To think friend is charging too much?

[sadaboutlife]

For of us sharing a car.
3 hour journey there
3 hour back
She says it will cost £120 petrol
So charging £30 each
Do you think that's correct ?

She's charging you time and wear and tear on her car not just petrol - fair enough - I hate driving so would charge a prohibitive amount

Maybe she is planning on a carbon offset.

My large car is £70 to fill and that would cover a similar journey. She's basically doubling it..,

I have a big jeep and it would prob cost me that in diesel

best option would be to arrange another car.

Say you will be charging petrol only.

Even for two people you will be no worse off.

I used to know someone who had a big thirsty car like mine and used to insist on taking it on long journeys and packing it with friends whom he charged heavily.

By chance he was a petrol station manager and used to have an arrangement with the tanker drivers for the "wastage"

Looking on the bright side, he got sacked when the auditors found out.

I get nearly 400 miles from £40 of petrol, however that's not motorway driving and I don't have 4 people in the car. If I was being generous with the figures then I'd double that. So, probably £20 each and that would include a bit of wear and tear. I also wouldn't be averse to chucking in a bit extra for profit as it's probably saving a bit of hassle and inconvenience and presumably public transport might be quite expensive too,

If you can't easily get to where you're going by public transport (very likely if in the UK) then you're paying for convenience. Plus a three hour each way return journey on public transport could cost you close to that, will definitely take more time and won't get you door to door. So that's what you're paying for.

400 miles at the Inland Revenue approved rate of 40p per mile would be £160.

That rate is what the Inland Revenue allow companies to pay their employees when they use their own car for business mileage. It is meant to compensate the employee for fuel and the wear and tear on their car without them making a profit.

If you’re all drivers

And you all split long journeys like this

Then you all know what the ‘going rate’ is

So can’t you just say to her

“Gosh, Barbara, £120 fuel sounds steep! Is your car OK cos that seems pretty expensive for the mileage - should we swap to my car? It would be about £60 fuel then.”

And see what she says.

I agree that friends shouldn’t charge wear and tear rates! But equally I’d split petrol 3 ways if 1 person does all the driving.

Time to formalise the rules.

Lol at it being an offence to overcharge for lifts. All the link shows that was posted is that operating an unlicensed taxi business can be a criminal,offence and domestic car insurance may be invalid

When you set off don't fill up the tank entirely, put in petrol in stages (motorway service station etc), that way you can be sure you're only paying your exact share.

Why don't you raise the issue with her instead of seeking views of random people whom you have never met? Or even more sensible, have you asked the opinions of your fellow travellers?

I agree with others who suggested that you should take the train. It is much more peaceful, raises no arguments among "friends" about petrol costs but is not cheap.

Given you are expecting her to do all the driving as well it’s not unreasonable. Is there a cheaper way of making the trip?

It sounds as if she’s charging company car rates at 45p a mile and dividing by 4. How much do you charge? If you think it’s too expensive, you could offer to drive maybe?

If she's skint, and in her shoes, I'd fill my car up from empty and the split the cost between everyone in the car inc myself. Making money out if friends isn't a nice trait. I drive a lot of the time with friends and I rarely charge them, as a general rule they'll usually pay for my drinks ie lemonade as I'm driving

That’s far too much much. She can easily drive there and back on a full tank.

Four adults in a Citroën c1 is going to be a very uncomfortable 3 hour journey. They are tiny inside and have hardly any boot space

Have you all told her that’s steep? Is she known for being a bit tight with money?

@ Aridane

Why the LOL?

Overcharging in such a manner would be evidence of operating for hire and reward.

As a result of this I can think of, off the top of my head, 4 offences the driver could be charged with.

What do your other friends charge? So she's happy to accept a lift off you for £10 for a longer journey but then expects to charge you multiple times more for a less journey?!

Wear and tear in 6 hours? Are you all that messy?

She's taking the piss. Laugh and say 'sure, where's my £30 for last time?'

Wear and tear doesn’t refer to mess in the car, it is wear and tear on the engine.

Sounds steep, and on principle I’d be looking at plan B!

Ask your friend to fill the tank when you leave, and when you arrive at the destination fill up again. At that point you will know what the journey has cost and can double it for approximate return journey. E.g. if she fills up at the destination and it costs £30 you know the return will be about £30 also so the 3 passengers could chuck in £20 each and sub her cost as a thank you for driving and for wear and tear. (or just split the cost 4 ways if your driver is happy with this).

If anyone is not happy with the arrangement would someone else be happy to drive on the same terms?

Just do what a hire company does - return the car full?

So full tank, then drive there and back - refill the tank and then whatever the difference is you split...