Do you think my family should help to pay for this?

[Alwayshappensattheworsttime]

Live abroad and car has broken down, expensive to fix and will take a while most likely, so we’re without a car.
Dh has a motorbike so can get to work and I can walk to school with dc and to the shops. I work very part time but can perhaps get a taxi to there sometimes.
Parents due to come to stay this weekend for a while and my sister the next day (won’t be staying with us)
Usual thing is I pick and drop them all off at the airport and we go out in the car places most days as places not that near/easy to get to
Looking at car hire prices and it’s pricey for us and not sure we can afford to pay that and getting the car fixed. Having a real stress about it all as don’t want to ruin peoples holidays and be sat at home or trying to get buses everywhere and asking them to get taxis from and back to the airport
Dh said he thinks they might prefer to have a hire car whilst here (for me to) and might not mind paying for it, but I don’t know, I don’t want to ask this of them as they are guests

What would you do?

Maybe this time you just need to hang out locally? Nothing wrong with that.

“As you know, we don’t have a car these days. I can give you all the info for buses or taxis, or you can hire a car if you prefer.’

You absolutely don’t have to pay for something you don’t need, just because they are used to it.

Tell them the situation before they arrive /set off and suggest that you can all come to some agreement about paying for car hire and/or car repair. Please don't stress over it, out of your control.

This is easy -“ sorry I don’t have a car atm so I’m using public transport. You might prefer to hire a car but I’ll leave you to decide what works best for you”

When I go to my parents country I hire a car. And then they pay for all food etc.
But if I'd tell them my car has broken down and I can't afford to fix it they would pay for a hire car immediately as they want to see us. But I also pay for meals out and all food when they visit.
But it wouldn't be a problem for them.
Just talk about it to them and see what they say!
( I also drive over 2 hours each way to pick them up from airport)

Explain the car broke down and at the moment you don’t one to get around hence not having a renting one.
They can use public transports or a cab to get from A to B. If they want to rent a car it’s up to them. They have been privileged for having someone who takes time off to driving them around. They cannot expect this all the time.

Your DH is absolutely right. They may well be used to coming to you and not paying for anything but you aren't in a position to do that this time. Just tell them that, for the holiday to work, they will need to pay for a hire car. If they say no, then perhaps you need to re-think them coming because it's not a good time for you. You need to bite the bullet because the sooner you let them know, the better.

@Alwayshappensattheworsttime I think you just need to tell them, without any Drama at all, that the car is Kaput and is going to cost a lot of money to fix, and you can't afford to hire a car currently, due to the likely cost of the car repair, so the options are that they 1) will have to stay very local while they are here, 2) Or they will have to pay for taxis/public transport while they are here - Unless 3) they want to pay for car hire while they are here ( with you as the named driver) . Really sorry (again) that you can't afford to pay for any car hire

You might be vexed that this has happened, but they are family. Just tell them the options and see what would suit them best and take it from there. These things happen. No need to stress. Honestly!

Tell them your car has broken down before they fly out.

Apologise and say it limits you to public transport and taxis mostly, as hire cars are expensive.

But maybe you do a combination. Your parents can hire a car for a couple of days to go do stuff they want. And you can all experience public transport and taxis on other days.

Just act like a family. You have a group-wide problem. Discuss how you solve it as a group.

This time you cannot do that. Inform them you have no transport. Options are to hire a car at their expense. Or get public transport.

Have you looked into prices for car hire costs booked via the UK to compare to your country? Surely a hire car daily rate is going to be cheaper than return taxis to and from the airport and being restricted to buses costs for everyone and with a small child. Imagine having to carry all your bags and shopping for beach visits etc and being restricted to waiting around for a bus. Your parents haven’t thought this out properly, you should insist they hire a car with you as a named driver rather than wasting money on taxi’s . Go for the cheapest smallest model as they normally give you better than what you book and they all have air con. There are lots of cash back sites that offer hire care discounts. Good luck

Explain and ask? Its really not an unreasonable suggest by your DH and if they can afford to fly out to see you they should be able to chip in for a hire car.

I disagree op should contribute based on the reason they’ll be driving it. They’ll only be driving it to get their guests around, without the guests there’s no need for there car so why should op pay

Did you actually mention the car hire option as it sounds like you just said your car was broken? It might not have occurred to them to hire a car and may think its a good idea? No use dancing around the subject

Why not find out how much a hire car would be and work out Huw much would be spent on taxis buses etc and if it's coming in close offer either they pay and you drive or offer to split payment maybe 70/30 as you'd be paying buses etc too

They've said it's fine without the car. They'll get a taxi to yours, then use public transport to get around. It seems as though, you're the one who wants a hire car? If they do change their mind, I'd ask them to split it amongst themselves. I wouldn't chip in.

They need to hire a car or taxis. You are doing fine without the car so you shouldn’t pay for it

I mean. Just tell them you’ve got Jo car so won’t be able to drive them round?

I don’t get the issue? They’re your family….

Thanks all, I sent them the prices of their taxi journeys total plus buses, the odd taxi etc and said car hire is x amount (actually will work out similar or a bit less) I said I am booking it, which I am so I can pick them up. Mum automatically texted back that they’d give me the money for it when they arrived and for the next week if needed :)

Your mum is sensible and helpful. Glad you worked it out. Hope your car situation improves soon.

I would just tell them the car has broke down. Don't over complicate or offer to pay, just let them know they'll need to make their own way there.
If I was staying with family or a friend and their car broke down, asking them to pay for my transport wouldn't even cross my mind, but if it will be difficult for them or they can't/don't want to pay, at least they'll know and can change dates.

Just explain the situation to them and ask for them to at least chip in something towards the cost.! They are not only guests. They are family,im sure they won't mind. If they do then they must indeed arrange and pay for their own taxis to and from your home and their hotels etc. Also, make them aware that it would be simply visits at your home as you will have no transport to take them out and about! Hope your car is fixed soon!

Sorry we don't a car at the moment. Happy to arrange taxis from airport etc .

I would let them know that your car needs repairs and that they will either need to take the buses or rent a car. I wouldn't expect who I'm going to visit to rent a car for my visit.
My last holiday over in the 🇬🇧 UK. Our friends no longer had a car due to finances. We offered to rent a car while we were there if there was anywhere that we needed to go on our own schedule. We found that the bus/ train system worked just fine for us.