[Jonathan Leane]

Friend borrowing car - AIBU?​

(reposted from Gransnet)

At present we have a 'spare' car. We are friendly with a couple who had two cars but chose to get rid of one of them. This was OK until the H started working shifts and weekends.

Since then the wife has been asking to borrow our spare car on a regular basis - to go shopping, to go to the doctors etc.

She always asks my husband if she can borrow it as he is soft and never says no

I probably would also be too soft to say no if she asked me.

However, I am finding it a bit annoying that we are, in effect, providing her with a free car whilst we pay road tax and insurance.

Her husband is adamant that they are not getting another car.

I don't want to fall out with them as they are good friends and we have helped one another out in the past.

However, this has been going on for a couple of months now and I think she is being a bit cheeky.

How do I handle this without falling out with her.

 

[Linda A]

I think it would be fair to ask for $ to cover the costs+. Do you think the relationship would adjust to that? If not, it may be a bit one-sided.

 

[Maddison Dwyer]

I agree with @Linda A I would be asking the couple to contribute some $ seeing she is driving it so much. I think if they don't agree to paying any $ towards the car then they aren't true friends and are clearly just taking advantage of the situation.

 

[Placid]

Wouldn't hurt to let her pick up the car with a minimal amount of fuel in the tank.
Check the fuel gauge when she returns it.
If it's full, she's probably OK. If it's not full, never put fuel in it again.

 

[Vinylted]

Wouldn't hurt to let her pick up the car with a minimal amount of fuel in the tank.
Check the fuel gauge when she returns it.
If it's full, she's probably OK. If it's not full, never put fuel in it again.

Good one Placid was going to suggest that myself,

 

[Vinylted]

(reposted from Gransnet)

At present we have a 'spare' car. We are friendly with a couple who had two cars but chose to get rid of one of them. This was OK until the H started working shifts and weekends.

Since then the wife has been asking to borrow our spare car on a regular basis - to go shopping, to go to the doctors etc.

She always asks my husband if she can borrow it as he is soft and never says no

I probably would also be too soft to say no if she asked me.

However, I am finding it a bit annoying that we are, in effect, providing her with a free car whilst we pay road tax and insurance.

Her husband is adamant that they are not getting another car.

I don't want to fall out with them as they are good friends and we have helped one another out in the past.

However, this has been going on for a couple of months now and I think she is being a bit cheeky.

How do I handle this without falling out with her.

My biggest concern is the lender thought about the ramifications of Insurance and the outcome after an accident? The legal tangle can be horrific. If you loan a car to anyone you should make sure they are recorded as a driver with the Insurance Co. otherwise big monetary losses... Would the borrower agree to the usual $2000 extra excess ????