What precautions do i take if i allow our sitter to use our car?
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Be sure they are added/included in your insurance policy
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This will vary depending on which country you are in. I would suggest checking with your insurance agent.
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@Dstewart2573 make sure they are licensed to drive in your country of residence and, ensure they are covered under your insurance.
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A lot will depend on your country and, in the US, your state. A bit might depend on the sitter’s country.
So, for example in the US, an unnamed driver can “occasionally” use your vehicle and your insurance coverage applies. The definition of “occasional” depends on your state and insurance company. My insurance company specifies “12” as occasional. 12 what isn’t very clear; if I ask a customer service rep, it’s obvious they haven’t any real clue. If I presume that 12 refers to 12 days, longer sits justify adding a sitter as a named-insured on our policy. Surprisingly, adding a sitter for a month would have SAVED us money on our premiums last sit (what?). However, the sitter did not have a drivers license from a US state so the company refused to add them. So we temporarily added a hope-and prayer rider. It all worked out but, of course, insurance is for when things don’t work out. So maybe check into your insurance coverage.
Also check into how your state/region handles tickets written against a vehicle when the owners can prove they weren’t operating the vehicle. In most states, the owner is off the hook for the fines in those cases but I was surprised to learn there are jurisdictions where fines apply to the vehicle putting the owner on the hook for any traffic and parking tickets racked up by a sitter. Keep in mind that sitters, once gone, are like as not to accept financial responsibility and THS is NOT going to help you.
Obviously, you’ll want solid ID from the sitter proving a current drivers license. You’ll also need the ID to verify that the sitter is who the sitter says. THS will not provide a sitter’s verified name nor their adress under ANY circumstances without a court order.
We put together a “permission to drive” letter. It identifies us and the sitter with their driver’s license, that they have our permission to operate our vehicle for a specified period (usually the start date to 1 month past the end date) within a radius (around 2 1/2 hours distance) of the registered address. The intent here is to assure law enforcement that nothing is amiss should the sitter get pulled over. Otherwise, your vehicle could be impounded which, in our area, includes a tow charge plus US$2,800 in storage fees per week. You can dispute the charges as much and long as you want; the tow company doesn’t mind at $400/day.
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@Dstewart2573, we’ve had use of vehicle from 20+ pet parents.
The risks that you probably seek to avoid are coverage in event of an accident; and unexpected usage by housesitter. Surprises are a bad thing.
Terms related to additional drivers on car insurance policies vary significantly by geography and insurer. Your OP does not state country.
Seek relevant information from housesitter - this is probably their driving license related to your country; number of years driving; occupation (insurers often ask); any historical claims; any violations.
Confirm coverage with your insurer.
Propose/agree terms with your housesitter. This could include excess, drivers, usage, otherwise.
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Photocopy the sitter’s driving permit and make sure you have their postal and email address. I don’t know where you live but in France, if a car gets flashed by a speed radar the notice will come to the owner of the car. If someone else was driving, the owner has to go online and put in the permit number and personal info of the driver and the fine is charged to them.
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Once you get insurance sorted, I recommend a dash cam be fitted, if not already. 
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I was just added to an insurance policy for an up coming 6 month sit. I am not giving a stranger my ID so I gave it directly to the HO’s insurance company via a locked google file. Everyone is happy and it was very easy. The HO was very respectful of my reluctance to just give them my drivers license etc. The insurance company is able to see I have perfect driving record and communicated that to the HO. Simple. And respectful.
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