10 reasons to carshare to Download Festival

1 The possibility of RIP upgrade for your car

Did we mention? You can win an upgrade to the VIP area of the festival for you and everyone in your car if you set up a successful carshare through the dedicated Download Liftshare website by 29^th May.

The VIP area is pretty exclusive and has upgraded tent pitches and car parks, and a VIP area. It’s not cheap either, with tickets starting at £425 per person – so this is a real scoop to get hold of for free if you’re the lucky winner!

2 Your playlist for the road

Carsharing with other Download fans means that, chances are, you’ll be travelling with people with similar music tastes to you. So, it’s time to turn your trip into a tour and seriously psych yourselves up for the show. Go glam metal with Motley Crue, industrial goth with Marilyn Manson, or chill out a bit with Mallory Knox. Mix (tape) it up and see what gets you all singing along.

3 Money (cashless or no cashless!)

Carshare options are already available on the Download Liftshare website from as little as 10p! You only pay Liftshare drivers a contribution toward their petrol, so it’s often the cheapest way to get to and from the festival. By way of example, one liftsharer from Bridgwater to the Festival is charging £16.10. That same journey by train on that morning is £81.80 – and has a change on the way! And, if you’re a driver, that’s an extra £16 you didn’t have before… which can buy you at least three beers!

4 An excuse for team fancy dress!

As the saying goes, the more the merrier, and what could better break the ice than making a car-team fancy dress effort? There’s loads of options. You could do the obvious with KISS make-up, masks for Slipknot or Hollywood Undead, or just paint on big eyebrows for Fightstar.

5 If it rains, you can sleep in the car

If you’ve ever been to a ‘Brownload’ year of the festival, you’ll know it’s to be avoided – and having a car gives you another sleeping option. It’s not the comfiest place in the world to get some kip, but at least it’s dry, and you won’t wake up caked in mud.

6 Leave and arrive whenever you want

Found a driver that shares your distaste for 80s rock that inevitably hits the stage during Download’s Sunday? Great! You can leave together on the Sunday afternoon and avoid the huge crowds later that night or the next morning. Perhaps you want to arrive a bit earlier to settle into the campsite? No worries, just drive up when you’re ready with no concern for the buses only arriving at certain times. It’s quicker and easier to drive, and can fit exactly round your schedule.

7 The morning after the night before…

Nursing a hangover? Taking a lift is way more comfortable than braving it on public transport, and it means that you can relax a little and sleep on the way home if you need to, leaving you free to arrive home in at least a half-decent state, and not feeling too drained.

8 In the words of Andrew WK… Party Hard!

PARTY TIP: Liftshare. As driver and passenger, you can take it turns with your designated return driver to drink. This year’s sponsors are Somersby, Tuborg and Pepsi Max, so there’s something for everyone, sober or not.

9 It’s a dry, warm place to charge your phone

Grab a cigarette-lighter in-car charging system for your phone and use it throughout the weekend to keep yourself charged up and online. Check in on Twitter for band and stage updates (secret set, anyone?), and use Whatsapp and Facebook Messenger to keep in touch without using your minute and text allowances.

10 Extra storage space for all your stuff

Carrying a tent, essentials and basic food supplies always takes up more bags than expected, and on public transport, it ain’t easy. But, in a car, you can load it up to the brim, and even take extras to leave in the car and venture back for if needed. Don’t forget to check your Liftsharer’s luggage capacity on their listed journey!