AITAH for telling my friend they can’t smoke in my car?

A Reddit user shared a story about a disagreement with their friend over smoking in their car. After repeatedly allowing their friend to smoke despite discomfort, they finally decided to put their foot down, especially since they plan to sell the car soon and want to keep it clean.

The friend accused them of being hypocritical because they vape in the car, leading to tension and arguments. To read more about this story and how others are weighing in, check out the full post below…

‘ AITAH for telling my friend they can’t smoke in my car?’

I have a friend who has, on multiple occasions, convinced me to let them smoke cigarettes in my car. I’ve never been completely comfortable with it, but I didn’t want to cause drama, so I reluctantly allowed it. My car always ends up smelling like tobacco afterward, and I’ve had to deal with the lingering odor for days.

A week ago, we were driving somewhere, and I noticed them pulling out a cigarette again. This time, I decided to stand firm and told them they couldn’t smoke in my car anymore. One of the main reasons is that I’m planning to sell the car soon and want to keep it as clean and odor-free as possible.

Instead of understanding my point, they got defensive and snapped at me, saying, “Why do you get to vape in your car if I can’t smoke?” I tried to explain calmly that my nicotine vape doesn’t leave a strong, lingering odor the way cigarettes do. It’s my car, after all, and I should have the right to decide what’s allowed in it.

They didn’t take it well and started arguing that I was being hypocritical. I reminded them that smoking in someone else’s car is a privilege, not a right, and I’ve already compromised too much by letting them do it in the past. If I’m trying to maintain the car for resale, they should respect that.

Now, they’re upset with me and acting like I’m being unfair or controlling. I feel like I was finally setting a boundary that I should’ve set a long time ago, but they think I’m overreacting. So, AITA for putting my foot down and refusing to let them smoke in my car anymore?

Here’s what the community had to contribute:

LongSerious7416 −  Hey Cig Smoker here👋 you are absolutely not in the wrong that is disgusting behavior and its not much to ask not to smoke in the car. I myself apologize to people if smoke gets to them outside and ofc vaping is smoking but its not a heavy smell and it doesn’t linger everywhere so NtA

oldandworking −  NO ONE can smoke in my car or home…………….

thequiethunter −  NTA.

Hachi654 −  I’m a smoker, and even I wouldn’t smoke in someone else’s car without explicit permission. Selling a car is hard enough without the lingering smell of cigarettes. NTA

xSciamachyx −  Ex smoker here, I was nose blind to the smell.. Nta.

Hollimara −  Nah, you’re not the AH. Your car, your rules. A vape and a cig are not the same—your car isn’t gonna smell like a dive bar for weeks because of a vape. Plus, trying to sell the car means keeping it clean, which your friend clearly doesn’t get. They can light up literally anywhere else. Stand your ground; they’ll live.

DaniCapsFan −  Cigarettes smell vile. Vape pens do not reek. And because you’re trying to sell your car, you don’t want it reeking of cigarettes.. NTA

Due-Outcome8053 −  I should add they whine and complain when they don’t get what they want and have threatened to destroy my airbag by slamming their face into it to kill themselves when I’ve told them no in the past

wacky_spaz −  NTA Even when i did smoke pre kid … smoking in car was a no no. Gross.

Saltynut99 −  NTA. I vape. My friends know that smoking cigs in my car is a no go. I used to smoke them and I don’t like the smell one bit anymore. If they any go a car ride without smoking, they can bring a vape or drive themselves.