A new ridesharing app is setting up impromptu carpools at the swipe of a screen, and carpoolers can even choose to ride only with those who have passed a background check.

The service, called Zebigo, already is open to Washington state residents and is expected to debut nationally next year. Carpoolers reimburse the driver for gas through a cashless payment system and pay a 49 cent fee to Zebigo for each trip. For a 13-mile trip, Zebigo estimates a total payment of $5. The cost-per-mile may be more expensive than public transit, but it’s cheaper than a taxi.

To join, users create a profile on Zebigo’s website, which matches riders and drivers by route and profile. If they want, users can opt in to a background check performed by Lexis-Nexis. It’s similar to a pre-employment screening, so don’t expect it to prove to anyone that you’re a good driver or even has a valid license. Still, it will show prospective carpoolers you’re not a sex offender and don’t have any major criminal convictions.

“We designed Zebigo with commuters in mind, so that they can reduce their costs for gas, parking, and maintenance,” Zebigo founder and CEO Mark Russell said.

In addition to those eager to make some money and use carpool lanes instead of idling alone in rush hour traffic, the service also targets folks headed for sporting events and concerts.

Zebigo may look and sound familiar to Seattle residents, who were able to join in a state-funded pilot carpooling program called go520 from ridesharing software company Avego.

Europe has had similar programs for years. Some have recently migrated to smartphones: French ridesharing site Covoiturage.fr launched a mobile app in 2009 that now accounts for 10 percent of total traffic. In Germany, Daimler launched a similar program called car2gether last September. It’s currently in pilot testing in the university city of Ulm.

Photo: Flickr/LadyMadonna