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Original poster

Would you expect an offer of petrol money in this instance?

83 replies

Weeksywins · 30/07/2026 14:09

If driving with two friends on a 80 mile round social trip, would you expect them to offer petrol money?

OP posts:
Coconutter24 · 30/07/2026 15:36

If I was the driver I wouldn’t expect any money, 80 miles round trip isn’t that far. Although if I was a passenger I probably would offer money for the trip.

AppleDumplingWithCustard · 30/07/2026 15:35

I gave a friend a lift on a 160 mile round trip yesterday. She offered petrol money but I refused it as the way I look at it, I’d have been doing the trip anyway and taking my friend too didn’t add anything to my costs.

WimpoleHat · 30/07/2026 15:30

No - and not if I was going anyway. But it’d be nice if the passengers bought me a coffee or a sandwich because I’d driven?

Pedant61 · 30/07/2026 15:28

No. If I'm driving, then petrol is my responsibility. But if they offer to buy me a coffee or glass of wine as a "thank you", then I'd be happy to accept.
It's a bit grasping to start calculating what they might "owe" for petrol, to be honest.

ginasevern · 30/07/2026 15:25

Yes, I would. I always offer petrol money. But it does depend on context.

Error404FucksNotFound · 30/07/2026 15:24

Yes i would expect the offer. It is the socially appropriate thing to do.

GisGasGus · 30/07/2026 15:23

Totally depends on the circumstances, I can't imagine there's anyone who has rigid rules

CurlewKate · 30/07/2026 15:23

Would I be going anyway?

Friendlygingercat · 30/07/2026 15:21

With my business head on I would have settled this up front along with the lift rather than waiting for an offer.. "With the cost of petrol being what it is I assume we can split three ways?" Simples.

Munchie1965 · 30/07/2026 15:12

Ass, Gas or Grass as they say in the USA 😎

araiwa · 30/07/2026 15:03

£4 each ish

I wouldn't even bother

TheBlueKoala · 30/07/2026 15:03

Strangers yes, friends no. But having said that I would offer and if refused by lunch or sth.

LondonKara · 30/07/2026 15:02

Not for a one off, only if it was a regular arrangement.

onesinglepringle · 30/07/2026 15:02

Not if they are friends, no.

I'd accept a coffee or something if they insisted but I wouldn't accept money and I certainly wouldn't be offended if there was no offer, if it was a friend.

Friendship is give and take and they'll get me back another day another time, it all evens out and who is counting?

I tend to only keep friendships with the kind of people who have similar attitudes to me. If I had friends who took the piss it might be different.... but I don't.

Conversely I would always offer if on the receiving end but I think that's more about social norms and upbringing than anything else. It's not a big deal.

auntiemaryhadaredcanary · 30/07/2026 15:00

You need to be a bit careful here OP and check your insurance policy.

There may be some clause in it about "not carrying passengers for hire or reward", and if you do that, it could invalidate the whole policy. I would check with your insurers ASAP.

onmylastnerveseriously · 30/07/2026 14:55

My friends would offer and we would then all refuse any offer, that’s our social norm as we’re all working and earning and been friends forever

Marroon · 30/07/2026 14:55

80mile round trip that you’re already doing? No I without expect or take cash for petrol.
If the friend offered a coffee I would take that. That’s probably what I would offer too.
The petrol cost for that sort of journey is so small anyway it’s pretty tight to want £3/4 or whatever in cash.

Francestein · 30/07/2026 14:54

Yep. I would absolutely expect them to pay 1/3 each and buy you lunch if you are driving.

DelphiniumBlue · 30/07/2026 14:53

I think it depends very much on people's financial circumstances. The petrol for an 80 mile journey is comparatively a lot of money for eg a single parent on NMW, and they might also be struggling to keep a car at all. So I would offer them petrol money . But my friend who is on 100k would not want or expect petrol money but would appreciate being treated to lunch.

redskyAtNigh · 30/07/2026 14:50

Depends a bit on the wider context. If there are regular 80 mile trips and you take it in turns to drive, then wouldn't expect petrol. If you are always driving, then I'd expect the others to contribute (either via petrol money or in kind by buying you drinks/dinner/tickets). If it's an ad-hoc one off I'd expect them to offer, but I would have requested it up front if I was bothered.

NattyRedFinch · 30/07/2026 14:48

Teenagers yes. Adults no.

Loulou4022 · 30/07/2026 14:46

Absolutely or something in return. So last week we visited my cousin, she drove us 1 1/2 hours each way to a day out she wouldn’t accept fuel money so we paid for lunch for her and her daughter. Yesterday my friend came down by train (2 hour journey so a bit costly) to visit me so again we paid for her lunch and also a drink and cake in the afternoon.

whistlesandbells · 30/07/2026 14:46

I wouldn’t give petrol money but I would buy lunch or some other thing.

Fgfgfg · 30/07/2026 14:41

I'm doing this at the weekend and they won't offer petrol money but will pay the entrance fee and buy me cake. It will probably even out or I may end up in profit.

TheChosenTwo · 30/07/2026 14:38

I’d offer either money or to buy them lunch or the entry ticket to wherever we were going or similar.
I’d never accept petrol money, i can afford to pay and take people with me but I always offer as I’m aware that peoples finances are different to mine.

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