If you borrow someone’s car, should you fill up the tank?

[Sniped]

What is the general ‘rule’ here?!

Say it’s 2 longish return journeys about 2-3 hours each.

Yes you should.

You should replace the fuel you have used.

Yes you definitely should :)

You should definitely reimburse them for the petrol you've used, yes. I'd be very interested to hear the opposing viewpoint here.

Yes, replace the exact fuel as an absolute minimum. But I'd always return a full tank, as thanks, even if I only used half.

Yes, of course they should. Only reason I could think of is if it were one if your DC and you’d be funding the girl anyway. Should NOT in any event be left on empty, ever.

Definitely or at least offer then the money to do so. The only time I wouldn't is if it was someone explicitly doing me a favour because I was struggling and they told me not to. For example, didn't happen, but I could imagine my parents doing that when I was younger if I had a job interview or something.

I definitely would as a minimum - would probably buy a bottle of wine or some chocs as a thank you too.

I'd definitely replace what I used. It would be a nice gesture to fill it up... That would still be cheaper than a hire car!

I did once refuse to lend someone my car again after they got mud in the passenger foot well and refused to clean it so I may be a bit strict.

That’s practically a full tank of fuel on my car. Yes you should at the very least offer.

Surely no one is going to say that you shouldn’t?

Of course you should if they're doing you a favour. That's basically a full tank for some cars!!

Yes, unless the loan included petrol money.

Absolutely return with a full tank.

And a thank you gift.

Yes Ofcourse, unless you have to be DHs useless brothers

It would be a nice gesture wouldn't it

Of course you should.

My SIL once borrowed my car for a week - she didn't bring it back, we had to go and collect it, and she had left the petrol so low that the petrol light came on, and the cheeky fucker kept 2 of my CDs. After that, I never lent it her again.

Definitely should do, but I know some don't, not even to the equal amount they borrowed it with 😤

Of course you should.

@JayAlfredPrufrock

Absolutely return with a full tank.

And a thank you gift.

This is what we've done when we've borrowed MIL's car in a couple of emergency situations.

If funds are tight, it should at least be returned with the same level of petrol it had when it was borrowed.

Depends who it is, if I borrow DHs car I wouldn't necessarily fill it up as long as I wasn't leaving it low on fuel, it all comes out of the same financial pot anyway, my car is bigger so he will often take that if he has DS and I'm working, he'll fill it up if it's low but otherwise wouldn't make a point of replacing the petrol used. Anyone else yes of course.

Absolutley yes, fill it up.

Mind you, I remember many many years ago, I was about 18, being outraged that my df had not filled the tank before lending me his car, oh the selfishness of youth!

I would return the car in as good or better condition than it was in when I took it.
So full tank/or fuel I used replaced plus a bit more if it's a huge tank.
Washed outside and clean and tidy inside.
This comes from my dickhead brother who would always return my stuff (often borrowed without asking), dirty or damaged. It's really horrible when someone disrespects your stuff like that. We aren't close now we're middle aged...

@JolieJ not DHs brothers but his side of the family! Person in question IMO takes the absolute piss in other ways (lives with us rent/bill free, doesn’t clean up), for some reason this is the hill I’ve chosen to die on! Cannot believe the CF would return my car with less than one bar of petrol. And they’ve been hinting to use it again!!

Tbh it is an improvement on them asking ME to fill my tank up before they made the journey! They are not struggling for money whatsoever.

Should fill it up and run it through the car wash. Possibly give the inside a quick Hoover with one of those £1 garage hoovers.

That way they will be happy to lend it to you again :)