# Turn on reminder texts

> Text passengers before each ride and when the driver is on the way, with a link to follow the ride. The texts are off until you turn them on.

Source: https://healthride.app/knowledge-base/passengers/reminder-texts/

Reminder texts help passengers be ready when the driver comes. They start off. A passenger gets texts only once you turn them on here and on their profile.

## The texts passengers get

- **Reminder before the ride.** The pickup day and time, sent a set number of hours ahead. It starts at 24 hours.
- **Driver on the way.** The driver's first name and about when they'll arrive. It goes about 15 minutes before the driver gets there, once the driver has started the ride.
- **Tracking link.** Added to both texts. Passengers and family open it to follow the ride, with the driver on a map once they're on the way.

Each text starts with your company name and ends with "Reply STOP to opt out."

## Before you start

**You'll need**

- Owner or admin access to change **Texts & emails**. Anyone who adds passengers can turn texts on for one passenger.
- Each passenger's mobile number, and their OK to get texts

## Steps

1. At the bottom of the menu on the left, select **Settings**. Under **Operations**, select **Texts & emails**. The **Passenger texts** tab opens.

2. Turn on **Reminder before the ride**. Next to **hours before pickup**, type how early it goes, like **24**. The phone beside the switches shows each text as passengers get it.

   *Screenshot: The Passenger texts settings with Reminder before the ride and Driver on the way turned on, and a phone showing both texts*

3. Turn on **Driver on the way**.

4. Check that **Tracking link** is on. To hide where the driver is, turn off **Show the driver on a map**. The link then shows only the ride's status and pickup time.

5. Under **What passengers and facilities see about the driver**, pick how much the link shows, from **Nothing** to **Name, photo, and full vehicle**.

6. Select **Save changes** in the bar at the bottom of the screen. You'll see "Texts and emails saved."

## Turn texts on for each passenger

Texts only go to passengers who said yes. Under the switches, you see how many of your passengers can get texts. Select **Show them** to list the others.

1. Open the passenger from **Passengers**.

2. In the **Notifications** box, select the pencil.

3. Turn on **Text them trip reminders** and check the box that says the passenger agreed. Then select **Save changes**.

## Who doesn't get texts

- **Passengers who haven't said yes, or have no phone number.** Every passenger starts with texts off, even those added by a facility or from a spreadsheet. Only a passenger who checks **Text me updates about this trip** on your booking form turns them on for themselves.
- **Passengers who replied STOP.** They get no more texts until they reply START.
- **Will-call rides,** for the reminder only. The pickup time isn't known until the passenger calls. They still get **Driver on the way**.

## Good to know

- **Rides already booked get texts too** once you turn them on.
- **Each ride gets its own texts.** On a round trip, the ride home gets a reminder too.
- **Booked at the last minute?** If the pickup is sooner than your reminder time, the reminder goes out right away.
- **Texts are in English.**
- **Send the link yourself.** On a trip's page, select **Share tracking link**. Links stop working an hour after the ride ends.

## If something looks wrong

| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| A passenger didn't get a text | Open them in **Passengers**. In **Notifications**, **SMS trip reminders** should say **Enabled**. Check their **Phone** too. |
| A passenger replied STOP and now wants texts again | Ask them to reply START to one of your texts. |