Can a Car Be Loaned to Others?

[Arabella]

Loaning a car to others carries risks and is not advisable. There are potential issues with the car: the borrower may not be familiar with the vehicle, and minor problems could lead to traffic accidents, for which the owner would be held responsible. There are also concerns with the borrower: they might have just obtained their driver's license and lack driving experience; they could be driving under the influence of alcohol; or their license type may not be suitable for the vehicle. For someone who has just gotten their license, the likelihood of minor collisions is high, and if they run a red light and incur penalty points, the owner would have to bear the consequences. Additionally, if the borrower drives under the influence, the car could be impounded. In case of an accident while the car is loaned, insurance may refuse to cover the damages: after purchasing a car, owners typically buy car insurance. Normally, if the owner is involved in an accident, they can directly contact the insurance company for assistance. However, if the car is loaned to someone else and an accident occurs, the insurance company may deny the claim. As stated in the insurance policy, the insurer can refuse coverage for damages caused by driving without the insurer's consent.

[LandonAnn]

I think lending cars requires extra caution, because I've seen too many troubles caused by it. The most critical issue is legal liability - if an accident happens while the car is out, the owner might bear joint liability, and insurance companies may dispute claims. Last time, my old classmate lent his car to someone who drove without a license and crashed, costing him tens of thousands in compensation. There's also an easily overlooked hidden cost - borrowers might not truthfully report mileage or traffic violations, and you only discover a pile of penalty points during annual inspection when it's too late. If I really must lend my car, I'd definitely check the borrower's license, clarify details like fuel costs and violation handling in advance, and preferably sign a simple agreement.

[AdrianAnn]

From my experience, always check the insurance policy before lending your car! Many insurance policies clearly state that accidents occurring during the lending period may affect claims. Once, a relative borrowed my car for a trip to the suburbs and scraped the undercarriage on a rock. During repairs, I discovered the insurance only covered 70% for non-owner drivers. Since then, I always back up dashcam footage before lending my car—after all, in case of drunk driving or speeding, the dashcam records are crucial for protecting myself. Nowadays, I only lend my car to immediate family members and require them to share their location, so I can contact them promptly if the car goes missing for too long. It's both safer and more convenient.

[OGrant]

Actually, lending a car really tests interpersonal relationships. Aunt Wang in our neighborhood learned this the hard way. She lent her car to a neighbor for a wedding pickup, but the car had a tire blowout on the highway, even deforming the wheel rim. To make matters worse, the neighbor only paid for the tire repair and pretended not to notice the chassis damage. I've since wised up—if I really want to help, I'll drive the person myself. This way, I maintain goodwill while avoiding disputes over car damage. I always keep a parking contact card in my car, with an added note saying 'Car and wife are not for lending.' When someone asks to borrow the car, I half-jokingly point to the sign, and everyone saves face. Of course, emergencies are a different story—like the time a downstairs neighbor needed urgent medical transport, I just reversed my car to clear the way for them.