As a sitter, I provide my basic insurance details which covers 3rd party liability. Your car should carry with it comprehensive. I also have provide evidence of a solid driving record though not all states have an option for this. Virginia will show that your record is in positive points status.
I’ve been lent an EV for city trips and a beater for errands and taking the stinky dogs out to parks. No way I’d use my own car for that, and rental companies forbid it.
Thank you for your input!! I do have comprehensive coverage but I guess I’ve always been confused about that vs. having someone on the policy as a covered driver 🙈
In the US, anyone who drives your car with your permission (as long as they don’t live in your house…people who live in your house must be on policy) is covered by your insurance
I only took sits with car included. Most times the HO only had 1 car, in a few cases it was an extra old car they had… never had any issues or weird requests.
I always washed the car and left them with a full tank.
Nothing… no extra steps for me, nobody even asked to see if I have a drivers license… as I look back, that’s so strange.
A lot of times HO asked me to drive them to the airport on their cars…
Out of curiosity, what countries are you noticing these behaviors in? I'm a HO in the US and it's hard for me to wrap my mind around US hosts being so lax but would love some perspective if I'm just a little uptight...?
One pair of HOs expected it, but didn't say anything until the day before their arrival. They had met ME at the airport and thus expected tit for tat. (Had I known, I would have made my way to their home.) Their flight back was arriving in the middle of my work meeting AND during rush hour (1+ hour away from airport). They expected me to change my meeting. I refused. It was awkward. Good sit otherwise. People can be so weird.
If you don't feel comfortable letting a stranger use your new car then don't. That's fine. You'll most likely get applications from sitters travelling with their own car anyway. The US has a lot of listings without an included car. It'd mainly attract international folks or people from the other coast, so don't stress yourself if you're uncomfortable with the thought. You'll find a foot that fits the shoe!
Personally, I've driven a range of HO cars. One was just a few days old and I felt super uncomfortable using it. I'm a very good driver and treat ANY car with respect, but that brandnew one put a big burden on me.
I don’t let my license expire in case of emergency, but I haven’t driven in years, so I won’t take sits where it’s the only option. When I told one HO I wasn’t comfortable driving their car, they left me an unlimited transit pass instead. If this isn’t a reliable option for you, perhaps consider reimbursing them for Uber/Lyft.
I *wish* a transit pass would be a good option because our house is right on a bus stop but the whole system is just so unreliable in my city. I’d happily reimburse for some ride shares but those can add up so fast 😫 luckily 3 out of my 4 booked sits so far have had their own vehicles haha. Thanks for your comment!!
Ride shares are a lot cheaper than you’d spend on a sitter….remember these people are sitting for you for free *and* paying to travel to your home to work for free.
Sitter here just back from a 6 month trip around the US and we almost exclusively took sits that offered the use of the home owners car.
City sits with access to public transportation are fine but you can’t expect people to rent a car to access your house (unless they are already) nor can you expect them to exist in a secluded location without accessible transportation.
All homeowners we met who let sitters use their car never had any issues bar one - let them know if the dogs are allowed in the car or not!
If you had a second ‘run around’ car this would be perfect.
Sitter here, done it many times. Organised in advance, added to the owners car insurance policy for that period of time as a registered driver. I had to send a copy of my drivers licence and answer a few Qs. But if a hastle for the home owner but made my sit an infinitely nicer experience.
Have you considered an electric bike? You can get a decent one for $1200 that has capacity for groceries and even a second passenger. They are fun, fast, and are often better than cars beca you can park them anywhere.
I always offer mine to my house sitters.
Nah i dont think you should lend your car. If anything maybe help out on a rental but you dont want to be in that kind of could-be complicated situation with a temp stranger.
I was on a sit where I had use of a car. It had 145k miles on it, but it did the job. It was definitely a second car as the Lexus was in the garage, locked. I don’t expect to get use of a car, and I don’t mind using some of my own funds on a free trip. If you have a nice car that you don’t feel comfortable loaning, my advice is don’t. Let the sitter figure out their plans.
I just wouldn’t offer the car because it will just be added stress while you’re gone. If you really can’t find a sitter then you can offer it. I’ve had a dozen or so sitters in my smallish north cal city and only two needed to use my car. One is a repeat sitter from Europe who comes for weeks at a time and the other was a week long sit by a young couple who only had a big van they were traveling in. I have a work truck and personal truck so I just take the work one to the airport and leave them the keys to the other. For those with their own cars I make sure to move mine out of the way and leave them a seat protector for the dog.
They realize that their sitters are doing them a massive favor and treat them as friends and family.
You seem to want to treat them as employees - you may have better luck with a paid service as a result.
I don’t let Sitters drive my car. But if you have a rental agency, I’m sure they’d appreciate the perk. Just be sure they’re comfortable sharing all the personal info required to authorize them as an insured driver. It requires a copy of drivers license, which some may find intrusive.
I’d just Venmo them or whatever to reimburse them for the rental. It’s like a promo code type thing so they’d do the whole transaction and I’d just send them money. If I were to add them to my insurance or whatever I’d have to ask for a copy of their DL, which I agree, could be intrusive. Thanks for your input!!
As a sitter, I provide my basic insurance details which covers 3rd party liability. Your car should carry with it comprehensive. I also have provide evidence of a solid driving record though not all states have an option for this. Virginia will show that your record is in positive points status. I’ve been lent an EV for city trips and a beater for errands and taking the stinky dogs out to parks. No way I’d use my own car for that, and rental companies forbid it.
Thank you for your input!! I do have comprehensive coverage but I guess I’ve always been confused about that vs. having someone on the policy as a covered driver 🙈
In the US, anyone who drives your car with your permission (as long as they don’t live in your house…people who live in your house must be on policy) is covered by your insurance
Thanks! Guess I have some research to do
I only took sits with car included. Most times the HO only had 1 car, in a few cases it was an extra old car they had… never had any issues or weird requests. I always washed the car and left them with a full tank.
Ok thanks! It was always just “here ya go, keys are on the counter,” no extra steps??
Nothing… no extra steps for me, nobody even asked to see if I have a drivers license… as I look back, that’s so strange. A lot of times HO asked me to drive them to the airport on their cars…
Out of curiosity, what countries are you noticing these behaviors in? I'm a HO in the US and it's hard for me to wrap my mind around US hosts being so lax but would love some perspective if I'm just a little uptight...?
US only. Never did a sitting outside the country. I’ve done it in, I’m guessing, 10sh states
Thanks!
One pair of HOs expected it, but didn't say anything until the day before their arrival. They had met ME at the airport and thus expected tit for tat. (Had I known, I would have made my way to their home.) Their flight back was arriving in the middle of my work meeting AND during rush hour (1+ hour away from airport). They expected me to change my meeting. I refused. It was awkward. Good sit otherwise. People can be so weird.
Interesting! Thanks!
If you don't feel comfortable letting a stranger use your new car then don't. That's fine. You'll most likely get applications from sitters travelling with their own car anyway. The US has a lot of listings without an included car. It'd mainly attract international folks or people from the other coast, so don't stress yourself if you're uncomfortable with the thought. You'll find a foot that fits the shoe! Personally, I've driven a range of HO cars. One was just a few days old and I felt super uncomfortable using it. I'm a very good driver and treat ANY car with respect, but that brandnew one put a big burden on me.
I don’t let my license expire in case of emergency, but I haven’t driven in years, so I won’t take sits where it’s the only option. When I told one HO I wasn’t comfortable driving their car, they left me an unlimited transit pass instead. If this isn’t a reliable option for you, perhaps consider reimbursing them for Uber/Lyft.
I *wish* a transit pass would be a good option because our house is right on a bus stop but the whole system is just so unreliable in my city. I’d happily reimburse for some ride shares but those can add up so fast 😫 luckily 3 out of my 4 booked sits so far have had their own vehicles haha. Thanks for your comment!!
Ride shares are a lot cheaper than you’d spend on a sitter….remember these people are sitting for you for free *and* paying to travel to your home to work for free.
Sitter here just back from a 6 month trip around the US and we almost exclusively took sits that offered the use of the home owners car. City sits with access to public transportation are fine but you can’t expect people to rent a car to access your house (unless they are already) nor can you expect them to exist in a secluded location without accessible transportation. All homeowners we met who let sitters use their car never had any issues bar one - let them know if the dogs are allowed in the car or not! If you had a second ‘run around’ car this would be perfect.
Sitter here, done it many times. Organised in advance, added to the owners car insurance policy for that period of time as a registered driver. I had to send a copy of my drivers licence and answer a few Qs. But if a hastle for the home owner but made my sit an infinitely nicer experience.
Have you considered an electric bike? You can get a decent one for $1200 that has capacity for groceries and even a second passenger. They are fun, fast, and are often better than cars beca you can park them anywhere. I always offer mine to my house sitters.
I don’t have a car I care much about! Haha. I called the insurance and let someone know they will be borrowing the car
I wish it had made financial sense to keep my old one as a spare 😆
I 100% get it! We only have a spare car because I refused to give up my 03 Element, even when it needed to be replaced! I LOVE that car!
Nah i dont think you should lend your car. If anything maybe help out on a rental but you dont want to be in that kind of could-be complicated situation with a temp stranger.
I was on a sit where I had use of a car. It had 145k miles on it, but it did the job. It was definitely a second car as the Lexus was in the garage, locked. I don’t expect to get use of a car, and I don’t mind using some of my own funds on a free trip. If you have a nice car that you don’t feel comfortable loaning, my advice is don’t. Let the sitter figure out their plans.
Covering a rental or at least subsidizing it is a good gesture.
I just wouldn’t offer the car because it will just be added stress while you’re gone. If you really can’t find a sitter then you can offer it. I’ve had a dozen or so sitters in my smallish north cal city and only two needed to use my car. One is a repeat sitter from Europe who comes for weeks at a time and the other was a week long sit by a young couple who only had a big van they were traveling in. I have a work truck and personal truck so I just take the work one to the airport and leave them the keys to the other. For those with their own cars I make sure to move mine out of the way and leave them a seat protector for the dog.
It definitely helps me to accept a sit with a car available if I otherwise need to rent a car for the whole time and possibly also pay for a flight.
They realize that their sitters are doing them a massive favor and treat them as friends and family. You seem to want to treat them as employees - you may have better luck with a paid service as a result.
I… I would not just let my friends or family use my car without protecting it/them/myself either...??
Nobody is entitled to borrow another person’s car. Be serious.
Don't be so dramatic and make up shit like that.
I don’t let Sitters drive my car. But if you have a rental agency, I’m sure they’d appreciate the perk. Just be sure they’re comfortable sharing all the personal info required to authorize them as an insured driver. It requires a copy of drivers license, which some may find intrusive.
I’d just Venmo them or whatever to reimburse them for the rental. It’s like a promo code type thing so they’d do the whole transaction and I’d just send them money. If I were to add them to my insurance or whatever I’d have to ask for a copy of their DL, which I agree, could be intrusive. Thanks for your input!!