To not want to drive someone else’s car all week?

Something fishy going on…

Another possibility - she is struggling to afford the repayments on her expensive car and fears it is going to be repossessed, but she still needs a car to get around. Swapping cars might feel like the perfect solution - for her!

How forceful were you when you told her you wanted your car back?

Clearly she's not a twoccer 😂

Is everyone missing the fact that the OP is driving around in the friends car?
The mildest of investigation would unearth the original agreed swap

Yes it's gone wrong but being a wet lettuce isn't worth taking up police time

I wonder if TWOCing might be a useful offense here? It's Taking Without Owner's Consent and it applies specifically to cars.

I find it really weird she happy driving your old but sure a nice car v her costly land rover

how far away from you does she live ? I would go over late in the evening and take the car

I would head to her work and get the keys and your car. If not there, time to call the police and report it stolen.

She cannot refuse to return your car. She no longer has your permission to drive it. She's putting you at financial risk here

Oh, end the friendship and stop doing favours for people. You really need to work on being assertive, you are way too passive and people like the person now driving your car are going to take advantage of that.

OP do you have an app for your car? If you do it can tell you where it is in real time

Deleted as not RTFT

She needs to know you have rescinded your permission for her to drive your car before you tell the Police it’s being driven without your permission but once you tell her she may do the same to you so you need to make sure you are covered for that eventuality.

Agreed - this has gone from a neighbourly thing to do to driving your car without permission and refusing to return it is theft.
Call the police now.

You win the wet lettuce award

Report this to the police now! Your car has been stolen and driven without your permission..

Why don’t you drive to her workplace and swap the cars there?

as much as I love my mates, I don’t let any of them drive my cars.

She's not your friend and I'd be reporting it stolen at this point.

Just calll the police OP. She doesnt have permission to have your car any longer. And , absolutely ... end the 'friendship'.

Around here (SW) if you want a car serviced or an MOT, you better be phoning weeks in advance. However, if you damage a car or it breaks down, of course they will fit you in much more quickly. Also, if there has been any damage to the OP's car, it may be very minor, hence just needing a week to repair. Anyway, now the friend has declared that she needs longer than a week so who knows how long she is planning on keeping the car?

That would be short notice for my local garages 😁but I accept that there may be ones that can fit you in straight away for a job that takes a week, out of interest where might I find such a garage?

Tell her this... Tell her that... FFS, "I want my car back today or I'm reporting it stolen"!

Something fishy going on here. Ring her workplace via their main number/switchboard to make sure shes still around.

Tell her she's not fully insured in your car and you are not willing to risk her damaging it and likewise you are not fully insured on her car and won't take the risk driving it. Say she will have to agree (in writing) to pay for you taking out a fully insured hire car for the duration.

Or as others have said tell her if you don't get your car back tonight you will be reporting it as stolen, which effectively it is, lending it for a day is one thing her taking it for a week or more without permission is theft.

I agree she may have damaged your car and it's taking longer than she thought to get it fixed and is trying to fob you off. If you have a local garage try giving them a ring. You could say I think my friend brought my car in to you I can't contact her so could you tell me if you have it and how long it will take.

It is a really bizarre situation and the end of a friendship I would say.

She wants the car because she’s moving stuff around that is heavy and dirty. When you get your car back it will be filthy with some damage either or both inside and outside- she’s moving furniture or garden rubbish or builders waste because she won’t pay for a skip. She’s taken your 10 yr old car because she thinks it doesn’t matter and doesn’t want her new RR to get damaged.
I have a 2016 Tiguan too and I wouldn’t swap it for a RR either!

Bloody hell OP grow a spine. I’m currently driving a hire car as some trainee bus driver crunched my car, and even though it’s a much better car than mine, I just want mine back. I hate the worry that I might get a tiny scratch or ping an alloy on the hire car.

I would be round there tonight to collect it.

Honestly I'd be very wary about what's really going on... what's she actually using your car for? How well do you know her?

I'd tell her she has until X time to return your car or you'll be contacting the police.

She’s obviously crashed your car. Report it as stolen.

This reminds me of the expensive Dyson hair appliance borrowed by the bride with hundreds of excuses why they couldn't give it back.

Yes drive to her work place. If she refuses text her and tell her you are reporting the car as stolen and give her a deadline. Because effectively it is.

Could it be that she has missed car finance payments and they are trying to reclaim the car? So she's got it parked at yours? If she drives around with a car full of crap (which is the weakest ever excuse for imposing on you) she sounds careless...

OP i want to gently give you a good head wobble.

1. I think you wouldn't have got into this position if this awful woman hasnt already been using you and behaving like a total CF for some time. She is absolutely walking all over you ..

2. And what planet is your DH on to effectively tell you to ignore your good instincts, swallow your best intentions and let this woman carry on walking all over you. He should be just as cross as you are.

After this you need to read up on assertiveness training... and practice, practice practice saying No.. to people like this. "No. I refuse to lend my car to anyone." Hopefully this episode will give you the fuel to do this.
You sound like a kind generous person who is being massively taken advantage of. You ought to bin this person and not have any further dealings with her. How dare she put you under this level of stress with zero care and certainly no apology. You cannot trust her. She doesn't add anything positive to your life.

Get your car back, invest in a spare key and DUMP her for good.
(ring your garage and ask if they can make a spare key without the car. I'm not sure if they can, but if you have your car handbooks and radio codes etc.. they may be able to.. then you can as people have said, take yours and dump her crap filled car.

I hope you get it back in one piece soon... create a text trail in case she's picked up speeding fines on the way, so that you can contest them.

Just to add. Take photos of her car inside and out... in case she tries to claim that you've damaged it... to offset any damage she's caused to yours. Next time just say No my insurance doesn't allow that.