Lately, fuel prices are skyrocketing due to a variety of factors. That fact alone has led many budget-minded navigators begin searching for alternative ways to get from one place to another.

While some states are fighting price-hikes by adjusting gas taxes, when it comes to commuting, carpools have become popular ways for everyday drivers to save a buck or two on gas. If you’re not familiar with the carpool concept, you’re essentially partnering with a friend or co-worker who has agreed to share a ride with you, putting fewer cars on the road, and presumably switching periodically to help both parties reduce the gas they need to consume. It should go without saying that the more carpoolers you have, the more money you will theoretically save at the pump.

As ideal as that setup may seem, there are a few things you’ll need to consider before setting up a carpool. First and foremost, you should be sure to choose a reliable carpool partner, as you’ll be relying on them to be as punctual in their daily routine as they are in paying their part of the gasoline bill. It’ll also help if you like your partner, as you’ll be spending plenty of time with them on the road. Here’s a few other things to think about when setting up a carpool.

Assuming your carpool partner is not a co-worker, it is also important that they work and live in a similar locale as you, as driving out of your way for pickups and drop-offs basically defeats the whole purpose of the carpool. Once you’ve found your carpool partner (or partners), you will need to work out certain logistical concerns. That includes things like which partner will be driving and on which days if you’re going to be swapping cars.

Schedules are obviously important as well, as each passenger needs to be accountable for being ready to ride when it’s pickup time. The daily route may directly affect such scheduling, so you’ll want to consider that factor as well. Likewise, carpoolers need to have backup plans for transportation on the off chance that an unforeseen event leaves their designated driver unavailable.

In-car etiquette is also quite important, as you’ll want to lay ground rules for things like music, phone calls, food and beverages. Last, but far from least, entering into a carpool agreement also requires that participants enter into a financial one. That means you’ll need to drill down deep to decide exactly how much each passenger will be paying for their ride, along with how and when the money will be paid. If you can’t work through all of those criteria, well, you might need to find other ways to save money on gas.