LPT: Always Take Photos of Your Rental Car After You Return It.

Submitted by abdhjops t3_zz4pcg in LifeProTips

...for your own records.

I recently returned my rental car per their instructions; leave the keys in the cup holder and take off. The attendants will walk around and scan/process the return. Well this (two weeks before Christmas) took a week for them to process. In that week, I was told by the rental car company that the car was still in my possession. Of course all sorts of scenarios were going through my head during this week.

By taking a picture of the car, license plate, the surroundings, with or without GPS tagging on pictures, there's some proof of return.

13

Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

ThenSoItGoes t1_j29e36p wrote

The REAL LPT: Take a VIDEO before AND after. It's infinitely easier and you can narrate.

6

Teckelvik t1_j29gsdn wrote

I read about Hertz reporting cars that had been returned as stolen, with huge complications for the innocent customers. This would help with that.Hertz

3

keepthetips t1_j29dnlf wrote

Hello and welcome to r/LifeProTips!

Please help us decide if this post is a good fit for the subreddit by up or downvoting this comment.

If you think that this is great advice to improve your life, please upvote. If you think this doesn't help you in any way, please downvote. If you don't care, leave it for the others to decide.

1

Mega_Mean_Bean t1_j29t7de wrote

This is an aside, but I once got billed by the rental car company for New York City tunnel and bridge tolls. I had the car for 48 hours in San Francisco. They were good about waiving the transactions, but still wasted time (and breath) arguing my case. Documenting everything is a good idea. A walk around video showing condition at the time of rental and upon return could save you from false damage claims.

1

rededelk t1_j2cij03 wrote

Yah before and after. I once had crap wod lot dude try to charge me for preexisting damage. I got his and his managers job. Fired

1