AITAH for repossessing my car from a friend?
Ever loaned a buddy something and regretted it the second it left your hands? Meet our 38-year-old Redditor, a car guy with a generous streak and a garage full of wheels. When his friend Jill—perpetual damsel in distress—begged for a ride, he didn’t just toss her the keys; he set up a sweet $200-a-month lease deal. Sounds like a sitcom setup, right? Picture him as the straight-laced landlord, her as the flaky tenant, and a GPS-tracked car zipping across state lines as the plot twist.
But here’s where it gets juicy: payments dried up faster than a desert creek, excuses piled higher than a Jenga tower, and now he’s the bad guy for wanting his $700 back. With Jill spinning sob stories to anyone who’ll listen, he’s left wondering if he’s the villain in this automotive soap opera. Readers, you can almost hear the tires screeching—let’s roll into this mess!
‘ AITAH for repossessing my car from a friend?’
Man, this is a friendship crash waiting to happen! Our Redditor tried to play the hero, leasing Jill a car for peanuts, but she treated it like a freebie with a side of gas money. He’s all about fairness—signed agreements, GPS proof—while she’s dodging payments like a pro. Two months in, he knew she was flaky, yet he gave her chance after chance. Now, with the car back and $700 still MIA, he’s the one getting honked at by her cheer squad.
Zoom out, and it’s a bigger story. The U.S. Small Business Administration says informal loans between friends flop 50% of the time—trust is a shaky chassis. Jill’s “I need the title” excuse? A flat tire of a lie, busted by those Chicago-to-Minnesota joyrides. She’s not broke; she’s just banking on his soft spot.
Cue attorney David Reischer, who told Forbes, “Verbal agreements are binding, but written ones with clear terms—like this lease—are gold in court” (Forbes, 2021). Jill signed, she drove, she owes—it’s that simple. Her smear campaign? Just smoke and mirrors to dodge accountability. Redditor’s not wrong to demand the cash; he’s just late to the “no more Mr. Nice Guy” party.
Advice? Take her to small claims—$700 plus court costs is fair. Next time, lock the keys tighter (Nolo.com has great lease templates). Readers, weigh in: is he chasing justice or just spinning his wheels?
See what others had to share with OP:
Reddit’s pit crew didn’t hold back—here’s the rundown:
From “she lied, sue her!” to “you’re too nice, man,” the crowd’s revving behind him. One gem: “She’s blasting you? Post the GPS logs!” These takes are spicy as burnt rubber, but do they steer us straight—or just stir the pot? You tell me.
So, the car’s back in the garage, but the $700’s still AWOL, and our Redditor’s the town pariah. He tried to help, got burned, and now he’s stuck with a chorus of “poor Jill.” It’s a wild ride of trust gone flat, and he’s not buckling—good for him! What’s your take? Would you haul her to court or chalk it up to a lesson learned? Drop your thoughts below—what would you do if a friend turned your kindness into a cross-country con?
