'Car wouldn’t start and made a loud thumping noise': Entitled parents borrow car for over a month from 25-year-old daughter, returns it with no gas and in worse condition than when they borrowed it

Author image for Emma Saven
Emma Saven
Aug 11, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

It's common decency to ensure that when borrowing something, we return it in even better condition than we were given it. Here are some basic math equations for the formula of borrowing: 

Car borrowed = washed + filled up, Dress borrowed = washed + ironed. Apartment borrowed = cleaned spotless + provided with refills for used items, husband's borrowed = return better trained…

It's pretty self-explanatory: stick to these rules to steer clear of all the awkward tensions that come with complications of lending. We hope you have learned a lot from this mathematics lesson, and remember, just because it may feel like common sense to you doesn't mean that common sense is that common. 

Introducing… this special family. Unfortunately, in this case, the child has become the teacher, and these parents just aren't getting it…a trip to the principal's office might even be advised. After borrowing their injured daughter's car for over a month, they finally returned it. But this time, the tank is completely empty, bordering on negative, and the car is making sounds that mimic Samuel L. Jackson in the newest drama of the year. Needless to say, it no longer bears the mint condition in which it was lent. 

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  • This family is butting heads and can't seem to agree on the moral conditions of borrowing something that doesn't belong to them. The injury-recovering daughter feels unheard and disrespected, whilst her parents believe that she is being completely dramatic over something as minor as ‘gas' and seem to be ignoring the fact that her car refuses to turn on…


     

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    Senior couple driving in a car
    via robertkneschke

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    AITA for going off on my parents for not filling up my gas tank after borrowing my car for a month?

    I (25F) recently had surgery and have been recovering at home. I work remotely and get groceries delivered, so I haven't needed to
    via Latinainlaw14
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    drive. Around the same time, both of my parents' cars needed costly repairs they couldn't afford right away.
    via Latinainlaw14
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    Because I wasn't using my car, I offered to let them borrow it for a month until they could get theirs fixed. I didn't ask for any money
    via Latinainlaw14
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    or request they do anything, I just thought I was helping them out while they were in a tough spot. They drove it every day during
    via Latinainlaw14
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    that month without any issues, and even picked me up and took me to doctor's appointments on a few occasions with it.
    via Latinainlaw14
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    Today, they brought my car back because their own cars are now repaired. Later that evening, I decided to treat myself to takeout
    via Latinainlaw14
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    since I haven't been out in weeks. But as soon as I put the key in the ignition, the car wouldn't start and made a loud thumping noise.
    via Latinainlaw14
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    I panicked a little because I'm not a car person and didn't know what it meant. I called my parents to ask if anything had happened while
    via Latinainlaw14
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    casually said, "Idk, maybe it needs gas." I asked if they'd filled it before bringing it back. She said no because it's "my" car, so they assumed I would do it.
    via Latinainlaw14
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    Gas monitor showing empty tank
    via gettyimages

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    That annoyed me. They'd had the car for a whole month, drove it regularly, and returned it empty. I thought the polite thing to do especially when someone is doing
    via Latinainlaw14
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    you a favor would be to return it with a full tank, or at least enough gas to start the engine. Instead, I got my car back in worse shape than when I lent it.
    via Latinainlaw14
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    I went off on my mom and told her I thought it was disrespectful and inconsiderate, and now both my parents are calling me petty
    via Latinainlaw14
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    and saying I'm overreacting over "just gas." But to me, it's about the principle and basic courtesy, not just the money.
    via Latinainlaw14
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    BeginningSun247 Wow. When you loan someone a car you should always say "bring it back full". Just in case. If you don't then I don't think you really have any room to complain. HOWEVER, only a complete a- hole returns a car so low on gas that you can't even start it.
    via BeginningSun247
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    Latinainlaw 14 OP I didn't even expect them to bring a full tank (even though it was full when they borrowed it), but I definitely did not think they would be irresponsible enough to give it back empty
    via Latinainlaw14
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    Low Attention_974 NTA Let's put this into perspective. You let them borrow your car for a month. Had they rented a car it would have been a ton of money. You did them more than a little bit. of a solid & they ran the car SO low in gas, there wasn't enough to start it. Now you have to get a gas can, an uber or have somebody drop you off, etc.
    via Low_Attention_974
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    Distressed female driver sitting behind the wheel
    via dimaberlinphotos

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    TALKTOME0701 NTA. Filling the tank should have been an absolute no brainer. Not to mention driving a car with a tank that empty can cause overheating, clog the fuel filter, etc. How did they time it so there was only enough gas to drop it off? That's a whole new level of stingy.
    via TALKTOME0701
  • 21
    3-R-Motorsports What a great lesson: NEVER EVER AGAIN LOAN THEM SOMETHING AGAIN, then you wont have to worry about what condition you get it back
    via 3-R-Motorsports
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    archetyping101 NTA It's courteous to always fill up the tank when borrowing someone's vehicle for a few days or longer. Even if they gave you their car with half a tank, it's the courteous thing because they helped you by allowing you to drive their car.
    via archetyping101
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    AscendingLauren Are you sure it's fuel related? You didn't mention how much the gauge showed, but I suppose depending on the car it has to be running? Seems highly unlikely that they just happened to run out of gasoline unless they coasted to your place.
    via AscendingLauren
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    beckstermcw Next time their cars break down, say it's just a car. Figure it out.
    via beckstermcw

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family drama gas money empty tank car inpolite Awkward driving parenting dad entitled family no-gas lending damaged mom money entitled people borrowing
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