One Car Challenge Program Terms of Service (LA Metro — User Agreement)
Note: the terms "User" or "You" refer to each individual who applies to, and any individual who is selected to participate in, the One Car Challenge Program (the "Program").
This One Car Challenge Program Terms of Service Agreement ("Agreement") is a legally binding agreement between You and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority ("LA Metro" or "Metro"), a public authority, formed under Section 130051.10 of the California Public Utilities Code, with its registered office at One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
Carma Technology Corporation, a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business at 600 Congress Ave., Floor 14, Austin, TX 78701 ("Carma") operates the Program on Metro's behalf under Metro Contract No. PS136596.
King's College London, a non-profit public research and education institution, located at Strand Lane, King’s Building, London GB WC2R 2LS ("KCL") is the Program’s academic researcher that receives certain de-identified and anonymized data.
Participation in the Program is voluntary, and (1) may be withdrawn by the User at any time, or (2) suspended and/or terminated by Metro at any time for the User's noncompliance with any term of this Agreement, in Metro's sole discretion.
By applying to the Program, enrolling in the Program, and/or continuing to use the Program, You acknowledge that You have read, understood, and agree to each of the following terms:
1. Program Overview
The Program is an incentive-based research and demonstration program that encourages eligible households in the Los Angeles area to reduce the amount that they drive their household vehicles. Selected participants enroll into active Program participation and use the One Car Challenge mobile application to submit weekly odometer measurements through photograph capture or data feed, which is the means of verifying reduced driving.
Carma operates the One Car Challenge mobile application, and operates the Program’s data platform on Metro’s behalf under Contract No. PS136596. The One Car Challenge mobile application is also used for programs unrelated to the Program. Program participation enables Users to earn, view, and redeem incentives that correspond to verified reductions in driving, as measured through odometer readings submitted as photographs or data feeds via the One Car Challenge mobile application.
The Program is an incentive-based program only and does not issue citations, impose penalties, affect toll charges, or affect vehicle registration status. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Metro is required to comply with all applicable records disclosure laws.
2. Eligibility
Participation in the Program is voluntary, by You, and upon selection, by Metro and/or Carma. Submitting a Program application does not guarantee participation. Applicants are reviewed and selected by Metro and/or Carma in their sole discretion, based on the selection criteria established for the Program, which may include household location, ZIP code, household composition, vehicle ownership, EPA Smart Locations Database and other factors described in the Program application.
To be eligible, You must:
Reside within the Program's eligible service area in Los Angeles County, as defined by the Program's selection criteria;
Be at least 18 years of age and a licensed driver;
Meet the household and vehicle requirements set out in the Program application, including providing the license plate numbers for the vehicles in your household; and
Comply at all times with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
Only one (1) Program account is permitted per individual. Metro and Carma may verify eligibility using information You provide during the application and active participation, vehicle ownership records, and other reasonable verification methods. Metro and Carma may request additional information to confirm continued eligibility and may suspend or terminate participation if eligibility cannot be verified. Vehicle registration is verified by requiring you to submit a photograph of your vehicle’s registration card. Ownership is verified through Metro via the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or a licensed DMV data access provider, solely to confirm eligibility
Metro and Carma will prioritize random selection of participants based on ranking of EPA Smart Locations Database.
3. Data Collection and Privacy
The Program collects information You provide during the Program application, and—if You are selected and enroll—from your application, odometer, telework and survey, device, and incentive transaction data collected through the One Car Challenge mobile application, in each case as described in the One Car Challenge Program Privacy Policy. This information is used to determine eligibility, select participants, verify reduced driving, administer incentives, and evaluate the Program.
For the Program, Metro is the program sponsor and data controller; Carma is the program operator and data processor, processing personal information on Metro's behalf under Contract No. PS136596; and KCL receives de-identified and anonymized data only for research analysis and post reporting of impact.
The collection, use, sharing, and retention of all Program data is governed exclusively by the **One Car Challenge Program Privacy Policy, available at metro.net/onecar, which is incorporated into this Agreement by reference. Please read it carefully before applying to or participating in the Program. In the event of any conflict between this Agreement and the One Car Challenge Program Privacy Policy regarding data collection, use, sharing, or retention, the Privacy Policy controls** as to those data practices.
4. Earning Incentives
If You are selected and enroll, You may earn incentives for verified reductions in driving, as determined by Metro using odometer readings submitted through the One Car Challenge mobile application.
Verification of reduced driving is based on odometer readings, submitted by You as photographs or data feeds through the One Car Challenge mobile application, captured at Program start (baseline), weekly during the Program, and at Program end. Odometer data is the sole verification record for the Program; the Program does not track your trips, travel behavior, or location. You may periodically be asked to submit telework declarations and complete short Program surveys; participation in such surveys is voluntary and does not guarantee additional incentives.
Simulated, fabricated, or inaccurate submissions—including falsified, altered, or substituted odometer photographs, false telework declarations, or other attempts to artificially generate apparent reductions in driving—are prohibited and may result in loss of incentives, suspension, or termination from the Program.
Incentives are earned for verified reduced driving and accumulate in your GoCarma account. Incentive rates, thresholds, methodologies, caps, and eligibility rules are determined solely by Metro and may be modified at any time. Incentives may be subject to per-period and aggregate caps and thresholds of $600 a year, including any annual earnings cap applied to comply with applicable tax-reporting requirements per IRS regulations. Incentives have no cash value until redemption is approved and processed by Carma or its contractor, operating under the guidelines provided by Metro.
5. Redemption and Forfeiture
Earned incentives are delivered electronically through payment processors and may be issued as electronic transfers to the User’s bank account or Visa gift cards, per the User’s preference and selection upon mobile application onboarding. The earned incentives balance will be displayed in the app through the pilot period and paid out to the User’s account or to a gift card at the end of the pilot intervention period.
Unredeemed balances expire after one (1) year of account inactivity. Metro and Carma will provide notice to You before any such expiration. Unredeemed funds must be remitted back to LA Metro.
Accounts in the mobile application may be suspended or terminated for suspected fraud, misreporting, falsified odometer readings or photographs, or misuse of the One Car Challenge mobile application.
Users remain responsible for any applicable taxes resulting from incentives received.
6. Dispute Resolution
You may challenge any mileage calculation or odometer-reading determination within seven (7) days of posting by submitting a dispute through the One Car Challenge mobile application or help center.
Carma will review the supporting data and issue a final determination. That determination is final for purposes of incentive eligibility and payout.
7. Customer Support
Carma provides:
24/7 automated chat and self-help resources; and
Live in-app agent assistance Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Pacific Time, for account or payment issues.
8. User Responsibilities
You agree to:
Provide accurate application, household, vehicle, odometer, and survey information;
Submit odometer photographs only for your own household's registered vehicles;
Refrain from falsifying, altering, or fabricating odometer readings or photographs, or telework declarations; and
Submit clear, timely odometer photographs as required by the Program schedule, and maintain the device and application access (including camera permissions) needed to do so.
Metro reserves the right to terminate Users who fail to comply with this Agreement.
9. Program Changes and Termination
Metro may modify, suspend, or terminate the Program, its rules, or its incentive structure at any time, with or without notice. Such modifications or termination decisions are final and are not subject to individual dispute or appeal.
Participation does not create any property right or guarantee of continued funding.
In the event of Program suspension or termination, all unredeemed balances may expire.
10. Disclaimer of Warranties
The Program and its associated technology, including the One Car Challenge mobile application, are provided "as is" and "as available."
Neither Metro nor Carma make any warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including but not limited to any warranties with regard to the accuracy of odometer verification, mileage calculations, incentive calculations, or uninterrupted system availability.
11. Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law:
You agree and acknowledge that Metro and Carma, and each of their respective governing bodies, officials, officers, employees, agents, and contractors, shall not be liable to You for any damages, losses, or injuries arising from or related to your application to or participation in the Program, your inability to access the Program, Program data inaccuracies, missed incentives, or use of any Program software or services.
You further agree and acknowledge that your sole recourse for any claim is termination of participation and, if applicable, redemption of verified incentives already earned.
12. Indemnification
You hereby agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless LA Metro and Carma, and each of them, including their respective officials, officers, employees, and contractors, from any liability, claims, damages, or expenses arising, whether directly or indirectly, out of your application to or participation in the Program, your data submissions to the Program, your misuse of the Program, and/or your use of any Program software or services.
13. Governing Law
This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to its conflict of laws principles.
Any disputes shall be resolved in the courts of Los Angeles County, California.
If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
14. Entire Agreement; Amendments; Third-Party Beneficiary
(a) Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the One Car Challenge Program Privacy Policy, as published and maintained by Metro, available at metro.net/onecar (the “Privacy Policy”), which is incorporated into this Agreement by reference, constitutes the entire agreement between You and Metro with respect to Your application to, enrollment in, and participation in the Program, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, representations, and communications, whether oral or written, relating to that subject matter. No Program marketing material, announcement, application content, survey, or statement of any Metro or Carma representative creates any right, obligation, or promise not stated in this Agreement or the Privacy Policy.
(b) Order of Precedence. In the event of any conflict between this Agreement and the Privacy Policy, this Agreement controls with respect to Program participation, and the Privacy Policy controls with respect to data collection, use, sharing, and retention practices.
(c) Amendments. Metro may amend this Agreement from time to time. Notice of material amendments will be provided through the One Car Challenge mobile application or to the email address associated with Your account, and Your continued participation in the Program after the stated effective date of an amendment constitutes Your acceptance of it. If You do not agree to an amendment, Your sole recourse is to withdraw from the Program and redeem verified incentives already earned. No oral statement or course of conduct modifies this Agreement.
(d) Third-Party Beneficiary. Carma is an intended third-party beneficiary of Sections 6 (Dispute Resolution), 10 (Disclaimer of Warranties), 11 (Limitation of Liability), 12 (Indemnification), and this Section 14 and may enforce each of them directly. Carma’s rights under this paragraph are rights of enforcement only and do not confer on Carma any right to administer, amend, or waive any provision of this Agreement, all of which rights remain exclusively with Metro. This Agreement creates no other third-party beneficiary rights.
(e) No Waiver. No failure or delay by Metro or Carma in exercising any right under this Agreement operates as a waiver of that right.
15. Third Party Services
The Program may rely on third-party services, software, or tools to support verification, analytics, communications, vehicle ownership verification, or incentive delivery. Metro and Carma are not responsible for the privacy practices or terms of any such third parties. Users are encouraged to review applicable third-party terms and privacy policies.
Acknowledgement
By selecting "I Agree" in the One Car Challenge mobile application or on the One Car Challenge Program website, You acknowledge that:
You have read and accepted this Agreement;
You understand that Metro provides this Program on a voluntary basis; and
You release Metro and Carma from any liability related to your participation, data collection, or incentive determination, to the maximum extent permitted by law.
Privacy Policy available here