10 Polite Ways to Ask for a Ride

We know it’s tricky to ask for a ride from someone. You don’t want to be an inconvenience, after all. However, it would help to know some polite ways to ask for a ride when you need to.

This article has gathered some of the best phrases to show you how to politely ask for a ride.

• Can you take me home?
• Can I get a ride?
• Do you mind driving me home?
• Can you give me a lift?
• Would you be able to drive me home?
• Can you give me a ride?
• Can you take me to [destination]?
• Could you drop me off on your way back?
• Do you have an extra seat in your car for me?
• I think I’m going the same way as you

Keep reading to learn more about these phrases and how to use them. We’ve also provided some examples for each to show you the best ways to say them.

1. Can You Take Me Home?

Let’s start with the basics. “Can you take me home?” is a great question. It gets right to the point, and it’s a polite way to ask anyone to give you a lift.

It is not limited to people you are close to. For instance, you can also ask “can you take me home?” to a coworker or your boss after a work event. It’s a versatile choice that allows you to remain polite in most circumstances.

Here are a couple of examples to show you how it works:

• Please, can you take me home? I’ve had a great time here, but I think it’s time for me to leave.
• Can you take me home when you get a moment? I’m ready to go back to my place.

2. Can I Get a Ride?

You can use “can I get a ride?” when you notice someone is about to leave. It suggests that you’d like to leave with them and “get a ride” back to your home (or whatever destination you’re going to).

Of course, you should only use this question if you have a rough idea of where someone is going. You don’t want to ask for a ride if it’s going to cause them to go out of their way. That would cancel out the politeness of the request.

Check out these examples to see how it works:

• Can I get a ride with you if you’re heading home? I would like to get back to my dogs now.
• Can I get a ride? I will happily pay for the gas that it takes to get me back!

3. Do You Mind Driving Me Home?

If you want to use a more formal question, you can try “do you mind driving me home?” This is a better example if you’ve just finished a business meeting and would like someone you work with to give you a lift.

Here are also a few examples to show you how it works:

• Do you mind driving me home now that we’re done? Of course, I’ll happily pay for all the gas along the way.
• Do you mind driving me home? It’s about time that we called it for the day anyway.

4. Can You Give Me a Lift?

You should know how to ask for a lift politely when the time comes. Luckily, it’s simple with “can you give me a lift?” The question isn’t over-the-top, and it’s certainly polite enough to encourage someone to help you out.

We recommend using this one when asking friends for a lift home.

Here are some examples to also demonstrate how it works:

• Can you give me a lift, please? I’d really like to get home as soon as possible.
• I hope you don’t mind, but can you give me a lift? I didn’t bring a car with me, so I could really use your help.

5. Would You Be Able to Drive Me Home?

We always encourage more formal alternatives when you are in business settings. After all, you will want to sound professional and polite when asking your boss to drive you home, right?

So, you can say “would you be able to drive me home?” in a more formal setting. It’s very polite and checks that someone is okay to give you a lift before you ask them for a ride.

Here are a few examples to show you how it works if you’re still unsure:

• Hey, would you be able to drive me home, please? I need to get back to my kids now.
• Would you be able to drive me home? Of course, I’ll happily pay for the gas! You’d be doing me a real favor.

6. Can You Give Me a Ride?

“Can you give me a ride?” shows you how to ask someone for a ride without overcomplicating the question. It’s simple and friendly, making it a great choice if you want to politely ask friends for a lift.

These examples will also show you how to use it:

• Martin, can you give me a ride, please? I’d love to tag along with you once you’re heading home.
• When you leave, can you give me a ride? I think I’m nearly ready to call it for the night.

7. Can You Take Me to [Destination]?

You don’t always need a lift home. Sometimes, you might have a more specific destination in mind. That’s where “can you take me to [destination]” comes in. You can replace “destination” with anything that’s relevant.

For instance, you can ask for a ride to the airport. Or maybe you can ask for a ride to work. You can even ask for a ride to college. It’s your choice! Just make sure that someone is heading that way before you ask!

Check out these examples to help you with it:

• Can you take me to the airport when you get a chance? After all, I’d love you to be the one to see me off.
• Can you take me to work, please? I don’t have my car with me today, so I can’t get around!

8. Could You Drop Me Off on Your Way Back?

Someone might already be planning to leave. Perhaps it’s worth asking them whether you can jump in their car, especially if you know your destination is along the way.

We recommend, “could you drop me off on your way back?” if you want to ask for a lift. It shows you appreciate they’re on their way back and would like them to make one quick stop for you. It’s still polite, so it works well in most cases.

Here are some examples to show you how it works:

• Could you drop me off on your way back through, please? I need to go home now!
• Could you drop me off on your way back? Let me know how much money you want for gas, of course!

9. Do You Have an Extra Seat in Your Car for Me?

You can ask for an extra seat if someone has already planned a route. “Do you have an extra seat in your car for me?” shows you how to ask someone for a ride to work, school, or college (as long as they’re already going that way).

These examples should help you understand it better:

• Do you have an extra seat in your car for me? I’d certainly appreciate it if you could help me out!
• Do you have an extra seat in your car for me? I need to get to work as soon as possible.

10. I Think I’m Going the Same Way as You

This phrase isn’t a question. Therefore, you should accompany it with a polite question before using it in your messages.

For instance:

• I think I’m going the same way as you. Can I come with you?

It’s good to use this one when talking to friends. It shows you aren’t making them go out of your way while asking for a lift. We very much recommend using it if you want to be polite when asking someone to help you.

These examples should help you understand more about it:

• I think I’m going the same way as you. So, can you give me a lift if you don’t mind the company?
• I think I’m going the same way as you, Paul! Of course, I’ll pay for the gas if you don’t mind dropping me off along the route.

Is It Rude to Ask for a Ride?

It is not rude to ask for a ride. However, you have to remember a few things before you do so.

1. Say please.
2. Offer to pay for gas.
3. Don’t make the driver go out of their way.

As long as you tick all of these boxes, it’s OK to ask for a ride. Most of your friends will be more than happy to help you as long as you check with them first.