My cousin wants to borrow my car?

Question

My cousin lost her job and voluntary repossessed her old car, leaving her with no way to get around. She called me and asked if she could borrow my car so she could look for a job, run errands etc. I let her borrow it a few weeks ago. I asked for it back a week later as I needed to do a few things and my wife was out of town with our other car.
She brought it back, handed me the keys and left, later that day I went to go do my errands and realized the gas tank was on empty. I thought she probably forgot because I needed it back asap. No big deal.
The next week she asked to borrow it again, I told her no problem, I mentioned the gas and she apologized and said it wouldn't happen again. The other day I needed it back to  do some errands again, I called her the day before as I knew she was going out of town with her boyfriend. She told me she would be up before noon. I was at work so I wasn't there to "inspect" the fuel gage. I got home and checked it before I walked in the house and again it was E!. I called her out this time, she said she would bring some money up today. She didn't get home from her trip until late so she wrote me an email stating that she would be up tomorrow and asked if she could borrow the car again. 
I'm wondering if I should let her borrow it again? She obviously has money to go on camping trips, out to the bar a couple nights a week and random clothes shopping sprees. 
What do you guys think?

David M · Accepted Answer

I always tell people not to loan money to people unless they are prepared to not get it back. If you're OK loaning your car and giving gas to a relative in need and you trust her with the car, go ahead and do it. If using up your gas bothers you and you're still OK with loaning her the car, then give her the car with an empty gas tank. The next problem I foresee with this situation is not getting your car back on a timely basis some time. I fear this will end badly for you two. Good luck.

Pearls Before Swine · Answer

Insist she pays you for the gas she has used so far, before you'll even consider loaning her the car again. Also tell her that from now on, she has to give you gas money *before* she borrows the car, since she has shown she isn't capable of paying it afterwards. Don't accept promises or checks or excuses - no cash, no car.

Another thing you could do, though it's more hassle for you, is to only loan her the car when it's already almost out of gas. That way she would have to fill it if she wanted to use it.

Jacquie D · Answer

I wouldn't let her because leaving it on empty twice is not an accident. If she has money for other things than she has money for gas. If you are just an overly nice person make her give you gas money for last time she used it before you let her borrow it again.

? · Answer

If she's a good friend, lend her your car again.  Just leave the tank empty when you hand it over.  Then she has no choice to either bring it back with more gas or the same.  :-)

Lucy Lu · Answer

This is simple, DO NOT LET HER USE YOUR CAR AGAIN.! She has no responsibility, Your cousin is using you. You need your car. And what would happen if she got a ticket or crashed it.? You have been a good cousin. She hasn't.

spicyblapanicasian · Answer

nope make that ***** walk.

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My cousin wants to borrow my car?

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