AITA - Use of third car for road trips
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Anonymous
| Need a sanity check. We have an old (like 15 year old) third car that is exclusively for the au pair’s personal use. I think because it’s “her” car, she assumed we’d be ok with her using it for whatever. So she just told me she was going to visit a friend 6 hours (and several states) away next weekend. I told her absolutely no problem for her to visit, but she couldn’t take the car, because it’s an old car and I’m legitimately concerned it would break down and she’d be stranded hundreds of miles from us. She was taken aback and annoyed. Am I being unreasonable? Are all of you letting your au pairs take your cars on road trips 6 hours away? |
Anonymous
| We have it written into our handbook that APs should not take the car out of state. So far no one has challenged that. |
Anonymous
| Nope! Wrote that into the handbook after our first au pair assumed she could drive "her" car to Chicago. Ended up in rematch because she couldn't even pass a driving test to get a US license. |
Anonymous
| No. You don't think the car will be able to make the trip. Of course that's reasonable. |
Anonymous
| Your house, your rules. We have allowed our APs take the car on road trips. Next time, put it in your handbook, so that there are no mismatched expectations. We update our handbook every year. |
Anonymous
| 100-200 miles in a safe car, driven by a capable AP, in decent weather, sure. If any one of those components is missing? No way. |
Anonymous
| Our au pair has freedom with her car. But we also asked her not to go further than 3-4hrs away because the car is old. If it was newer car we would be comfortable as long as the au pair is truly good driver |
Anonymous
what state are you in? In the DMV this would be mean. Plus you could in theory let her drive 3 hours away and still be in either VA or MD. But you could cross the legion bridge and be in another state in 20 mins. OP we say the car is got local use only. We will consider beach trips or local weekend trips on a case by case basis |
Anonymous
| I would not agree to it. She can rent a car. Its for driving the kids, errands and local things. Its NOT her car, its your car. If it breaks down, you are responsible for it. |
Anonymous
|
We would never let our aupair drive our car 6 hours away. We let one who was with us for two years take it about 3 hours away but it was negotiated. She paid for the oil change, etc.
Sounds like your au pair is very comfortable with your car. She can rent a car for two days. It will help cover everyone for liability. |
Anonymous
|
Don't forget that it the car breaks down, you will have to get another one for her, unless you want her around you all the time.
So I agree with you. I have a 1-2 hour limit. Never been an issue. |
Anonymous
| We are in MoCo and have in our handbook that the car should not be driven farther than 1 hour away from home - that gives her Baltimore, Northern VA, and Frederick. We also have a strict no driving in DC rule (re traffic, navigation complexity, etc). So if she wants to go to DC her and her friends typically take the metro. |
Anonymous
DP. Well, I guess I am mean but I do pay for my car. Once the au pair takes over payments and insurance premiums, they are welcome to drive wherever they want. Signed, the Grinch |
Anonymous
Yup, our former Au Pair was super upset because we would not let her drive the car during a snowstorm during rush hour last year to Baltimore. She shut up very quickly when we told her than you need to pay for whatever damages may accrue.Suddensly no longer interested. |
Anonymous
| We have a no 40 miles without permission rule, car must be home by midnight rule, au pairs must pay all tickets rule, au pairs must pay $400 towards deductible rule. AP has a dedicated, all gas paid newer car. Having her on the insurance is not cheap. All in handbook, has never been a problem. |