Fair way to share petrol costs

beth.stephenson2009

Only one of my friends doesnt drive, and if she wanted to stop somewhere on the way to where we are going- I wouldn't mind, but if I had to pay for parking I would make her pay, or I wouldn't stop.

She once asked me to take her for a job interview, I said no problem- here is how much it will cost me in petrol, give to me when you get in the car, or I won't be taking you anywhere. Proper friends won't have a problem doing this.

I may of come across rude in my last post (sorry!) your friends might not realise how much it annoys you, so talk to them about it. Do it over a text if you can't say it to them in person.

notechno

Deleted.....

olibrofiz

I think at aged 20's all your friends are used to their parents taking them here there and everywhere for free. They just take it for granted.

If your Dad is the main driver on the insurance, therefore it's 'his' car, could he not have a word with them? I know if DD persistently brought my car back empty I'd have a word with her AND her friends!!

Also, maybe do what one of my friends used to do to those that didn't contribute, at the end of an evening she would just pull up outside the bus station and say 'sorry xxxx and xxxxx, don't have enough petrol to take you home'.

Bravehearted_2

msb5262 wrote: »

I think you should organise the next meet - and make it in a city centre so you can all go by public transport. That way you'll all be paying a similar amount...and if your friends start on about wanting to go by (your) car next time, set out your T & C very clearly!

HTH

MsB

Best advice.

Get them to bring up the fact they want to ride in a nice, warm car - then lay out the petrol charge.

They KNOW you're timid and are latching on to this, playing ignorant as if they can't pick up on your hints.

Idiophreak

beth.stephenson2009 wrote: »

She once asked me to take her for a job interview, I said no problem- here is how much it will cost me in petrol, give to me when you get in the car, or I won't be taking you anywhere. Proper friends won't have a problem doing this.

Did you charge her for wear and tear as well?
Depreciation on the car?
A portion of the insurance?
A percentage of the road tax?

Did you charge her an hourly rate for your services as a driver?

I hope she watched the odometer carefully to make sure she was getting her money's worth...

beth.stephenson2009

Idiophreak wrote: »

Did you charge her for wear and tear as well?
Depreciation on the car?
A portion of the insurance?
A percentage of the road tax?

Did you charge her an hourly rate for your services as a driver?

I hope she watched the odometer carefully to make sure she was getting her money's worth...

Nope. We went on google maps together, and I charged her the estimated fuel cost.

I get some people like/dont have the courage to say NO when being treated like a mug, im not one of them.

londonsurrey

The OP is within their rights to be bothered by this. They are paying roughly the equivalent of a round of drinks for each outing. If they were flush and happy to do this, then all well and good. As they are not feeling flush, feel disrespected by being left to clean up after their friends, and don't think it's fair, then it would be very doormat-like to go on doing this.

ebayqueen_2

Hi there
I think that its extremely bad mannered of your 'friends' to not contribute. My daughter doesn't drive but her friend does and when they go out for the night she gives her at least £5 towards the cost of 15-20 mile round trip and there may be other girls in the car too.

All her friends contribute to their 'driving buddies'. Your 'friends' are aware of the cost of keeping a car and I think they are taking advantage of you. Remember if they are real friends they will understand your concerns and if they don't just move on. Hope this helps

Idiophreak

ebayqueen wrote: »

Hi there
I think that its extremely bad mannered of your 'friends' to not contribute. My daughter doesn't drive but her friend does and when they go out for the night she gives her at least £5 towards the cost of 15-20 mile round trip and there may be other girls in the car too.

Wow, her "friend" has got a good thing going! In my car 20 miles would cost less than £2.40 in fuel...if I could get three people to give me a fiver for that journey, I'd do it every day!

londonsurrey wrote:

They are paying roughly the equivalent of a round of drinks for each outing.

You think?
Say four of them go, buy a pint each at what, £3.50 average? That's £14. That would get them 70 miles even at 30mpg. My car would go 120 miles for the cost of that round. When the OP said "out of town", I didn't think they meant 60 miles out of town...More likely, the OP's talking about a couple of miles here and there and a couple of miles driving out of town - 20 miles all in? Around £4 in an average car, probably £2.50 if they drive carefully. So it's the cost of a drink, once every few months.

(I do agree, however, about having to tidy up after them - that's just not on)

aliasojo

beth.stephenson2009 wrote: »

She once asked me to take her for a job interview, I said no problem- here is how much it will cost me in petrol, give to me when you get in the car, or I won't be taking you anywhere. Proper friends won't have a problem doing this.

Imo, this is the other end of 'extreme' (as in one extreme to the other).

A friend *should* be happy to help their pal out on occasion. Telling a friend who asks for a specific favour 'sure but this is what it will cost you', is just wrong. Different if the friend takes the mick regularly but not in the instance described. (Unless it was extreme mileage involved and would seriously affect your fuel costs shouldering it yourself.)

As for the OP, you chose to have a car so you are responsible for the running costs etc. I agree that everyone should pitch in to pay for petrol for a trip out somewhere but I don't agree they should split it between themselves and you shouldn't have to pay anything just because it's your car that's being used.

These are friends, not some group of neighbours you barely know. There's a middle line to be found between being fair to you and being friendly to them iyswim.