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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

am I really a mug to MOT the car?

34 replies

BibiBlocksberg · 02/11/2010 11:40

Bit of a strang one but could really do with your wise opionions please :)

It's MOT time for the car again this week and I was just talking to my colleagues at work about it.

They were horrified when I told them that car belongs to DP but as he has a company car I use his private car to get to work everyday.

Now, I tend to MOT it every year and pay for any work that needs to be done, petrol, tax, insurance, tyres etc.

DP uses car at weekends since he can't use his company vehicle for private purposes.

I've never questioned the arrangement since I'm the one who drives his private car on a daily basis but my colleagues seem to think I have mug written all over me.

AIBU? Hmm

OP posts:
nickytwotimes · 02/11/2010 11:43

um, i find this kind of financial arrangement odd. don't you have joint finances?

Sarsaparilllla · 02/11/2010 11:43

Er, no, you use the car the most so you pay the MOT etc, I'm not sure why your colleagues think that's strange at all Confused

Rocketbird · 02/11/2010 11:43

Your colleagues are weird. Why would you not pay for the upkeep of a car that you largely have use of? Do you live together? Not that it makes any real difference but if you and your DP are part of the same household then there is even less of an issue.

thisisyesterday · 02/11/2010 11:44

i wouldn't say you are a mug no, it clearly works and you're both happy with it

tho is there a reason you don't split it? why is it HIS car? do you not have a joint account for stuff like that?

Twiceshy · 02/11/2010 11:44

No, YANBU. I think what you are doing is totally fair and reasonable.

lollipopshoes · 02/11/2010 11:45

if you're the main user of the car and if you didn't have use of it, you'd have to buy your own (and tax it, insure it, MOT it etc) then how can you possibly be being a mug?

makes perfect sense to me

TrillianAstra · 02/11/2010 11:46

Cars have to be registered under one name, presumably your DP bought it so it is registered under his name.

But why would you not at the contribute towards the upkeep of a car that you use?

Our car is technically DPs car, he uses it to get to to work every day and I rarely use it, but I still contribute towards MOT, tax, insurance etc.

If you are happy with your financial arrangements ignore them.

Original poster
BibiBlocksberg · 02/11/2010 11:46

No, never had joint finances - was going to type out a reason for that but seems too ridiculous for words.

Let's just say that his things are classed as his, fair enough if he feels that way.

I'm more geared towards 'ours' especially now we've been together a while.

It's not something he will let go of I don't think (the mine and yours attitude) so no sense in fighting over it :)

OP posts:
Rocketbird · 02/11/2010 11:47

Both our cars are technically my brother's. But he sure as hell doesn't pay the bills. The driver of the car should pay, of course.

Original poster
BibiBlocksberg · 02/11/2010 11:49

....running behind with reading posts, sorry.

Colleagues all seem to think costs should be split even though DP only uses the car once aa week tops.

Good to know I am still sane :)

OP posts:
tuggy · 02/11/2010 12:01

Your collegues are odd....

Original poster
BibiBlocksberg · 02/11/2010 12:05

He he he tuggy - it IS a bit of an odd place to work. Thank the heavens for MN advice otherwise I'd have succumbed to the oddness myself by now :) :)

OP posts:
trixie123 · 02/11/2010 12:07

one thing, is the insurance in your name and building up a no claims bonus? I was only ever a named driver on my ex h insurance and when we divorced I had to start from scratch as no companies then allowed named drivers to build up their own no claims. I have been driving for nearly 20 years and only have about 3years no claims [sad)

TattyDevine · 02/11/2010 12:14

I think that's reasonable. If you didn't pay for the upkeep of it, he'd be better off selling it so he's not paying tax on the company car benefit AND for insurance/mot/tax and upkeep of a 2nd car he doesn't use but gets depreciated etc through use anyway!

I suppose you could "buy it off him" but that's silly - if he's happy for you to use it and you are happy to pay your way with it, fine.

My finances are all tied in with my DH with joint accounts, joint mortgage etc but that tends to happen over the years more gradually - but this is how it starts, with you borrowing each others assets and paying towards things to the extent that it just starts to make sense things that being in joint names being in joint names.

Anniegetyourgun · 02/11/2010 12:18

Hmm, some other things you've said about how things are split between you - "his" and "ours" - ring faint alarm bells. But the car arrangement sounds reasonable enough on the face of it.

Original poster
BibiBlocksberg · 02/11/2010 12:38

Only thing that slightly bugs me sometimes is the fact that I wouldn't actually choose this particular car left to my own devices.

It's fairly expensive to maintain (sporty) and fuel. But, DP says he'll keep hold of it til it falls apart and won't consider selling it.

Makes no sense in me buying a seperate car that I like so will have to be patient and wait my turn.

Oh dear, get me, bet there's a load of people out there who would be delighted to have their own dry warm transport. Ignore my mini whine :) :)

OP posts:
dementedma · 02/11/2010 12:56

am always fascinated by how other people divvy up the finances - DH and I have just one shared account. Everything goes into it, and everything comes out of it.
It's so simple. We bank online so we can see all transactions and there's no hassle.

tyler80 · 02/11/2010 13:03

Yanbu My OH pays all the insurance on my car and he doesn't even have a licence let alone drive

laweaselmys · 02/11/2010 13:08

DP drives my car. I actually haven't passed my test anyway - so obvIously it is him driving til I start learning next month!

The expenses come out of joint, but if we seperated everything they would come out of his.

androbbob · 02/11/2010 13:11

I dont see aproblem with it - you use it five days out of seven solely and then presumably together at the weekend. I would not have a problem paying the MOT, servicing, etc as I was the main user.

If it galls you a little that he does not contribute to the running of the car (presuming he bought it?) I would leave it low of fuel at a weekend and then he could pay for the fuel he uses at the weekend, but then I like being petty!

NinkyNonker · 02/11/2010 13:14

Check insurance, if it is in his name and you are just a named driver the insurance company could wiggle out of paying if you had a crash...as you are in fact the main driver.

TheBeast · 02/11/2010 13:15

You may also want to check with the insurers. I was told by the insurers of the car my children mainly drive that the one of them who uses it the most should be the insured and that I should only be a named driver. Of course, this put the cost of insurance up but (hopefully) means they cannot avoid the insurance on some technicality.

Original poster
BibiBlocksberg · 02/11/2010 13:18

androbbob - ha, that NEVER works. The man has leaving fumes in it down to a fine art :)

Usually accompanied by the comment 'there's looooaaads in there.

I have told him in no uncertain terms though that next time he leaves 'loads in there' if I run out thanks to his misering I WILL make him come out with a petrol can. Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
BibiBlocksberg · 02/11/2010 13:23

Good points about the insurance - never thought about the main driver/user issue.

It's due for renewal soon so will quote with me as main driver I think. Thanks for pointing that out.

OP posts:
Schroeder · 02/11/2010 13:30

Hmm if it's his car and you pay for the servicing and mot what happens if he wants to sell it? Would he be likely to give you a share?

I drive dh's car much more than he does I put petrol in it and keep it clean,it's my name on the insurance( it has to be because I use it to travel for work.

But it is DH's car, if he wants to sell it he will. In fact a couple of years ago he did sell the old one just as the finance was paid off. If it had been down to me I would not have done it. So for that reason (and because I earn 10x less than him)I do not pay for the mot or service.

Not sure if you are a mug or not? MaybeGrin

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