So background is BIL and SIl both lovely ( DH's sis and husband) but a bit rubbish with money.
They bought a house 6 years ago which they are struggling to pay for and which needs loads of work doing ( new windows, repointing, re-wiring, new kitchen, new bathroom, leaky roof- didn't get a full survey to save money).
About 4 years ago BIL got a new job ( he changes jobs about every 2/3 years) but then realised that commute was going to be really difficult without a second car due to SIL's work being in opposite direction plus timing of school pick-ups etc. SIL was desperately looking for car for about £1k on internet although they were struggling to find the cash.
We had 2 cars and at the time we were considering changing one as I too had a new job with a much longer commute and thought a diesel car would be more suitable. At the time we still had about 4 months left to pay on DH's car ( about £800) and 6 months to pay on mine ( about £1300). Anyway, to help them out we offered to give them my car, buy a new car for me and by deferring the start of the loan on my car we would only have to pay the 3 lots of loan payments for about 2 months. So we did. We drove my car to theirs ( 3 hours away) at our expense. They couldn't afford to insure it so had to ask BIL's MIL (who is wealthy) to lend them money for insurance.
Anyway, scroll forward 2 years and we go to visit them and notice that our old car is sitting on drive with tax out of date by about 6 months. I mention to SIL in case she has overlooked and she says they haven't bothered because BIL has new job closer to home and now doesn't need second car. SIL says they will tax/ insure/ MOT when they have some spare cash. OK.
Scroll forward another 2 years. BIL mother dies. Leaves them half of house ( enough to clear their mortgage and then some) and her virtually brand new car. Only had 6 months when she died. BIL now using it for work ( another new job). Our car still sitting on their drive.
So now my DH's car is on its last legs. We have moved house so now my commute is really short but DH's is very long so it makes sense for him to have my diesel car but his is really too big for me ( 7 seater) and I have only a short commute. My old petrol car would be ideal to tide us over until my car ( the one we bought early so we could give them my old car) is paid for (2 years) and we can buy me a new one.
So the upshot is WIBU to ask if we can have our old car back ? It's just sitting on their drive not doing anything. Or do I just have to accept that we gave it to them and it's now theirs ?