the family car

If you are lucky, you may have landed with a host family who lets you use one of their vehicles occasionally. If you are really lucky, you may even have what seems like total control over the ‘au pair car.’ Many families, especially those in the U.S. where cars are used more often than public transportation, will let au pairs use one or more of their vehicles to get around town in.

While it is required that the host family provide you with transportation for the times that you are working and need to get somewhere, as well as a way to get to and from your language classes, they are not required to give you a car for your free time. Host parents don’t legally have to provide you with a way to get around town when you are off the clock, so if you are with a family who does, make sure that you appreciate this benefit.

So if you are given use of a family car during free time, there are a few things to remember. Believe me, this is a privilege you don’t want to lose! (note: this list may seem like a bunch of no-brainers, but the longer you live with your host family, the easier it is to begin to forget that the rules of etiquette still apply, even if you do feel like family…)

1. Make sure that you only drive the car when you know your host parents don’t need it – This may seem like a given, but it is easy to take ownership of something that isn’t yours, especially if you are pretty much the only person who uses the car. Even if the car is primarily for your use, don’t assume that it is always available. You never know when it might actually be needed by someone other than yourself.

2. Be sure to keep the tank filled with gas – This may be another given, but it is important to remember. Be sure to work out with your host parents who will be paying for gas (this can vary). And whether you pay, or the host family pays, or both, be sure to leave gas in the car. Even if you are the primary driver, you never know when your host parents might need it for a quick trip. Having a full tank of gas also ensures that you will be able to get where you need to as well.

3. Keep the car clean – Again, even if the car is primarily under your care, keep it tidy. No one wants to find food wrappers, makeup, ciggarettes, and other stuff of the au pair’s in one of the family vehicles. Get into the habit of grabbing all your things out of the car every time you use it.

4. Know the house rules for vehicle use – More than likely, your host parents will go over any rules concerning the car. But just in case they don’t, be sure to ask if they have any rules for using the car. It’s better to know before you go. Things that vary from family to family are: how long the au pair is allowed to keep the car, if there are any limits as to how far he/she can drive, if insurance covers other drivers, etc,.

5. Make sure that you do any neccessary up-keep. If you are driving a family car often, it’d be nice if you kept it up as well. Having the oil changed, getting it washed, and having any other necessary repairs done would greatly help your family. Chances are, your host parents will foot the bill for these services, but if you are the one driving the car most of the time, you can definitely be the one who takes responsibility for keeping it serviced.