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

[hfyuhgft]

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.

I think I have a similar length trip to the station. ( with a mile walk at the other end ) The only time I’ve ever got DH to take me in the car is if it’s pouring with rain or I’m running really late. ( so only very occasionally). The time I’ve wanted the lift more is when I’ve been returning after a long day. ( although plenty of cabs at the station if needed ). Generally I walk or ride my bike. If I had a 5 mile commute to work as mentioned up thread I’d ride a bike for it at least a couple of days a week to get the exercise in if nothing else. As for money for petrol.... I can’t imagine charging my child for this journey and certainly can’t imagine accepting £10 or £15 a week but I suppose an occasional coffee & cake out somewhere would be a nice gesture.

Yes, the 'I can't imagine charging my adult working child who probably has more disposable income than I do' crowd should count themselves fortunate that they can afford to cover the living costs of another adult.

Not everyone can, and many find themselves losing significant amounts of income when DC become working adults and no longer count as dependents for TC/UC purposes.

[quote Arrierttyclock]@rainbowfairydust £20 a week!?! For 10 miles a week! That's ridiculous! [/quote]
Why is it ridiculous?

It's not just 10 miles in a car. It's the parents getting up early five days a week to drive her there and back. It's their time and wear and tear on top of the fuel costs.

In terms of petrol and car wear and tear: £10 a week.
If you are broke and need to pay just the petrol cost, maybe £5
If you want to make a gesture to thank them for time, commitment etc maybe £15 a week or £75 a month, if you can easily afford it.

They're asking you to cover petrol so their time and other inconvenience is irrelevant. I'd suggest £25 a month.

@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 know, so many tight fisted people here!! I can't believe people are suggesting £10-£15 a week! You could probably Uber for that much

Can you offer them to buy a takeaway on a weekly basis just as a treat? My dad would probably refuse money but I would probably pay for petrol maybe £30 pm and treat him to a nice meal or two.

I could never imagine charging my kids £1 per mile for a lift so they can get to work. Why do so many MNers think everyone should hate their adult children?

Maybe I just have a different way of life but I wouldn't charge a stranger for 10 miles a week let alone my own flesh and blood

@BarbaraofSeville

Yes, the 'I can't imagine charging my adult working child who probably has more disposable income than I do' crowd should count themselves fortunate that they can afford to cover the living costs of another adult.

Not everyone can, and many find themselves losing significant amounts of income when DC become working adults and no longer count as dependents for TC/UC purposes.

The OP's parents have offered. It's probably about £2 per week in fuel.

And LOL at the entry level generation ah I g more disposable in once than their parents. They'll be retiring at 70 and paying six figures for a 2 bed flat...unlike their parents whose house was probably twice their income and could retire at 55-60

I know, so many tight fisted people here!! I can't believe people are suggesting £10-£15 a week! You could probably Uber for that much

That's if they have Uber, it's not everywhere. And if you can 'Uber' for £2-3 a day, then that's reason enough not to use it. Take out the running costs of the car and the undoubtedly cut the driver has to pay to Uber, they'd be earning pretty much nothing.

If my parents were as tight fisted JD weird as to happily make an £18 profit from giving me a lift to work I'd rather walk than give them the satisfaction.

And LOL at the entry level generation ah I g more disposable in once than their parents. They'll be retiring at 70 and paying six figures for a 2 bed flat...unlike their parents whose house was probably twice their income and could retire at 55-60

Or the parents have bills and food to pay for and never been able to afford to buy because they've always been on a low income and the OP is in a graduate job with £1-2k pm that is entirely her own to decide how to spend.

Some really odd comments on here and some fair questions.

Work off 45p/mile for fuel. Call it £5/week.
If you want to cover wear & tear, double it.

I'm not sure how one mile translates to 35 minutes, but there could be 101 reasons why OP can't walk or cycle, so that's not relevant.

Tenner a week but I’d also get a bike and on the nice days I’d cycle and ask them to save lifts for rainy days.

Halve the cost of a taxi.

@hfyuhgft

It's my parents. They are giving me a lift to the train station to get the train to work each morning. It's around 1 mile there and 1 mile back 5 days a week so around 10 miles/week. They are going out of their way to do it, it's a journey they wouldn't do otherwise. It cuts off a chunk of my commute time so I'm really grateful.

They mentioned they wanted petrol money but won't say an amount. I don't want to seem cheeky with how much I offer them.

You'd be better off getting a cheap bike - even me (petite, not particularly fit) could cover that distance on a bike in 5 minutes without breaking a sweat - and you'd have an asset to sell at the end of the year

Well sweeping generalisations aren't especially helpful from either of us are they @BarbaraofSeville - so let's just strip it back to the parent/child thing. Maybe it would be nicer all round of they wanted to do this in the spirit of helping out rather than thinking "I want exactly 500p per week or else it's a no, because "

As an aide in many areas £1k-£2k income barely covers rent. £80 per month on a 2 mile a day lift is entirely unnecessary and to me, a parent accepting this is probably a massive mean prick

Very few cars cost 45p per mile for fuel - that's what HMRC sets out to also cover insurance/tax/MOT/wear and tear.

I wouldn't want to be paid by my child, I would prefer they reimbursed the petrol and gave me some time back in return, maybe doing a task for them.

I would not want to be paid minimum wage for helping a family member!

As the parents are insisting, £5 should be enough in that it easily covers the petrol.

I agree that it's the commitment that's a pain, but OP didn't ask, they insisted, so that's down to them.

As above PP said why not fill up the car say once a month, and a tenner a week ?And /or a meal out as well ? Is the walk a little lonely in parts ,are they worried about your welfare do you think? They are doing you a favour ,and I think the above is about right .They are older people having to get up early for you!

Is there a particular reason stopping you from walking, OP? 1 mile really isnt far for most people.

Its not about the petrol at all, I would much rather drive 10 miles in one go than do it over 5 trips all early in the morning. It is the time and commitment that you'd be paying for.

I'd probably offer at least £20. How much would public transport cost you, bus? taxi? probably about £4 a day? I'd pay at least the same price as public transport - its saving you time and providing a door-to-door service. Although tbh I would rather just be independent.

I can well imagine not having to do the walk in the rain and cold is a nice gesture in their part to help you out by driving you. I can also imagine if finances are hard in them that the petrol money is a concern for them over the month too.

As they’re offering this to you, insisting in fact, then they’re willing to do this so you’re not taking advantage of their time.

Therefore the suggestion of using HMRC guide of 45p a mile sounds like a good guide, rounding up to £5 a week. Talk to them about how you arrive at the figure and if that’s ok with them. Then ask if they want that weekly in a fiver, £20 a month when putting it in the tank at the petrol station will make more of an impact, or bank transfer.

I can tell you, I live a 15 minute walk to the station. In fact, people park outside my house and walk to the station to avoid the car parking fees but a lift in the morning (or coming back after an extra long day) was a really appreciated treat. I WFH now and we’ll remember this so I go to collect my DH on rainy days as I know he appreciates not having to walk in the rain.

@dottiedodah

As above PP said why not fill up the car say once a month, and a tenner a week ?And /or a meal out as well ? Is the walk a little lonely in parts ,are they worried about your welfare do you think? They are doing you a favour ,and I think the above is about right .They are older people having to get up early for you!

You're talking £100 a month plus a meal out! For forty miles worth of petrol?

OP hasn't asked for his favour. They're insisting.

Bottle of wine a week would be acceptable for my parents as a gesture.
All depends on your relationship with your parents.