🚔 Can I Get Arrested for Letting Someone Borrow My Car?

When You’re on the Hook for Someone Else’s Bad Driving in Michigan

You hand over your keys. They say they’ll be careful.
An hour later, they’re pulled over for drunk driving—or worse, they cause a crash.

You might think, “That’s their problem.”
But in Michigan, it can become your problem, too.

🚨 The Law: Permitting an Intoxicated Person to Drive

Under Michigan law, if you knowingly let someone who’s intoxicated drive your car, you can be charged with a misdemeanor. That means:

• Fines up to $500

• Up to 93 days in jail

• Points on your license

And yes—the police will ask how they got the keys.

💸 Insurance Nightmares

If your “borrower” wrecks your car or injures someone:

• Your insurance premiums can skyrocket.

• Your policy might not cover all damages.

• You could be sued personally for anything not covered.

🧠 “But I Didn’t Know They Were Drunk!”

That’s the gray area. If it’s reasonable to believe they might be impaired—slurred speech, smell of alcohol, stumbling—you’re taking a risk by handing them the keys.

🚫 Lending a Car for Other Illegal Acts

It’s not just drunk driving. If the person uses your car to commit a crime—drug transport, reckless driving—you could be questioned, investigated, and potentially charged depending on what you knew.

📌 The Bottom Line

In Michigan, giving someone the keys isn’t just about trust—it’s about liability. If they’re drunk, reckless, or breaking the law, you could be on the hook.