Can I Lend My Car to a Relative to Drive?
2 Answers
You can lend your car to someone else to drive. Precautions: The borrower must have a valid driver's license and possess normal driving ability. The borrower must comply with traffic rules, refrain from driving under the influence of alcohol, and drive courteously as a responsible driver. The borrower should have good moral character and a strong awareness of laws and regulations, ensuring that driving is not only responsible for themselves but also for the car owner. If the car owner knowingly lends the car to someone without a driver's license and an accident occurs, the car owner should also bear liability and may be jointly liable for compensation with the driver. Legal Liability: Lending a car to someone else involves complex legal and interest issues. If the borrower causes a major accident resulting in severe personal injury or property damage and lacks the ability to compensate, the lender may bear joint liability. Borrowers rarely take care of the car as if it were their own, often driving recklessly regardless of road conditions to return quickly or overload the vehicle with passengers or cargo.
From a safety perspective, lending your car requires extra caution. I've personally witnessed relatives falling out after a borrowed car got scratched. Even if the borrower is an experienced driver, they're unfamiliar with your vehicle's specifics and may mishandle emergencies. In case of an accident, the owner bears full responsibility, and insurance claims become particularly troublesome. I always check my policy details beforehand—many insurers reduce payouts for accidents involving unauthorized drivers. If absolutely unavoidable, I accompany relatives on test drives to familiarize them with the car, and document fuel levels and existing scratches before handing over the keys. Honestly, with car rental services so convenient nowadays, booking one for them on a platform is the more worry-free solution.
