Designated driver gets tired of friends constantly volunteering him to drive strangers home for free, finally refuses when he promises three women a ride without asking: ‘He thinks I embarrassed him’

Author image for Cata Holmes
Cata Holmes • Writer
Sep 16, 2026 7:15 AM EDT

His car, his gas, his time… although it seems that all of this depends on his friend's decision.

I'm sure this story is going to feel personal for too many people out there who struggle with entitled friends who feel they can do whatever they want with their other's time. Every time the OP and his friends go out at night, he's the one driving everybody home afterward because he prefers it. That's fine: if this is an active decision, then there should be no problem. Well… let me tell you a bit more.

There's one person on this friend group who constantly adds more people to the ride… but not people they know: total strangers they meet during the night. Because he wants to look cool, he offers free rides from his friend. "Don't order an Uber, he's already driving…" kind of thing. One night was okay, since the people were already in the car and refusing felt bad. But the following weekend, when they went out, the issue happened again.

Instead, there were three ladies who were going to call an Uber, but the friend said that the OP was going to take them. And, in that moment, he refused and said that he was going straight home. His friend was playing along and insisted that he could drive… like it was nothing to him! The prior weekend, it took him 40 extra minutes to get home, and let's not even talk about the money and gas.

He stood his ground and luckily got away with the situation. But not with his friend's anger. Apparently, he had promised those girls a ride, and he made him look bad by saying no… But whose problem is that? From the person who owns the car and is the one who actually goes behind the wheel, or from the one who has a big mouth and wants to look cool? Please… let's be respectful of others' time and money. Friendships aren't based on favours, and being kind towards each other is key to having a good relationship. 

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  • Frustrated designated driver fed up with his friend constantly volunteering his car and time to drive strangers home.
    via Unplash+ (via Vitaly Gariev)

    Frustrated designated driver fed up with his friend constantly volunteering his car and time to drive strangers home.

    Models pictured are not representative.

  • I'm usually the guy who drives when my friends and I go out because I don't drink at all. I really don't mind driving and it's been our thing for a while.
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  • One of my friends has recently started volunteering me to drive other people home too. Not our friends, literally people he meets while we're out. He'll hear
    via Federal-Sugar2288
  • someone talking about getting an Uber and say something like "don't waste your money, he can take you."
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  • The first couple times I just did it because it felt awkward saying no. One of them added almost 40 minutes to my drive home though, so it started getting annoying. I think part of why he
    via Federal-Sugar2288
  • assumes I won't care is because I'm doing well financially, so to him the extra gas probably seems like nothing.
    via Federal-Sugar2288
  • This weekend we were leaving and he came outside with three girls I had never met and told them I was taking them home. I told him no, I was going straight
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  • home. He got annoyed and said I was seriously going to make three girls order an Uber when I was already driving.
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  • I told him he was the one who promised them a ride without asking me, so that wasn't really my problem. They ended up ordering one and now he thinks I embarrassed him and made him look like an ahle.
    via Federal-Sugar2288
  • I feel like offering your own time is generous. Offering someone else's is different.
    via Federal-Sugar2288
  • Driver heading home after refusing to become his friend's free Uber for strangers.
    via Unsplash+ (via why kei)

    Driver heading home after refusing to become his friend's free Uber for strangers.

    Picture does not depict real parties.

  • Wild_Black_Hat He didn't only look like an ah le, he was being one! It's easy to be the good guy with other people's resources!
    via Federal-Sugar2288
  • TopShoulder474 Start promising whatever he does to random people. Works like a charm.
    via Federal-Sugar2288
  • Boredtopher Your friend is a scrub
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  • Ok_Resource_8530 NTA He made himself look like an idiot. Quit driving im anywhere. Tell him that you will meet him wherever, but won't be staying long. And then carry thru. He will get the message.
    via Federal-Sugar2288
  • 18k_gold Your friend is an AH.
    via Federal-Sugar2288
  • PleasantRuin7989 NTA. Your friend volunteered your car, not his.
    via Federal-Sugar2288
  • toddbuzz75 That's not a friend.
    via Federal-Sugar2288
  • TurboPanda3622 Your friend is a leech.
    via Federal-Sugar2288
  • Designated driver behind the wheel after getting tired of giving strangers a ride home from his friend.
    via Unsplash+ (via JSB Co.)

    Designated driver behind the wheel after getting tired of giving strangers a ride home from his friend.

    Scene shown is a visual representation.

  • PartyPlay5056 I understand saying no. But after the first or second time you should have tokd him to never do it again. Because you never said nothing he kept doing it.
    via Federal-Sugar2288
  • Playful-Put2236 ΝΤΑ Do NOT give rides to strangers. That's a good way to get robbed or you'll end up missing on the news.
    via Federal-Sugar2288
  • GoddessfromCyprus NTA, he tried to be a hero for the girls and he wasn't. His problem, not your. Stop being their taxi.
    via Federal-Sugar2288

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night out driving ride home designated driver
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