Using cheap car rental how to defend yourself from alleged claims of damage

An increasing number of people who take a rented vehicle out on the public roads are discovering a problem when they return home. Having left the vehicle in what they believed was the same condition as when they drove it away, a bill for repairs then arrives (often with an additional administrative fee to boost the total). Not surprisingly, most renters think themselves the victim of a scam but what should the reaction be and how can you avoid the risk in future?

With the economy doing badly, cheap car rental companies are feeling pressure on their profits and so resort to a little exaggeration to keep themselves solvent. This means an employee will go over your vehicle with a fine tooth-comb and any damage, no matter how trivial, will be billed. So write and ask the renter for evidence of the damage and independent quotes for repairs. This may not deter the companies from pursuing you, but it will make it more difficult if you appear willing to pay for damage that’s proved to have occurred and for labor charges that are verified. It’s useful to ask for your own expert to be allowed access to the vehicle to verify the damage. If you paid for the rental using your credit card, ask what insurance cover is available. It’s also worth asking what insurance the rental company has in place.

The next time you rent, take pictures of the vehicle when you collect it and ensure the pictures have a date and time code. If you see any marks, no matter how trivial, make a note on the rental documents before you drive away. When you return the vehicle, take a second set of pictures showing whether there are any new marks. If there are none, ask the representative of the cheap car rental company to certify no new damage in writing or on camera. Only if you get good quality evidence that the vehicle was not damaged while in your possession can you effectively resist these usually spurious claims. Never be in a hurry when you pick up or drop off a rental vehicle. Protect yourself!


Using cheap car rental how to defend yourself from alleged claims of damage