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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to think my son should not charge friends for lifts?

296 replies

KatherineJ1775 · 14/09/2026 08:37

Hi there, I need some advice on this.
Little bit of backstory, my son is 17 years old, and has just got his driving license. He’s always been an outstanding individual, very generous and kind. He has been driving himself to college recently, and we were proud of him for willingly going out of his way to bring his friends to school (instead of making them take the bus).

What we’ve recently discovered is that he’s implemented a flat-rate fee, charging his friends slightly shy of £1 per ride to college.

Both my husband and I agree that this is ethically corrupt. My son thinks it’s his car and he can do what he wants.

Any advice?

OP posts:
dontcookwontcook · 14/09/2026 08:52

KatherineJ1775 · 14/09/2026 08:49

Sorry all, I missed the fact that we bought the car and cover petrol and he’s also letting his friends get in the trunk.

Should he charge reduced rates for the boot?

Ok so getting in the trunk is not advisable. I’m not gonna lie though, I did laugh at that the thought of it. Not sure how much I believe that he’s transporting his friends around like a mafia capo for a £1 tho…

euff · 14/09/2026 08:52

unless he is rolling in money then I think this is fine. Who bought the car, pays all related bills and fuel? If it’s you then yes it’s a bit weird as he’s then making money off of his friends but I wouldn’t say ethically corrupt.

randomchap · 14/09/2026 08:52

KatherineJ1775 · 14/09/2026 08:49

Sorry all, I missed the fact that we bought the car and cover petrol and he’s also letting his friends get in the trunk.

Should he charge reduced rates for the boot?

Well that's quite the drip feed.

Travelling in the boot is extremely risky, it's a crumple zone, designed to compact in a crash to absorb energy. Tell him to stop doing that

Createausername1970 · 14/09/2026 08:53

KatherineJ1775 · 14/09/2026 08:49

Sorry all, I missed the fact that we bought the car and cover petrol and he’s also letting his friends get in the trunk.

Should he charge reduced rates for the boot?

Well that's a drip feed if ever there was one.

randomchap · 14/09/2026 08:53

Also, trunk? Is he driving an elephant?

BananaPeels · 14/09/2026 08:53

Why shouldn’t they pay for petrol and wear and tear? Sounds like a good deal all round.

SeptemberRains · 14/09/2026 08:53

@KatherineJ1775
Ah - you jumped the shark there...

EveryoneUsingOutro · 14/09/2026 08:54

KatherineJ1775 · 14/09/2026 08:49

Sorry all, I missed the fact that we bought the car and cover petrol and he’s also letting his friends get in the trunk.

Should he charge reduced rates for the boot?

Funny that this drip feed appears when the thread is going against you Confused Pretty major info to miss out.

KindlySurfiingPlatypus · 14/09/2026 08:55

He's invalidating his insurance by doing this. The insurance policy will specify "not for hire or reward" and if he has an accident the insurance will not pay a penny as they will find out that the passengers had paid and he's making a profit.

CandyCrushLevel14809 · 14/09/2026 08:55

Think this is a wind up.

Cantbelieveit888 · 14/09/2026 08:56

Absolutely fine, otherwise his mates will take advantage. It’s £1 an absolute bargain! He’s the one doing the driving so earning a bit of extra money is very entrepreneurial.

EveryoneUsingOutro · 14/09/2026 08:56

SeptemberRains · 14/09/2026 08:53

@KatherineJ1775
Ah - you jumped the shark there...

Yeah, just a bit!

LillyLeaf · 14/09/2026 08:56

Absolutely nothing wrong with that. I paid my friend £1, 25 years ago for a ride to college, it went towards her petrol and saved me the long bus ride. Great for us both.

Isittimeformynapyet · 14/09/2026 08:57

Trunk?

Why does he charge in Sterling when you appear to live in the US?

Cantbelieveit888 · 14/09/2026 08:57

The boot is unsafe though… so he shouldn’t be doing it!

Sunbringer · 14/09/2026 08:58

I think it’s fine. They save on the bus and he gets his petrol back.

Sunbringer · 14/09/2026 08:58

KindlySurfiingPlatypus · 14/09/2026 08:55

He's invalidating his insurance by doing this. The insurance policy will specify "not for hire or reward" and if he has an accident the insurance will not pay a penny as they will find out that the passengers had paid and he's making a profit.

Yeah if he gets in an accident he’s not going to tell his insurance his mates pay him petrol money.

PeriPeriMayo · 14/09/2026 08:59

Hell of a drip feed appears when everyone is disagreeing with you😂

ethically corrupt my arse.

Sereine · 14/09/2026 08:59

KatherineJ1775 · 14/09/2026 08:49

Sorry all, I missed the fact that we bought the car and cover petrol and he’s also letting his friends get in the trunk.

Should he charge reduced rates for the boot?

So stop paying for petrol.

PeriPeriMayo · 14/09/2026 09:00

KindlySurfiingPlatypus · 14/09/2026 08:55

He's invalidating his insurance by doing this. The insurance policy will specify "not for hire or reward" and if he has an accident the insurance will not pay a penny as they will find out that the passengers had paid and he's making a profit.

Oh my 🙄

UnitaBath · 14/09/2026 09:00

These kind of threads are getting ridiculous. Next you will be saying some friends are riding on the roof rack!

Lolloped · 14/09/2026 09:00

No one should be in the boot. Surely you know that’s illegal and dangerous. I’d call the police if he didn’t stop. If you don’t want your son to profit then stop covering his petrol but that isn’t an issue.

Dweetfidilove · 14/09/2026 09:01

Ethically corrupt? Christ you're both dramatic.

My daughter's friend has told her when she gets her car, she'll drop her to and from school. I've offered to give my daughter petrol money, as cars aren't run for free.

blondeboobshell · 14/09/2026 09:02

Fine to charge for lifts
not fine to put people in boot. I’d take the car off him.
money goes towards petrol

HouseBee · 14/09/2026 09:02

My children are older, University age.

They all do that. One will offer a ride and everyone chips in. I’d have thought it’s pretty normal?
Just like you’d do that if you were carpooling to work.