Well first of all, this is something you need to figure out BEFORE you match so the AP knows what she's getting into. Honestly, as long as you put it all out there up front, there are a wide variety of totally ok car policies.

Do you live out in the suburbs with no public transportation at all? Then you should probably at least share a car with her. Do you live in the suburbs with one bus line that runs every hour? Then you should probably at least share a car with her. Do you live in the middle of the city next to the Metro? Then you would be 100% OK not offering her personal use of the car (as long as she knows that).

Most families we know share a car with their AP (so the AP can use it, but needs to always ask first). There is a ton of variation on car rules though. Some people have a car curfew, some don't; some have restriction on how far you can go - next state? Within a certain mile radius? Into the city or not? Some people have restrictions on who else you can or how many people. Some people have rules about gas useage (APs pay for their own personal gas, but how that actually ends up working varies by host family). Some people have rules about keeping the car clean. You must define rules up front for who pays when she's in an accident - typically, she pays the deductible if it's her fault on her personal time. If it's while she's driving the kids, you might consider splitting it even if it is her fault.

Really, you just need to consider what you're comfortable with and also what you yourself would be willing to do. Would you want to rely solely on public transportation for a year in your area? If not, then you should probably try to share a car with her. If you'd be fine with that, then no need. We lived in the city with our first and our LCC said most APs in her cluster didn't have personal care use. Now that we live out further, we've found that most share a car with a host parent.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She has a $500. fund? Terrific!
Your AP sounds like more work than having a 16 yr old in the family. Maybe it's good experience for you if you haven't been there yet.

What does that mean? Are you implying that the HF should have to pay when she bangs up or totals the car?! HF is not is not a limitless cash tree, hate to tell ya. I think your own 16 year old is a SLIGHTLY different situation.

Don't you think your own 16 yr old should pay for an at fault, car accident?

Probably not. I would want my children to be focused on school and sports at that age, so they wouldnt have any money that they have earned to pay for that.

Just between us, your au pair is likewise focused on her priority, which is to experience American culture, at her age.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She has a $500. fund? Terrific!
Your AP sounds like more work than having a 16 yr old in the family. Maybe it's good experience for you if you haven't been there yet.

What does that mean? Are you implying that the HF should have to pay when she bangs up or totals the car?! HF is not is not a limitless cash tree, hate to tell ya. I think your own 16 year old is a SLIGHTLY different situation.

Don't you think your own 16 yr old should pay for an at fault, car accident?

Probably not. I would want my children to be focused on school and sports at that age, so they wouldnt have any money that they have earned to pay for that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She has a $500. fund? Terrific!
Your AP sounds like more work than having a 16 yr old in the family. Maybe it's good experience for you if you haven't been there yet.

What does that mean? Are you implying that the HF should have to pay when she bangs up or totals the car?! HF is not is not a limitless cash tree, hate to tell ya. I think your own 16 year old is a SLIGHTLY different situation.

Don't you think your own 16 yr old should pay for an at fault, car accident?

Anonymous wrote:She has a $500. fund? Terrific!
Your AP sounds like more work than having a 16 yr old in the family. Maybe it's good experience for you if you haven't been there yet.

What does that mean? Are you implying that the HF should have to pay when she bangs up or totals the car?! HF is not is not a limitless cash tree, hate to tell ya. I think your own 16 year old is a SLIGHTLY different situation.

She has a $500. fund? Terrific!
Your AP sounds like more work than having a 16 yr old in the family. Maybe it's good experience for you if you haven't been there yet.

We live in NoVA suburbs. A car is necessary.

No driving to/in DC.

No driving to Maryland unless with permission.

I give her money to cover work driving and she fills up the tank each week. Any extra driving other than work-related is her dime. (I.e. I give her $40 extra in her stipend each week to cover the mileage she routinely drives the kids. If it its' more than the average, I will give her extra...like on Spring Break).

She must clean out/vacuum the car once a week.

She must let me know of any issues the car has (mechanical/time for an oil change).

Accidents that are her fault, she is responsible for damages up to $500.

Always lock the car.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, they come here to experience American culture. Can they do that without you car?

I think I understand your point, but it needs a bit of refining - APs come to the U.S. for many reasons, namely childcare and to experience American culture. And, yes, they can/do achieve their goals w/ and w/out the use of a HF's vehicle, depending on the circumstances. OP has a simple question - no need to complicate it.

You are OP? Only OP knows if there are public transportation options available to her house.

You're kidding me, right? ...You should be caring for your charges.

OP you absolutely need to put guidelines in place for kid transport and for personal use. If you don't you're car will become the area's au pair transportation service.

Personal Use
*Car Curfew midnight or 1 am
*Distance restriction
*No out of state trips
*Au Pair is responsible for the gas and cleaning the car
*No texting or phone use in the car

Kid Transport
*Come up with a list of where you kid's need to go, suggestions of places to go and restrictions
*No texting or phone use
*You should pay for gas when the kid's are being driven around

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, they come here to experience American culture. Can they do that without you car?

I think I understand your point, but it needs a bit of refining - APs come to the U.S. for many reasons, namely childcare and to experience American culture. And, yes, they can/do achieve their goals w/ and w/out the use of a HF's vehicle, depending on the circumstances. OP has a simple question - no need to complicate it.

You are OP? Only OP knows if there are public transportation options available to her house.

Anonymous wrote:Well, they come here to experience American culture. Can they do that without you car?

I think I understand your point, but it needs a bit of refining - APs come to the U.S. for many reasons, namely childcare and to experience American culture. And, yes, they can/do achieve their goals w/ and w/out the use of a HF's vehicle, depending on the circumstances. OP has a simple question - no need to complicate it.

Well, they come here to experience American culture. Can they do that without you car?

Anonymous wrote:No two families are the same. What policy are you considering, (just as a starting point)?

That's the thing. We don't have a personal use policy in mind - had only thought about car use for kid purposes.

No two families are the same. What policy are you considering, (just as a starting point)?

We have a new AP and are trying to figure out what a fair personal use policy would be for her and future APs. Please share what guidelines have worked for you?

TIA!