hi
I do quite a bit of transport research before applying for a sit.
I don’t always want to drive 100’s of miles.
have a good day.
f.
2 Likes
Well, it might be a bit confusing but to me the meaning is clear.
You do need a car there to get around and, yes, it’s provided.
The line “car needed” doesn’t say that the sitters need to arrive with one, only that it’s necessary.
2 Likes
Yep, I totally understand that now. But the first time I saw it, I thought the owners had accidentally clicked both options in error. 
1 Like
Hello everyone:
I am a not new to TH, but very new to the forum.
I have a question. I have just spoken to a potential sitter and she mentioned she needed the use of a car. I said that might be a possibility but on further reflection I think it best to run this by the forum. I am wondering about liability most specifically. On Monday I will ask my insurance agent for sure but beyond that, what might happen should she have a real accident and hurt herself? Life is so complicated. I trust that this might be a topic that has been discussed her before…
Hello @EssRogers Yes, the topic of the need for a vehicle has been discussed here. In part it’s because the cost of renting a vehicle has increased significantly over the past two years.
This thread brings ideas for other options:
use of owner’s car not possible
If you decide against offering your vehicle, it is helpful to be able to provide information about your area. Such things as how convenient public transit is, or whether Uber or similar services are available, or how close is a store for basic needs, or whether there are food delivery services to your home.
Some owners consider whether they would be willing to pick up and return a sitter to a transit stop. There are many other variables to consider, to see if it’s realistic to perhaps be able to do the sit without a vehicle.
You’ll notice a spyglass for doing searches on the forum. Sometimes searching a key word there can bring up lots of useful posts.
3 Likes
Hi @EssRogers and welcome to the forum. Did she say why she needed a car? Do you have a dog and does it need to be taken somewhere by car for its walks? What you may need to think about is should an emergency occur and your pet needs to go to the vet, how easy is it for the sitter to do this without a car? Could a friend/neighbour be the emergency contact for this?
If the potential sitter is from another country, it may be more difficult to include them for your insurance but you will know the answer to that when you contact your insurance agent on Monday.
Snowbird has raised the point re public transport options being included in your listing. Does your listing say Sitters need a Car or Car not included. If the latter, your sitter is not taking notice of your requirements. However, in saying that, with home owners having a little more difficulty securing a sitter this year, some are offering use of a car as an incentive. You need to feel comfortable with your decision and also that this sitter is the perfect one for you and your pets.
5 Likes
@temba Good point about the country of the sitter, but from a different angle. I live in Canada and my auto insurance covers me for another person’s vehicle in Canada or the USA. If it’s any other country, I would need to rely on the owner’s insurance.
3 Likes
Hmmm, food for thought. Some of this will be explained when I talk with my insurance agent on Monday.
It surprises me somewhat that there is not car insurance available for temp users, kind of a variation on travel insurance, have you ever heard of that? S
1 Like
I understand that home owners are finding it difficult to find sitters. I can only speak for Scotland, but as a sitter, I would encourage homeowners to consider whether sitters really do need a car, especially for short sits. This has deterred me ftom applying. I drive, but no longer keep a car. I have worked out how to get to sits by public transport. I tend to work from the owner’s home to spend time with their pets without the need to drive anywhere. I’m fit and happy to explore on foot with their dogs. Could home owners pick up sitters at a convenient place if the sit was off a public transport route? Check that they can pick up a food shop or order it in? Saying ‘sitters need a car’ could deter sitters perfectly able to get to sits and happily spend time there without a car.
3 Likes
I totally agree with you @Alvin, and often make that comment to forum homeowners. Sadly, most of the time I don’t want to consider convincing a homeowner that I probably could do the sit without a vehicle. The ‘sitter needs car’ is one of the first things I check for, and when I see it, I pass on by. No doubt if I really wanted a particular sit, I might think differently, but so far that’s not happening. I really wish there was an option to filter out the ones that say that a vehicle is needed, as it would save me and many other sitters so much searching time. 
I realize I can filter for use of an owner’s car, but generally speaking, I’d prefer not to use someone else’s vehicle.
1 Like
We apply for sits that appeal to us, even the ones that say “sitters need a car” even when we won’t have a car and we have been successfully chosen for the sit! We make it very clear in our application if we won’t have a car and that we will be relying on public transport. Like others have said, I think that descriptor might sometimes be used where the HO thinks it would be beneficial for a sitter to have a car but not necessarily a must have. The exception to this for us is that we will not apply where the HO expressly writes in the body of their listing that a sitter must have a car. I agree with others, this descriptor needs to change or HO be given clearer guidance about when to use it.
3 Likes
Hi @EssRogers I am in the UK (England) and we are allowed to add temporary drivers even from abroad, but there are lots of questions to be answered, type of license, driving history, medical history, etc. At 70, drivers here have to apply for a new driving license and when I spoke to my insurer I got the impression that trying to add an over 70’s driver could prove very difficult.
2 Likes
Cars For Sitters
I’m currently in S California (not on a sit) and staying in a home on the outskirts of a fairly large town, not rural at all. I don’t have a car ATM due to a knee injury.
I need to get to a shopping centre just one mile away, because of the knee I cannot walk the distance as it’s also very hilly, public transport is non existent.
Cab or Uber? Here’s the rub on that one.
Uber - one mile $49.00+ obviously short journeys are simply not viable
Local cab … Min $10, cannot book and need to call 45 mins ahead - if available
Other options - Zero
If I were looking for sits in this area of S California and I was without my own vehicle I would not apply for any sit where I needed a car, to rent one is costly but that’s not the main reason it would sit unused in the driveway for much of the stay as I work from home and only leave the homes I sit to take the dogs out and do the occasional trip to the store.
Most every sit I do the owner has provided a car plus I’m more than willing to pay for any additional insurance costs, it’s much less expensive than renting a car.
I would encourage owners to think about making a vehicle available to qualified drivers if possible, but equally understand if it’s not an option that owners are willing to consider.
8 Likes
I’m shocked by the Uber cost, but I haven’t used one in many years.
For me, a rental car would be the same issue in that I would use it so rarely that it wouldn’t be reasonable to consider.
I would add to your suggestion to owners, to not think of their lifestyle when considering whether a car is needed, but rather what options are available to someone without a car. I live in Niagara Falls, Canada, on a main bus route with a stop outside my building. I have never taken that bus, because of the convenience factor of having my own car. However, anyone can buy a WEGO pass ($9 for 24 hrs, $12 for 48 hrs) that will take them so many places, including the 50 km along the scenic Niagara Parkway (Niagara River bordering the USA), with so many sights to see, and they can hop-on, hop-off at all tourist sights. Have I ever bought one of these passes? No, but it would be a wonderful, cost-effective option for a sitter.
2 Likes
I have hired a car several times for sits but I do not think I will do it again. Most rental car companies will not let you have animals in the car. Also, it is a lot of money to pay for the rental and gas. I spend 500 Euros on my last sit and the hosts did not pitch in even though I really needed the car to take the dog on all the hikes from their location. I could have easily used that money for a nice hotel for the time instead of sitting. And even though I put blankets on the seats, the hair still gets everywhere. I spend hours cleaning the car after the sit. One time I got charged an extra $150 for the dog hair in the car. I love sitting in remote places and I love taking the dogs on epic hikes but I do not feel like I should be paying out of pocket for this.
6 Likes
Hi - we’ve been using this site for many years and had lots of amazing sitters. Most sitters have been UK based and travelled via car. In July sitters are coming from US and since we will have 2nd car at house wanted to explore options for giving them use of car. What’s required to do this legally ? International driving license and added to my own insurance ? Any advice would be gratefully received.
2 Likes
Hi, this topic has been discussed a few times, I’ll refer you to this thread in particular: Cars for sitters
I did a sit in Bristol a few years back where the hosts were able to add me to their insurance temporarily for a nominal charge. (Note: I had a non UK driver’s license and this was prior to final completion of Brexit).
I have an upcoming sit where use of car is included and will try to do likewise.
It’s fairly specific to your insurance policy. You should contact them and see what they can provide and what they require.
There are also third party insurers who advertise this service, though I haven’t used any. I checked Veygo for you but they don’t accept licenses which originate outside of the UK. You may have to do some digging if your insurer can not assist you.
Best to check this out with your car insurance company I would have thought to get it right. Bear in mind US sitters would be more used to travelling on the right……
1 Like
That’s a good point Smiley, especially if the poster is considering going “under the radar” and letting the sitters use a car for short trips to the store.
Whenever I’m in the UK driving, there’s always a period of adjustment. Had some close calls, actually, by dint of the inverse lanes.
Oldie but goodie! :
3 Likes
My first UK sits in 2019 I was added to HOs’ insurance easily. I am licensed in the US. And after about 5 minutes was accustomed to driving on your side of the road. Harder was getting used to shifting with my left arm.
Recently, it seems that UK insurers are making it more difficult to add non-UK licensed drivers.
Several recent sits have either been unable to add me or the price has been so high that its not feasible.
What I’ve done is negotiated with the HO to contribute to the cost of a car rental - this seems to work out better and it allows me to travel from sit to sit and not worry about train tickets (and strikes and other disruptions, although fuel prices are an issue).
2 Likes