In Vietnam, do car's owner take responsibility when somebody borrows it and causes an accident?
Pursuant to Clause 1, Article 601 of the Civil Code in 2015 stipulating compensation for damage caused by sources of extreme danger: 1. Sources of extreme danger comprise motorized means of transport, power transmission systems, operating industrial plants, weapons, explosives, inflammable substances, toxic substances, radioactive substances, dangerous animals and other sources of extreme danger as provided by law. An owner of a source of extreme danger must comply strictly with the regulations on taking care of, preserving, transporting and using sources of extreme danger in accordance with law. 2. An owner of a source of extreme danger must compensate for damage caused by such source. If the owner has transferred possession or use of the source of extreme danger to another person, such other person must compensate [for the damage], unless otherwise agreed. 3. An owner, or person to which an owner has transferred the possession or use, of a source of extreme danger must compensate for damage caused by such source, even where such owner or person is not at fault, except in either of the following cases: a) The aggrieved person is entirely at fault for intentionally causing the damage; b) The damage occurred due to an event of force majeure or in an emergency situation, unless otherwise provided by law. 4. Where a source of extreme danger is taken into possession or used unlawfully, the person possessing or using [it] unlawfully must compensate for damage. Where an owner, or a person to which an owner has transferred possession or use, of a source of extreme danger is at fault by allowing the unlawful possession or use of the source of extreme danger, the owner, or the person to which the owner has transferred possession or use, of the source of extreme danger as the case may be must compensate jointly for the damage. Pursuant to Clause 5, Article 3 of the Circular 84/2014/TT-BGTVT stipulating the following definition: 5.Road motor vehicles include automobiles, tractors, trailers or semi-trailers pulled by automotive vehicles, tractors; two-wheeled, three-wheeled motor vehicles; motorbikes (including powered bikes) and similar vehicles. As above regulations, cars are considered to be one of sources of extreme danger. Your friend borrowed your car so he/she must take responsibility for the accident leading to his own death. In conclusion, you lent your car to your friend as you believed that he/she had already had driver's license. Therefore, you won't be responsible for paying compensation and receiving penalty. Besides, the compensation giving to victim's family shall be paid by your friend's family.