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.

Always return a car clean and with a full tank

You need to get rid of the CF and do not loan them anything again.

At the very least, it should be returned exactly as it was loaned (fuel, cleanliness etc).

But more is better - to cover the other wear and tear the loaner cannot make up for (tyres, breaks, a/c gas etc).

[quote Sniped]@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.[/quote]
Well if they want to borrow it again they need to reimburse you for the fuel. And if you do get that, make sure the car is empty before they borrow it again to save the same argument!

Personally I'd tell them to do one and give them the website of a hire company.

Tell them they owe you a tank of fuel and make sure they get it needing filling up.

Personally I'd tell them to fuck off for being a tight twat.

Make sure it's the right sort of fuel though. No-one will thank you for petrol in a Diesel engine or vice Verda.

Yes, you should pay to be insured on it and fill up the tank afterwards

Yes of course.

Do they know how much petrol costs for 6 hours driving ?

I would demand the money.

I'd replace what I'd used (probably fill it right up unless it was way off, to be honest), and buy chocs/wine as a thank you.

They are not struggling for money whatsoever.

In which case you’re a fool for letting them stay and pay nothing.

If you know they are cf’s you should have told them before lending them your car. Clean with a full tank and a bottle of wine. I wouldn’t let them get away with it, they owe you.

Yes, and leave it as you would wish to find it.

I would replace the fuel to the same level as when l got it e.g. if it was 3/4 full, then l would return it like that. I would be being resistive for all of this persons CF ways

The only persons car I would borrow would be my sisters. Frequently if i borrow it it's empty so i fill the tank. If i don't need to put diesel in it, I won't (if only a short journey).
It all works out in the end and I'd never leave a thank you gift! Way ott for my siblings. But i think some people's relationship are more formal.

The only other time i drive other people's cars is to do them a favour!
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I’ve never borrowed anyones car (always had my own) and no one has ever asked to borrow my car, but I think giving it back as you found it is the right thing to do.

They are just an all round CF. I’m a relatively new driver (1 year) but when I was learning I asked if I could insure myself on their car so that I could do the odd bit of practice in it - they said no. Which is totally fine! But they also never gave offered lifts when I had to walk 30 mins to the nearest station at 6:30am in the dark to get to work - yet are constantly hinting for lifts from me at 7:30am. The car is completely mine, DH doesn’t drive. I pay all insurance and upkeep and it’s really the only thing I have that’s truly mine so I wasn’t sure if I was just being petty. I’ve just discovered that having them on my insurance is more expensive so am going to take them off (much to DHs despair) and hope that solves any future asks.

Is this your husband's child?

I would at minimum leave the gauge at what it was before I borrowed it.

As in, if i borrowed it with a full tank I would top it back up to a full tank before returning it.

But if I borrowed it with 50 miles in the tank I would top it up to 1/4 - 1/2 tank before returning it, likely 1/2 as a bit of a thank you!

At a minimum, back at level it was given, and tidy.

Sounds like this is a step-child? Whoever it is, I would indeed do as you are going to and remove them from the insurance, and I would tell them why next time they asked to borrow the car, without fuss or argument. Clearly about time someone taught them some manners, so it's better they know why.

I'd return it at the same level as when I took it. Like a hire car.

Yes, and check what sort of fuel in case it needs something other than bog standard petrol or diesel.

Having read your updates, you really need to find your courage and back bone to tell them to fuck off to everything.

This is why they have money, because they are spending other peoples instead.

@HollowTalk no, his parent!

I know I need to find a back bone.. I’m very lacking in that department. And at almost 30 I don’t really know where to start with gaining one.