Schemes that let car owners rent out their car to other drivers are gearing up for trouble, according to car rental comparator Carrentals.co.uk. While the schemes such as WhipCar offer motorists a chance to recoup some of the costs associated with running a vehicle, the potential for disputes and bad feeling is vast says the company.

In a company-provided statement, Gareth Robinson, managing director of Carrentals.co.uk, says: “We work with over 50 hire companies and rent over 150,000 cars every year, ranging from car hire in France to Australia, so we know the diverse range of issues that can crop up with rentals.

“For the motorist renting out their car, it may be OK if there's no emotional attachment there, but the reality is that few people will look after a rental car as well as their own. Food and drink being consumed, coughs and sneezes on the steering wheel, riding the clutch and putting the wrong fuel in are just a few of the issues that should be considered. Is it worth the worry for £30?

"For the person doing the renting, you can generally get a new rental car for a similar price to these schemes. You know the vehicle has been maintained and you're dealing with a company with no emotional attachment to the vehicle. If you should scratch it - or worse - you won't need to face an angry owner.

"While finances may be tight, these types of schemes offer more potential for lawyers to make money out of them than consumers keen to earn some extra income."