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Original poster

How much petrol money would you charge someone for 10 miles/week of driving?

145 replies

hfyuhgft · 16/05/2021 22:00

If you were giving someone a lift several times a week that amounted to 10 miles of driving a week, how much would you charge them?

It will be for around a year.

OP posts:

rwalker · 17/05/2021 05:31

As another poster said it's 20 mile a week for them
There and back in the morning equals 2 miles
There and back in evening equals 2 miles
It's a commitment for them I would of thought at least £15

Purplecatshopaholic · 17/05/2021 05:35

I can’t imagine charging for this (them), or being charged (you). They seem to want to do it, but want to charge you? Sod that.

custardbear · 17/05/2021 05:44

Probably £10 as they're not going anywhere so they're getting up and driving you only, not just collecting you when you're both on your way somewhere

Saying that I'd probably just walk or cycle personally lol

BarbaraofSeville · 17/05/2021 05:57

why should people have to justify why

Because our roads are clogged and air polluted by people driving distances that can be easily walked or cycled. Also there's a health crisis partly fuelled by inactivity.

A high percentage of all car journeys are under 2 miles and there would be significant improvements to the mental and physical health of the nation if those who could avoiding driving such short distances did so.

However, I do think it's wrong that the DPs are insisting on driving the OP and then demanding petrol money.

Perhaps a compromise about accepting a lift a couple of times a week? Maybe when it's raining or later in the year when it's going to be dark when you set off?

On the matter of money, maybe £50 a month? But I suppose it depends on their and your financial circumstances. Do you live with them? If so, are you saving for a house deposit, do you pay board on top? Do they need the money? If you're still living at home and they're on a low income you could give them a generous amount as a way of helping them out but not overtly so.

GrasswillbeGreener · 17/05/2021 06:03

I can imagine the potential dynamics here; when I was a student living at home and my main hospital placement was, while nominally closer than the alternatives, an awkward combination of buses to get to on public transport, my parents made it very clear they were happy to give me lifts as much as needed, particularly late at night. I suggested getting a bike at one point and they strongly preferred to drive me (the infrastructure for safe cycling wasn't there and they were probably right).

OP , you'll best know what's really going on and the tone of the request for petrol money (eg well just give us a bit of petrol money none and then if it makes you feel better, vs insisting on driving you and also insisting on petrol money). My rough estimate is that we get about 10 miles / L , but short trips would be more than that. So if you think that actual petrol costs is about right, I'd offer based on 2 L of petrol / week, so around £2.50. Or £20 every month or so as someone suggested.

45 p / mile rate exists to acknowledge the other running costs of a car which is why it is more than petrol costs alone. Depending on income and everything else I'd feel awkward accepting that much from anyone I was giving a lift to; and if your parents were expecting that level of reimbursement for something you're willing to do without, it doesn't sound great.

Chunkymenrock · 17/05/2021 06:10

Good grief. The picking apart on here. They've offered, which is very kind and I'd gratefully accept too, if these were my parents. (We help each other out.) £10 a week is a nice gesture and also a cream tea/spontaneous bottle of wine now and again. Sorted!

user1497787065 · 17/05/2021 06:18

Another only on MN - would anyone really accept money from their DD for driving her ten miles per week, probably £2 worth of fuel at the most?

SpeakingFranglais · 17/05/2021 06:20

I’d walk at least in the summer, a mile is nothing.

Whatevernext1 · 17/05/2021 06:20

I don't know if this will help at all but I pay my parents £150 a month for petrol,I live just under 5 miles away from work. Buses don't run for when I need to get to work,I need 2 buses which takes approximately 2 hours with waiting time and has been known on occasion to take 4 hours because of where I live which is ridiculous! Taxis have often not turned up because of where I live so I don't have much choice. Hopefully I'll pass my driving test soon after being delayed due to covid.

Branleuse · 17/05/2021 06:26

Id offer to fill up their car, or maybe a tenner a week.

EversoDelighted · 17/05/2021 06:30

I'd go with a tenner a week too.

rainbowfairydust · 17/05/2021 06:33

I'd offer £20 a week or to pick up a takeaway... They may then ask for less or more but it sounds like a decent offer

Iggly · 17/05/2021 06:41

Why don’t you walk?? Unless it’s a dodgy walk - which I can well imagine to be honest as so much of development is not designed with pedestrians in mind. But you’ve said you’ll make your way home.

Save the petrol costs and your parents time and walk!

Iggly · 17/05/2021 06:42

@user1497787065

Another only on MN - would anyone really accept money from their DD for driving her ten miles per week, probably £2 worth of fuel at the most?

I read it that the parents want the money

JustMeAndWheatley · 17/05/2021 06:44

A gift in kind - nice bottle of wine, cooking them a meal once a week.

If they’re insisting on money, £10 seems fair. But you could just suggest that and ask if they think that’s alright?

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 17/05/2021 06:59

Like others, I also don't understand how your parents can justify both insisting that they drive you when you've said you're happy to walk AND then tell you that they want petrol money!

cptartapp · 17/05/2021 07:00

Don't get involved in this. You're going to be so beholden.

Ginger1982 · 17/05/2021 07:04

I could never ask my child for money if I was doing this for them.

Parker231 · 17/05/2021 07:07

I wouldn’t charge DC’s for giving them a lift anywhere but when it’s such a short distance they would walk anyway.

cupsofcoffee · 17/05/2021 07:08

I would just make my own way there and back, to be honest. If you're out of the house 14 hours per day, what time are they going to have to get out of bed to get you to work every morning? About 5-6am?

I suspect after a while they'll get extremely fed up of waking up at that time anyway and you'll end up going back to whatever your current arrangement is.

BigSandyBalls2015 · 17/05/2021 07:09

I take my DD to work a few times a week as public transport is poor in that direction ... it’s a 12 mile round trip. I don’t ask for petrol money ... she buys the odd bottle of wine or dinner one night/takeaway.

Ducksurprise · 17/05/2021 07:13

@user1497787065

Another only on MN - would anyone really accept money from their DD for driving her ten miles per week, probably £2 worth of fuel at the most?

Only on MN are people incapable of understanding other people's financial positions. It's like the 'I'd never charge my adult child to live at home' ignoring the fact they lose UC and child benefit when they are 18. Wear and tear on the car, it's a kind offer and a bargain at £10 a week imo

Arrierttyclock · 17/05/2021 07:15

@rainbowfairydust £20 a week!?! For 10 miles a week! That's ridiculous!

ElphabaTWitch · 17/05/2021 07:15

@hfyuhgft
Ugh! So many angry women around this place! I’d offer £10 per week. Short journeys use most petrol so I’d say that’s fair.
It’s up to you if you walk /cycle/roller skate to bloody work. I’m sure half the women on here would take heed of their own advice .... enjoy getting a bit of help. 14 hours is a long long day and every little helps.

Nancydrawn · 17/05/2021 07:17

I would tell them I planned to cycle and wouldn't get caught up in the nonsense.

However, if you're actually asking about money for petrol, £5 week/£20 month is generous.

I am bored so I did sums. The average MPG for UK cars is 38. Let's drop that to 25 for a short trip and starting/stopping. The current cost of petrol is £4.34 per gallon, or just over 17p/mile for a 25 MPG ride.

So if they're actually doing 10 miles a week for this chore they insist on doing (and then are insisting you pay them for), then the actual cost of petrol for them is no more than the princely sum of £1.74 per week.

I'd pay them in pennies.

(In reality, a fiver would cover the cost and be some nod to the time it takes them to do it. £20/month would make it clear you're not trying to take advantage. I still think it's ridiculous.)

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