AITA for Allowing My Sister to Borrow My Car Without My Wife’s Permission?
Strap in, folks, because Roger’s about to steer you through the wild ride that is a Reddit drama involving a man, his car, his wife… and his sister. This real-life tale has more twists and turns than a soap opera marathon.
The Prelude: Setting the Scene
So, here’s the skinny: Our protagonist, a 32-year-old man, let his sister borrow his car without even throwing a nod in his wife’s direction. The sister, 30, made an epic 6-hour trek from Phoenix to Albuquerque (props to her for that grind) only to be greeted by a grinding noise from her car and a rebellious AC compressor on strike.
Enter, the car in question: A 2023 Kia Forte, sparkling new with a mere 3k miles. It might as well still have the new car smell. Our hero, who works from home and barely puts any mileage on the car, figured, “Why not?” His sister needed wheels to get on her feet with a new job, and it was just going to sit in the driveway most of the time anyway.
The Twist: Wife Flips the Script
But hold your horses, because drama doesn’t do drive-bys – it parks in the driveway. The wife, also 32 and the proud owner of a brand-new EV, was absolutely livid. Here’s a quick pit stop through her concerns:
The Plot Thickens: History Turns the Tables
This isn’t just a one-way street, folks. Two years ago, the hubby lent his old car to his brother-in-law for a hot minute, and the wife didn’t bat an eyelid. Fast forward to today, and the tables have turned so hard it’s giving everyone whiplash. Sensing a pattern yet?
The Showdown: Arguments and Ultimatums
After more rounds of arguing than a courtroom drama, the wife dropped the bomb. She packed bags, took their son, and said she’d be back to get the rest of her things. Ouch. And not just a pinch – we’re talking full-blown car crash level of drama here.
Roger’s Sass & Wisdom Corner: Time for Some Tough Love
Alright, fasten your seatbelts, because Roger’s about to throw some shade along with wisdom.
Point 1: Communication, Darling!
First off, sweetie, regardless of who technically makes the payments, a marriage is a partnership. You agreed to share not just bed and board, but big life decisions, too – car lending included. So, our hero should’ve definitely taken a pit stop to chat with the Mrs.
Point 2: Fair Play, Hun
But let’s get real – the wife not blinkin’ when her brother got the wheels but hitting DEFCON 1 over his sister? Double standards are so last season. Honey, family is family, whether it’s in-laws or out-laws.
Point 3: Chill and Netflix!
The wife’s concerns about the EV running out of juice? Oh, please. Maybe keep an eye on that charge level between binge-watching those true-crime documentaries, instead of letting it drain. And the AC paranoia? Embrace the wonder of rolled down windows and some breezy fresh air.
Point 4: Budgeting and Apologies
But in the spirit of keeping it 100 – it might be time for our hero to serve up a nice, thick slice of humble pie and apologize sincerely. They should work out a budgeting plan for emergencies, so sis doesn’t get stuck again, and the wife doesn’t feel blindsided.
Final Thoughts
Is our protagonist an AITA? Nah, more like a momentarily clueless one. With a cocktail of some real talks, a side of empathy, and maybe a dash of shared decision-making, this duo can get back on the road to marital bliss. Or at least to the driveway without a showdown.
And remember, Roger’s always here for a sassy pit stop.
Original story
AITA for Allowing My Sister to Borrow My Car Without My Wife’s Permission?
I (32M) recently allowed my younger sister (30F) to borrow my car without consulting my wife (32F), and it’s caused a significant issue. My sister and her 2-year-old daughter came to visit us and our parents for a few days before she starts a new job.
She drove from Phoenix to Albuquerque, about a 6-hour drive, but as she arrived, her car started making a grinding noise, and her AC compressor went out. Her car, a 2012 Jetta with 150k miles, is otherwise in good condition, and she’s always taken great care of it.
My sister asked if she could borrow my car for a few weeks until she got established at her new job. I drive a 2023 Kia Forte with only 3k miles.
Since I work from home and only use the car to drop off and pick up my son from daycare—a total of about 10 miles a day—I didn’t see an issue. I make the payments, and I’m the only one who drives it, so I figured it was my decision to make.
My sister even joked about taking over the payments if she liked it, and I didn’t mind.
However, I didn’t discuss this with my wife before agreeing, and she’s furious. She just got a brand-new EV a few days ago, which she makes the payments on.
Here are her concerns:
What if her car runs out of charge and she needs to go somewhere? My response was that she should keep it charged, just as I would keep my car fueled.
She thinks I’m giving away something I worked hard for. I pointed out that it’s my car, and I have the right to decide what to do with it.
I didn’t question her choice to upgrade her car, even though it increased her payments. She worries about our son needing air conditioning.
I countered that we only drive short distances, and I can roll the windows down. She believes my sister should get a new car instead of borrowing mine.
My sister recently survived brain cancer, which destroyed her credit due to medical bills. I even had to cosign her apartment lease two years ago, but she’s always paid her bills on time, so I trust she would handle car payments responsibly.
Two years ago, I lent my old car to my wife’s brother when his was in the shop, and she didn’t complain. But now, when my family needs help, it’s a problem.
My siblings and I had a rough childhood, and we’ve always looked out for each other. I’ve always helped my in-laws without hesitation, but when my family needs something, it’s a different story.
After a few hours of arguing, my wife tried to get me to change my mind, saying, “we” need a nice car, and that my sister isn’t insured to drive it. I told her to get insurance before she leaves, which wasn’t the answer my wife wanted to hear.
The argument escalated, and my wife eventually packed some bags and took our son to her mom’s place, saying she’d return the next day for the rest of her things.
So, AITA for deciding to let my sister borrow my car without consulting my wife?