We went away and friend borrowed our car. They said they would use it for short local trips.
While we were away our friend took the car on a 3.5 hr journey and the car broke down.
We have just got the news from our local mechanic that the car overheated and gasket has blown.
Our car was serviced this year and was running without any problems.
Who should pay for the repairs, us, friend or both?
Unless they did something stupid to make it over-heat - I would say you but I'd - at least - expect a small contribution to the cost from them
You, you are responsible for maintenance. However I hope the mate would offer to contribute, I assume they have done this already ?!?!
How much did the temporary insurance cost them anyhow? Wouldnt have thought it was worth it ??!
You of course its your car, gasket would have gone sooner or later anyway. Just don't lend them your car again if you think its been used outside what you'd agreed.
As above. You (unless they did something daft).
Did you make sure all the coolant levels were OK before you loaned them the car?
both, but mostly you,
it was serviced a year ago, so what
if you had new brake pads fitted 12 months ago, this week you lend me your car and while im using it they start to grind, who is liable? me or you who used them the other 99% of the time?
prior to lending it out, did you check the oil, the water etc?
Unless you knew a long trip would cause damage and stated that to the friend then I think it's your cost tho a decent pal would chip in a bit.
Not much of a friend who tells you they're only going to use it for local stuff then takes it on a 3.5hr trip which presumably they wouldn't have mentioned if there'd been no problems....
Anyway, I'd be looking at splitting the cost. It'd certainly seem unfair to me if either side was lumped with the full cost of repairs.
Also worth noting that a 3.5 hour motorway journey in sub-zero temperatures is less likely to stress the engine and cause head gasket failure than short journeys around town when the cooling system is working harder.
Coolant can leak. You need to check it more often than yearly.
The other issue is, on the way to overheating did the temp gauge start rising? Flashing red light? If they ignored those signs then that's their fault.
Was your friend annoyed at the inconvenience you caused him?
Thank's for the replies, just to add, the 3.5 hrs journey was during good weather, 20C and over a mountain and the car does have a functioning temp gauge.
Roper - sorry, my assumption was based on UK conditions. A 3.5 mountain trip might well be their issue - all comes down to whether they noticed the temp gauge moving. If they did and kept on driving, I'd ask them to pay a good chunk of it.
and over a mountain
! and your 'friend' didn't think to mention that he might be doing this having told you he'd only be doing local journeys 
I drove a fully functioning Punto hire car over Ventoux a few years ago and it was never the same after...
You - for being so daft as to let someone borrow your car. I wouldn't for exactly that sort of scenario.
On further thought, dump your 'friend' and just fork out for the repair yourself.
Roper...you never answered the question about when you last checked the coolant levels.
How old is the car? When was the condition of the cooling system last checked?
... or answered as to whether they insured it ??!?
Sorry, we last checked the coolant about 2 months ago, had a new water pump fitted about 5 months ago, the car is 10 yrs old.
Looks like it's best if we cover costs then.
Thanks for the help
the car does have a functioning temp gauge
A friend of mine let seomeone his chipper. they noticed lots of water in the floor but carrie don using it until it ceased - they claimed this was his fault as it was his chipper.
They should offer at least 50% probably more as if they had stoppe dit would probably have been ok and the mountaing climb rprobably stressed the engine to caus eit inthe first lace
Can I say bombers and wee
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