AIBU to not lend neighbour my car?

[HouseIsOnFire]

Just that really... new neighbours (less than a year), not particularly close (friendly when I first moved in but a series of events has lead to some distance).

Was asked out of the blue if I had comprehensive insurance, and if so could they borrow my car as needed to sort something out at their buy-to-let (defrosting a boiler condenser pipe, so not an emergency!)

Been made to feel a bit mean, though I lied and said I didn't have the insurance.

YABU - Perfectly reasonable to ask an acquaintance if you can borrow their car, and it's mean of them not to say yes

YANBU - No, I wouldn't lend my car to someone (except maybe close family)

There's been a whole series of bonkers behaviour and now genuinely wondering if I was mean not to lend it! (I did offer a lift if needed but had to rescind the offer after 4 hours and still no time for said lift given - was clear I was expected to wait about all day in case offer was taken up!)

It's an outrage ask. Full stop. No!

Sounds like they don’t know what comprehensive insurance is. You can have CI for named drivers (as we do, in fact) and it certainly doesn’t cover all drivers. In fact the appropriate question would have been whether you have an all drivers policy. That they didn’t ask this sounds like they are simply dumb chancers and you wouldn’t want to lend your car to them.

They are awful.
I'd not be saying yes to anything any more - they want to get something delivered to yours - you aren't in. Not your problem.
They want to borrow the car - hell no!

I wouldn’t loan my car to family let alone some flaky Next door neighbours; don’t sweat it carry on with your life; their buses, taxis & shankes pony; don’t feel bad they wouldn’t

I didn’t even need to read the post to know you shouldn’t lend your car to a neighbour - close family and friends yes but not a neighbour!

What nightmare neighbours. Please cease & desist all contact with them, more than a distant wave. They are cheeky buggers, given an inch & taking a mile. Frankly I wouldn't even take in a parcel for them - it would be wrong & they'd try to get you to queue at the post office to return it. Obviously NEVER ask them to do you a favour of any sort.

It's sad, but there are those who will try to take advantage of those they perceive to be malleable. My own elderly parents had, years ago, the same request from a neighbour, they agreed - several times (the question about insurance, never asked)......but whenever the car was returned, I noted; no petrol had ever been added to the tank

I just can't imagine asking to borrow a car from someone I hardly know! The absolute nerve of it.

Weird that isn’t it, especially as it seems she does her own maintenance on the property instead of using an agent. Maybe she thinks she’ll borrow other people’s cars every time she needs to go round.
This person is batshit and I feel sorry for her tenants if she treats her tenants the same as she treats her kind neighbour.

No, how cheeky of them to ask! Don’t give it another thought.

I absolutely wouldn’t lend a neighbour my car. Unless they had their own insurance cover for cars other than their own, I wouldn’t lend it to a friend, as asking them for many thousands of pounds if it was seriously damaged may offend! Comprehensive insurance only fully covers named drivers!

Are you kidding me?!?! There is zero chance of me ever lending my crappy little car to anyone, not even my partner 😂😂😂. You are NOT being unreasonable.

Before you posted that you lived alone, I thought I bet you live on your own and they see you as a softy! I can't believe they did that when you made them the dinner omg 😳 they are definitely the CF's of 2022 xxx

@Irritatedmum Sorry, to clarify, they DO have a car but it wasn't available until the next evening.

Not that it makes it any better, points of uber/car hire/taxi/bus still stand!

Someone needs to develop a partner-for-hire business for all these scenarios 😂

I'm not at the point of hiring a gigalo to get trade quotes or glare threateningly for me... yet...!

A very British problem. In other countries, the car is insured, regardless of the driver and people lend cars without a second thought.

Taxi?

Wow! Who are the 1% that voted YABU?! 🤣

taxi?!

Yanbu. They’re taking the mick!

I lent mine to my friend once and she transferred her own insurance to my car temporarily.

YADNBU , they were very cheeky to ask and I think you were right in setting your boundaries .
I would only ask a neighbour ( probably for a lift) if it was an absolute emergency and I had no other options.

My car car is insured no matter the driver. I do believe I may have put a limit on one thing as it makes it cheaper. I don’t fully remember. I still don’t lend my car out to just anyone. If a neighbour like this one asked I would say no! Where I am, you can’t get around without a vehicle. Yes, there are taxis and Uber et al but it gets super expensive. To get anywhere by transit is usually hours as it sucks and everything is fairly far.

If they f’ up my vehicle I am screwed. Why would I lend it out when they have other options they can pay for? Will I offer a ride if need be, absolutely. If certain ones needed it in an emergency I would lend but not the one the OP described.

100% agree with this.

Absolutely what @Soothsayer1 has said. Your narcistic CF neighbours sound like they have done the rounds with the other neighbours and while most have probably pushed back or have given off the 'don't try that shit on me' vibe you unfortunately are a true gem who they have been able to walk over from day 1. Put some distance between you and keep your generous hospitality and nature to others who return your kindness, we're out here just a little wary.

I read the other day 'Whatever words of advice I would give a loved sister, friend, relative in this same situation, I too should take' if you feel like they are gaslighting you, they probably are, if you feel like they are being unreasonable they probably are...

Are you part of the CF 1% that voted YABU? Clearly not only a British problem as you think. Australia has a battlefield of different types of 'fully comprehensive insurances' listed drivers, age of driver's (young and senior) depending on how much excess you wa