How should cost of hire car be divided?

[WaroftheWorlds]

Asking this because my Dsis seemed a bit put out when I suggested that cost should be split.

We are going to stay with our DParents in their home aboad in the summer.

My DS and I will be arriving 2 days before my Dsis and her DH and 2 DC.

My DParents have a car that seats 5. I drive, my Dsis doesn't and her DH is having lessons (4 months worth now so likely to have a licence by then). Not sure if that is relevant but hey.

When we are all there together, there will be 8 of us in total, including DParents. My Dsis was fussing about there not being enough car seats. I said that it was okay, we could get a hire car, and she was positive about it and grateful for the suggestion until I said we would split the cost.

I will be there for 5 says during their stay, then leave my DS there with his grandparents for a couple of weeks.

She did say her DH will probably not dribs abroad as he would be a new driver and therefore not confident, I think she was suggesting that as such, they shouldn't pay. But in the same breath was also saying they didn't want to be tied to the house, and be able to explore a bit.

I want out next communication about this to be a fair one. What do you think?

So for absolute clarity, if he we get a hire car, there is a likelihood her DH won't drive it himself, but she will expect to be driven around in it by me, my DF or DM.

I'd say something cheery like "oh gosh I wouldn't expect DBiL to drive, but I just throughly we'd all benefit from having the transport. No problem if you don't want to go ahead. I'm sure we'll all manage with just DParent's car."

Make it, cheerfully, politely clear that the options are going half's or no second car. Don't give her the option of getting the benefit of a chauffeur without chipping in.

I'd say something cheery like "oh gosh I wouldn't expect DBiL to drive, but I just throughly we'd all benefit from having the transport. No problem if you don't want to go ahead. I'm sure we'll all manage with just DParent's car."

I like that!

Yes, just don't hire a car. You and your DS can fit in with your parents. Your sister and her family can't. You can always take public transport or a taxi if going somewhere without your parents' car. Public transport for one adult and a small child isn't much.

What are you going to do, Op?

We have agreed to go halves, for the duration that it is needed.

Thank goodness. She was a bit stiff but she couldn't really argue. Thanks for the advice everyone.