Chron.com

High-tech hitchhiking has arrived in Texas. Austin startup Hitch offers a ride-sharing service connecting people driving between Houston and Austin with people needing rides. Here's how it works: Someone with a 2003-or-newer vehicle who is planning to drive between Houston and Austin downloads the "Hitch - Regional Ridesharing" app and registers as a driver. After a background and driving record check, which can take up to 24 hours, the drivers are authorized to pick up passengers. Those needing a ride will enter a virtual queue and then proceed to a physical Hitch pickup location, which will be a public place like a coffee shop along the route. Riders are ID verified using scanned driver licenses and facial recognition,  and they must have a valid credit card on file with Hitch. Drivers simply pull over at a Hitch pickup location and then collect the next person in line.