Teenagers/cars

As for the gas costs: yes they BOTH should fill it up.
To avoid the blaming or fighting about it... have a "kitty." Meaning, a can that they BOTH put in money (for the car & gas etc.), regularly and equally, at regular times (like maybe once a week). BOTH kids have to "contribute" to it. AND, if they run out of money because one of them is not honest about it, then they run out... and then they have to use you/the parent as their transportation. Period.
And you keep a log of it and their monetary contributions to it.

For any in-fighting about the car/usage/costs/maintenance/washing it/etc., make a "schedule" about it. AND if they do NOT respect that, nor their "privilege" for having a car. Then they lose privileges about it, and BOTH cannot use it. BOTH. (no matter who is blaming who or not).

Having the car for them is a privilege. THEY NEED to know that. It is not about feeling a sense of entitlement about it, from them.
They have to SHOW responsibility for it. ALL around.

I shared a car with my sister. No matter who was older or younger... we BOTH had EQUAL expectations about it, from our parents. If one picked on the other or manipulated more use of the car... then BOTH were grounded. AND then we had to rely on our parents for transportation. My parents made it CLEAR... that they did not "have to" get us a car nor let us use it...even if it meant that the car just sat in the garage un-used... so be it. EVEN with peer pressure or us wanting to be like the other kids who did have cars. So what. A car is a "privilege."

All the best,
Susan

HA- maybe I'll think different later on when my kids get that age, but I don't think teens should have their own cars at all- WAY too many deaths related to teen driving. I've already told my girls (who are FAR FAR away from being teens) that I will not let them ride with another teen, and I will not care about trying to be a cool parent on this issue. If they get jobs, need to go to a friend's house, etc, I will drive them.

Of course this opinion doesn't help with your issue. The previous post sounded reasonable for a solution.

You are the actual owner at the end of the day as parents. Repairs are to be split. If they're going to be so petty with things, maybe they don't deserve a car so when the fights start, take the keys away!

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

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My sister and I are a year and a half apart and we shared a car. Really though, we drove most everywhere together and so we shared the car and expenses ourselves.

Perhaps, teaching them responsibility, like tracking their mileage, would help them determine who drives the car more miles and is responsible for gas and when.

Perhaps, even having some type of fine, if one returns the car empty, then they pay a $10 fine ti the other or something. By them keeping a mileage report, you would know if someone is driving it around and leaving it empty for the other on purpose or not.