It is – naturally – the intention that you return a rental car or van in the same condition as when you took it. But what if, as the renter, you disagree with the car rental company on this point? Who ends up on the losing end?
‘That scratch
You have just returned your rental car to the car hire company. You are certain you returned it without any damage. Or, you are sure that scratch was already there. However, the rental company is not so sure. They claim that you, as the renter, are liable for the damage.
Before you took the hire car, you quickly walked around the car. You concluded that the car was undamaged. Nobody would fuss about that one little scratch, would they? Besides, they'll already know about it.
Unfortunately, these kinds of scenarios do indeed occur in practice. Believe us. We know the stories from customers of other car rental companies. How do you prevent the rental company from making an unjustified claim of hundreds or even thousands of euros against you? We give you three tips.
Hints
1 – Inspect your car thoroughly for all scratches and dents, both small and large. Do this before you drive off the premises. Don't forget the interior! Report all damage you see on the damage report form and ask for a copy of it.
2 – As a backup, take a photo of all damage with your smartphone. You can see the date and time in the file properties of the photo. This is useful as proof that the damage was pre-existing. However, ensure there is a recognisable background in the photo, from which it can be deduced that the photo was taken on the premises of the car rental company. Close-ups are not necessary. Take a photo of the front, sides, rear, and roof. With the HD cameras now found on your phone, you can zoom in and see even the smallest scratch.
3 – Car rental companies effectively place the responsibility on you. You get the key and can drive off the premises with the car straight away. Often, when you return it, no one even checks the car. At least not immediately. However, if the next renter discovers damage that presumably wasn't there before, you will be held accountable. Even if the car has been sitting on the lot for days. Therefore, take photos even after returning your rental car. This way, you can prove that you returned the car in the same condition.
Go through the above three steps and prevent unfounded damage claims! Safe and reliable a Car hire in the Urmond regionThis is possible at Adrem!
