DriveThere.com and govWorks.Com Join Forces to Better Serve Drivers
28 February 2000
DriveThere.com and govWorks.Com Join Forces to Better Serve DriversST. LOUIS, Feb. 28 -- DriveThere.com, a free online motor club servicing motorists with comprehensive driving information and services, today announced an alliance with govWorks.com as part of its continuing effort to provide a broad array of services to make motorists' lives easier. This powerful affiliation combines DriveThere.com's instant information with govWorks' national online link to local governments. The first step in this affiliation allows DriveThere members to pay their traffic tickets online. This is another link in DriveThere's comprehensive chain of services -- from planning road trips to paying parking tickets. It fulfills DriveThere.com's mission of providing the best services and information the Web has to offer the 180 million Americans who drive a car, truck, motorcycle or RV. DriveThere.com and govWorks.com provide their users a direct link to the other's site. This connection allows both sites' subscribers to access the other's membership services without registering separately. "govWorks.com complements DriveThere.com, and the relationship between the two sites allows us to provide one more essential service to drivers," said Craig Kaminer, president of DriveThere.com. "We plan to continue building partnerships with other e-businesses to enhance our offerings." The alliance between DriveThere.com and govWorks.com makes the payment of parking tickets hassle-free and rewarding. The system is: -- Quick - The online transaction is complete with three easy clicks. -- Convenient - Unlike many government agencies, govWorks accepts credit cards. -- Rewarding - Users can earn govRewards by participating in special offers from affiliates when they make online payments. -- Simple - User-friendly frames guide online users through automotive ticketing regulations and the payment process. -- Reliable - govWorks provides e-receipts to confirm that payments were received and allows drivers to view transaction history. DriveThere.com provides driving-related services and information to the 180 million drivers in the U.S. Its mission is to use the Internet to make vehicle ownership exponentially better for motorists. The site offers users a single entry point to find all the best driving-related information and services on the Web, and currently offers it for free. DriveThere.com is one of the first Web sites to cater to travelers who want instant information while they are on and off the road. The site offers turn-by-turn driving directions, weather information, travel discounts, traffic updates and e-mail capabilities. Much of the information on DriveThere.com is divided geographically for the convenience of travelers crossing state boundaries. Soon, DriveThere.com will feature information specially formatted for viewing via the new generation of mobile Internet devices such as cell phones, pagers and personal digital assistants (PDAs). In April, the site will begin offering a preferred members program that includes an extensive variety of upgraded services for a minimal annual fee. This new level of service will include emergency roadside assistance, extensive travel discounts, online automotive purchasing and financing as well as an online maintenance record and calendar. Later this year, DriveThere will expand its Online DMV to include license and vehicle registration and renewals. DriveThere.com/Influence LLC St. Louis-based DriveThere.com launched in October 1999. The company is using the power of the Web to revolutionize the motor club model and make driving safer, more affordable and more enjoyable than ever before. DriveThere.com was developed by Influence Incubator, an e-business incubator owned by Influence Holding, LLC. Influence specializes in developing and building e-businesses by providing integrated e-commerce strategy, award-winning graphic design, technology implementation, and e-marketing services for clients who are rethinking or expanding their existing business model to take a leadership position in the New Economy. Some of Influence's clients are today's market leaders who are developing new business skills to stimulate thought leadership and adopting e-commerce as a new channel of distribution. Others are the market innovators who are challenging the industry leaders and are willing to take advantage of new opportunities. About govWorks govWorks, Inc., founded in 1998, is a private company that collaborates with government to provide a wide variety of Internet-based services that enhance interactions with citizens, businesses and other government agencies. govWorks' e-government services range from free access to the govWorks.com consumer portal, to do-it-yourself Web development tools that governments can use to create their own sites with full transactional capabilities. At our consumer portal, http://www.govWorks.com , individuals and businesses can pay tickets, bills or taxes online, look for government jobs, exchange ideas with elected officials, find information, access government resources, participate in government auctions and much more. govWorks helps governments use the Internet to provide better services, lower costs, increase revenues and free up resources that can be used to address other needs. Citizens and business benefit from 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week access to enhanced government services, with expanded options for making payments online -- including the ability to use credit and debit cards -- and save money on the cost of bills and tickets. By developing a national online link between government agencies and the 273 million people they serve, govWorks has created a comprehensive and efficient channel for transactional, informational and communication exchange.