I live in the Western United States and every so often I see a house sit that is really exciting. I’ve learned to check the cost for flights and rental cars. I’m finding flights are quite reasonable, rental cars maybe not so much. The rental prices have at times been the primary reason why I don’t apply for a sit. I do see the feature indicating the Home Owners are open to letting you use their vehicle. I can understand why there would be hesitation in allowing a sitter to use a car. Are many sitters running into the same rental car issue? Is there maybe a different site I should use to review rental cars? How many sitters are taking advantage of the kindness of the home owners allowing you to use their cars?
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We’re sitters and have been offered the use of the homeowners cars on three different sits which we were extremely grateful for. Our sits were in the Caribbean, the Gold Coast of Australia and Palm Springs. We were in locations where we really needed a car and we have yet to rent a car on a sit. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of sits that advertise a car included. Our next sit is in the East coast of Canada and I asked the homeowner if we needed a car as it wasn’t indicated in the listing and she graciously offered us the use of the car. This will be a sit in the same country as us though so makes it much easier re insurance as we’ll be covered.
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The one time I had an owner’s car in the states it was not in the posting. I asked about and they graciously let me use it. It was a rural location taking care of 6 horses.
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I’ve been offered cars in the U.S. and U.K. In one case, the car wasn’t mentioned in the listing. The host volunteered it when we chatted. In none of the cases was I expected to drive the pets anywhere.
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If you are offered use of a hosts car, meaning you won’t have to rent, then accept! We have used hosts cars on various occasions. Once we were invited to a sit in the south of France where the hosts picked us up from the airport and we dropped them off next day, had use of the car for 3 weeks and did the pick up/drop off in reverse at the end. Perfect. A couple of times in UK, where we drive our own (dog free!) car we’ve been given use of the hosts car when the dogs needed to be driven to their walks. Once in Australia for a 6 week sit we asked about use of car to avoid such a long rental and the hosts agreed. Last year in Spain we arrived to a sit in Madrid in 40°+ extremely hot and bothered as our car AC was not working. The host immediately offered his lovely comfortable new car with great AC for use while we were there. Very kind! Etc etc!
It is really individual but I would say its always worth having the car discussion especially if it means saving you a fortune!
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Last year we did a ten, back to back sit adventure through Australia and New Zealand, of those ten, eight offered us the use of their car
We have now done 50 UK sits and only once have been offered a car to use during our stay.
Adding people temporarily to car insurance policies is far more difficult and expensive to do in some countries than in others which has a big impact on whether cars are offered to sitters or not.
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I’m from the UK where I use my own car when housesitting there. I’m coming to the end of 16 months housesitting/travelling in NZ & Oz where most home owners have left me a car to use. Of course I’m used to driving on the left as they do in NZ & Oz so owners probably expect less chance of an accident. I could understand if US owners were reluctant to loan a car to me, although I have driven a rental in the US.
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Just finished my first ever sit abroad with a car at my disposal. The hosts had 2 cars and let me drive the second one while they were gone. The flexibility was great! I wouldn’t do it if the hosts seemed too anxious though. These ones were very laid back about it, so I could relax too.
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Whenever it’s been available.
- Seattle, small dog who loved to go in the car with me. E-vehicle. I never went far in it. Had it cleaned and battery filled for their return.
- Outside of NYC. Car available was in listing and taking the two larger dogs to dog parks and trails was a requirement. Then, right before the sit, “Are you renting a car?” No, no I am not. Ghashing of teeth. Oh OK. It was an old jalopy and smelled like the dogs. I took photos and videos of the car the first day–though in its condition, a dent here and there would not have made a difference.
I’ve learned that some listings have it checked and then when I ask, it’s “oh I guess, maybe…” and that it’s worth asking if it’s not listed. For a long and/or remote sit, it does not make financial sense to sit and rent a car, particularly when there are limited hours to explore.
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I am not applying for sits that don’t include use of a car. Unless it is within driving distance. For one sit the car was over 100 USD/day.
It’s also difficult to get rental cars that allow dogs in the cars. I’ve had some sets where the owners wanted the dogs to go places that were driving distance but they did not want to provide a car. It becomes very difficult at that point.
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Rental cars are pricey, we try to find sits in area’s with bus or train service and that are walkable or bikeable, if the HO has bikes we can use. We have found the best prices for rental cars are Truro and Kyte. Used them both with success.
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Cars on Turo were over 100/day for basic vehicles in Alaska.
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I rarely have a rental car when I’m housesitting and dogs can’t usually be transported in them. So if the owner insists on having to take dogs by car to their walk they should, I feel, either leave a car for you to use or offer petrol money if using your own car. As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, the latter has never been offered to me but then it’s often my own choice to take dogs exploring with me by car
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I’ve been offered or allowed after requesting cars on about 30 sits in the US and Canada. Also offered on 2 sits in the UK but that was in 2019 and since then it has become more difficult for UK folks to add non-UK residents to their insurance. But several UK sits have offered to split cost of a rental car when the location requires a car.
And as Lulubelle notes, most US car rental companies prohibit pets in the rental contracts! But in some cities Uber has a pets option!
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Cheeky of the owners I’d say but yes, it happens.
I had a sit last year in Chiang Mai where I had to take a cat to the vet 8 times, in an Uber. HO car was in the carport but not offered. They did offer to pay but only transferred 1/2 the amount. . In Hanoi I could use the car AND driver if I wanted to but used cheap Grab . I’ve had car offered in most other sits except 2 where I hired a car for a few weeks. If a car is not offered and sit is not close to public transport I do not apply
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So bad of them to not fully compensate you. I hope you wrote that in your review of them….
I wouldn’t contemplate driving in Thailand or Vietnam, in fact Asia!
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I had a hire car in Chiang Mai for 4 days and drove everywhere. Lefthand side of the road like us but heaps of scooters. Also had cars in France, Canada, USA, NZ, Albion Park, Germany,
HO in Chiang Mai were French and Spanish, mid 30s with toddler but a bit weird,
Last sit in France was amazing. Lovely English couple who own a massive chateaux and rebuilding a farmhouse, ending up with 20 bedrooms with ensuite and 3 other bathrooms. They came and went and I fed the dogs.
Cheers
Keith
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So, just out of interest, who pays for the insurance on the car for third party use? In the U.K. that’s not a cheap option.
@EJPullen66 if a car is needed (to take dogs on a walk for example )then usually the owner would pay for the insurance and for the fuel too . As the unpaid sitter shouldn’t be expected to be out of pocket by paying for expenses to take walk the dogs .
If the car is not required (for pet care or to get to a grocery shop ) and is being offered to the sitter so that they can do day trips and sightseeing then you can ask sitter to contribute or offer to pay or share the cost 50/50 if you feel it will attract more sitters to your listing . It depends on the area you live and how many applications you are getting whether you want to offer this .
If you decide that you are willing to provide your car but that the sitter would be required to pay for the insurance then you should write this in your listing so that it is in writing and clear before someone applies for the sit .
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