That’s the thing: NO good can come from loaning it. None. At best your’e looking at resentment when they give the car back in less-than-pristine condition, when they scrape it or when they won’t give it back even when on solid financial footing because when you give someone something for free, that’s its value to them: nothing.
When the SO and I started getting serious he drove my car a few times when we were going places together. I put the kibosh on it quickly and we asked our families if we were covered on our own plans if we drove each others’ vehicles. We were and everything was hunky-dory but the difference is we’re 1) always in the car with the other and 2) the boundaries are clear; it’s not like a pseudo-gift-for-an-indeterminate-amount-of-time and 3) we EACH have a car so there’s not unequal footing so it’s just a matter of who-feels-like-driving or who-has-one-drink-and-who-has 2 or 3.
If you don’t feel comfortable giving them a 1k car then you shouldn’t loan it to them, it’s really that simple.
Another vote for gifting it. I speak from experience. I lent my car to a “responsible” friend who apparently had a penchant for parking in handicapped spots and speeding by multinova cameras.
We’ve been talking back and forth about expectations and responsibilities, and I think we will go with selling it to them for a small amount of money, with everything clearly spelled out. I’m keeping all the Judge Judy episodes I’ve watched in mind.
Insurance increases due to accidents generally terminate (with most plans) after three years, assuming no further accidents or tickets etc. If you are still getting a non-preferential rate because of an accident 10 years ago you need a new insurance carrier.
The trouble is they refuse to accept that she will not be driving my car. Even though she’s not a listed driver, her record continues to count against me.
