Vehicle assignment for detected trips
Available in: 📱 App
While recording, RideDetect doesn't initially know which vehicle you're in. When saving, the app therefore tries to assign the trip automatically — in this order:
| Priority | Source | When does it apply? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manual selection during the trip | You picked a vehicle in the ongoing recording |
| 2 | Bluetooth/CarPlay assignment | Your smartphone was connected to an assigned device during the trip |
| 3 | Automations (rules) | One of your active rules matches the trip |
| — | Otherwise | The trip ends up unassigned under Unassigned Activities |
1. Manual selection during the trip
Open the ongoing recording (Trip in progress) via the red banner on the dashboard or the notification. There you can pick the vehicle while still on the road — plus purpose, note, tags, or the odometer reading. The app confirms: "Will also be applied when the trip ends automatically." This selection always takes precedence.
2. Bluetooth and CarPlay assignment
You can permanently link a vehicle's car stereo or hands-free system to that vehicle. If your smartphone is connected to the device during the trip, RideDetect assigns the trip without asking.
Here's how to set it up:
- Connect your smartphone to the car stereo (Bluetooth or CarPlay).
- Open the vehicle and go to its vehicle settings.
- Tap Bluetooth assignment.
- The device appears under Currently connected devices — tap it to assign it. It then shows up under Assigned devices.
Use the trash icon (Remove assignment) to unlink it again. If a device is already assigned to another vehicle, the app asks first (Reassign).
:::info Platform notes
- Android: Displaying connected devices requires the "Nearby devices" permission.
- iOS: Only the currently active audio device is shown (e.g. the connected car stereo or CarPlay — including wired), not a list of all paired devices. So connect your iPhone first, then the device appears in the list. :::
3. Automations (rules)
Under Profile → Automations you create rules for automatic vehicle assignment (New rule). Conditions include:
- Time of day (e.g. weekdays 06:00–07:00)
- Day of the week
- Start location (GPS radius)
- Distance and duration
- Data source (for imported trips)
Rules are checked in order of priority — the first matching rule wins. To change the order, press and hold a rule and drag it. As a rule's target, instead of a vehicle you can also choose Ignore trip or Assign manually.
The rules are applied right when each unassigned trip is saved. In addition, you can run them over all waiting trips at any time via Apply rules in the Unassigned Activities list.
When nothing matches: "Unassigned Activities"
If no vehicle could be determined, the trip is still saved — as an unassigned trip. The dashboard then shows the Unassigned Activities card ("… await assignment"). How to assign these trips afterwards is covered under Reviewing detected trips.
Rig: the last combination is remembered
If you drive with a rig/combination (e.g. towing vehicle + trailer), RideBase remembers the last vehicle combination used per towing vehicle. When you pick the towing vehicle again, the app automatically suggests the remembered additional vehicles — including when a detected trip is saved automatically. In the ongoing recording, you add additional vehicles via Additional vehicle. More on this under Trips with multiple vehicles.