How Much Should I Offer For Petrol Not A Driver?

[gordiescotland1]

Hi a friend of mine is very kindly taking me to Glasgow tomorrow evening for an appointment the total miles from his house to mine and on to Glasgow and back is 144 miles. Not being a driver I have no idea how much to give him for a contribution to petrol. I dont want to offend him and offer him too little and I dont want to embarrass him and offer him too much. Not being a driver myself I am unfamiliar with cost of petrol. I was going to offer him £25

[237SJ]

That sounds OK to me

[david small]

Sound very fair to me. £5 for every 30 miles, approximately.

[Buenchico]

My car costs about 14p per mile for petrol. Based upon that, around £20 would cover the cost. However not everyone gets that sort of economy, so £25 might, indeed, be a better figure. (That's about 17p per mile)

The firms I occasionally contract for pay either 20p or 21p per mile to cover driving expenses, so they'd pay around £30 for that distance but, as I've indicated above, that's more than the actual cost of the fuel (unless one's car, or one's driving style, is particularly inefficient).

[DarceyK123]

There is a website called Journeyprice.co.uk, I have just done a calculation on an average car for you and it says £26 so I'd offer about £39.

Hope that helps

[Sqad]

A bit miserly.........
If he is making a special journey, just for you I would offer him at least £35.
If he HAS to go to Glasgow himself and if he is giving you a "lift". then £25 would be OK.

[DarceyK123]

£30 that should say ^^

[fiction-factory]

Yes, as well as the fuel cost it's best to add on at least 5- 10p a mile - every 100 miles on the clock knocks a few pounds off the car's value,, tyre wear is at least £1 per 100 miles, there's oil costs too, wear and tear on brakes, etc. it all adds up. This doesn't take account of his time of course
So unless he's going anyway i would offer nearer £40. Or maybe £25-30 plus a nice thankyou gift such as a good bottle of whisky or similar (gfor drinking later of course)

[Georgiesmum]

Surely it got to be worth giving him £50 just the convenience alone.
I live half an hours walk from my nearest town, and If I take a taxi instead it costs me £7 each way.

[choux]

gordie, as you say, you don't want to embarrass your friend. I would say £30 would sound ideal. I think that would cover his cost reasonably well. If you ask him if it is enough when you offer him the money, his reaction will be a good indication if you have pitched it about right.

[mikey4444]

Yes....sounds OK to me as well.

[Baldric]

I would go for £50. he is going out of his way to help you, giving up his time etc. would be mean not to.

[mazie]

A Taxi from central Edinburgh to the airport in Glasgow, one way is £100. Should give you a bit of an idea gordie.

[bhg481]

I'd go with Georgiesmum and Baldric and offer £50. If he thinks it's too much he might try to talk you into giving him less; if you offer too little you may not get the offer again. He's giving his time for you and putting himself out, so better to offer too much than too little.

[237SJ]

For £50 I can go home to Devon and back (200 miles each way)

[Baldric]

Fair comment 237, but what if someone else was giving up their time to drive you,

[cleodog]

Why don't you get him to fill up the car before he goes then refill it when he gets back again? Then you know how much and then you could give him some more if you think he would be okay with that? Hope your trip goes well whatever you do.