectivity will remain.

Lockbox (Sentrilock/Igloohome)

Guests receive codes automatically when starting trips in Drive mate app.

Primary GPS (connected via OBD)

  • GPS tracking.
  • Data for excess kms calculations.

Secondary GPS

Backup security for (rare) repossessions.

What happens to SIM cards in Otoplugs and other devices?

Most existing SIM cards can be reactivated. In rare cases, we will provide new SIM cards with simple changeover instructions.

What about non UCS devices?

Currently we are only providing BYOD for UCS devices.

Why do I need to transfer device ownership to Drive mate?

We need ownership to manage cloud connectivity so devices seamlessly integrate with our app and website.

Will Drive mate sell these devices?

No, if hosts can’t wait for Drive mate Go 3.0, we’ll supply Otoplugs free of charge and professionally install for $100, then $30/month subscription charge.

Is Drive mate still developing Drive mate Go 3.0?

Absolutely. BYOD simply gives Drive mate hosts already-tested remote access tech via Otoplug, while Drive mate Go 3.0 finishes field trials.

What about the UCS functionally issues with Otoplugs?

Currently being addressed, and will be carefully monitored once these devices go live on Drive mate, including battery drainage issues.

When will these devices become active?

We’re aiming for late September and will keep hosts updated on timelines. No charges will be made until devices are activated.

What does it cost?

We have a range of plans that allow BYOD, ranging from free to $30/month.

There’s a $2 one-time transfer fee per device to BYOD to Drive mate.

Did Drive mate buy the hardware usage rights from UCS?

No, Drive mate is signing contracts directly with the equipment and tech creators

UCS has instructed its hosts that they are to dispose of all hardware, and has not asked for hardware to be returned. This plus the fact that UCS has cancelled its services indicate that UCS has abandoned the hardware, so that hosts can transfer the rights in the hardware to Drive mate

Why do I need to pay Drive mate if I’m bringing my own device?

Drive mate has to pay the devices’ cloud connectivity providers for their usage and incurs costs running the advanced tech.

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