10 Tips to Consider Before Lending Your Car

How many times have you been requested to lend your car? It is not the most desirable request to get and most car owners end up with it. There are many dangers associated with lending your car to someone else. Read on to know what they are and how you can tackle them.

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Important Points to Consider Before Lending Your Car

Here are the main factors you should keep in mind when you let someone else borrow your vehicle:

1. Driver’s capability: Ask your friend who would be driving the car? If your friend himself is going to drive, ensure he is a good driver. If he is asking someone else to drive, you need to be sure of the driver’s capacities and skills.
2. Driver’s age: If your friend says he will let a relative or other friend drive the car, insist on knowing that person’s age. If an underage driver gets behind the wheels, you will be in trouble. You won’t get the car insurance claim and may even end up in a legal tangle after an accident.
3. Check your insurance: Before you lend your car, make sure your car insurance policy is up-to-date. You may be confident of your own driving skills, but you can never be too sure of someone else’s. You have to be prepared for the worst. So, keep the car insurance active. If there is a mishap, the insurer would most likely take care of it.
4. Find out the purpose: Speak to your friend and see why he needs your car. This is important because you will only get the car insurance claim if the vehicle is driven within the policy’s limits. In other words, if there is an accident due to an exclusion as per the policy, you won’t be able to make a claim. For example, if your car is damaged when your friend takes it to an illegal race, you won’t be able to make any claim.
5. Frequency of usage: You may be kind enough to lend your car to a neighbor who needs to urgently go the hospital. But if your neighbor decides to use your vehicle every day to go to work, you need to pull him up! Limit the lending frequency and stick to emergencies only. Increased car usage increases the probability of an accident.
6. Ensure the laws aren’t violated: If someone is driving your car, that person needs to follow the laws. Tell the friend who is borrowing the car to strictly adhere to the traffic laws, speed limits, signals, etc. You would surely not want anyone to be a law breaker while driving your car.
7. Pass on the information: Before you hand over the keys, inform your friend where the car insurance policy and other relevant documents are kept in the car. If you have purchased car insurance online, tell them about it. Also inform about the special functions of the car, if any.
8. Inform about the repair requirements: You may have a specific garage from where you get your car repaired. Tell your friend to take the car there itself if the need arises. Alternatively, your car insurance online policy may also have a list of cashless garages.
9. Set the rules: You need to be strict with the rules. One shouldn’t be intoxicated while driving a car.
10. Refueling: Inform your friend about the refueling guidelines you follow. Tell him about the type of fuel needed, the minimum fuel to be stored in the tank, etc.

Conclusion

Keep these tips in mind before you lend your car to anyone. You will surely not face any problems thereafter.