Small Scrape on Hire Car - Any Advice?

drillvoice on 26/10/2017 - 08:48
Last edited 26/10/2017 - 09:06

Hi,

I recently got a hire car during a holiday. I didn't pay the premium for excess reduction but I did book and pay using a credit card that has excess insurance.

At one point during the journey I went up a steep driveway and I think I heard some scraping and afterwards I checked and there were marks on the part of the car that might have been scraped. I don't know if this was caused by the driveway because I hadn't checked this area before - they might have been there before, or maybe not.

Any advice on my best options when returning the car?

(I have since learnt about the 'go in at an angle' rule for steep driveways.)

Travel

Comments

  • mbck on 26/10/2017 - 08:53
    +5

    you heard a scrape….so even if there was a mark there, there is more now because of that incident. no need to sugarcoat it.

    You'll have to read the pds for your cc insurance. The cc might only cover the excess amount (not repair amount).

  • PAOK11 on 26/10/2017 - 09:21
    +2

    If your car is white, you can use whiteout to conceal the damage until the next hire. This worked for me although the damage was quite minor and may have been overlooked regardless

  • Skramit on 26/10/2017 - 09:23
    +4

    If it was a steep driveway it would only have scraped the front bumper underneath.

    Don't say anything, they wont even notice.

    • drillvoice on 29/10/2017 - 10:23

      You're right - I think this may be the best advice!

  • Ocker on 26/10/2017 - 10:01

    What part of the car was damaged?

    • drillvoice on 29/10/2017 - 10:23

      There is a scrape on the bottom of the front of the car.

  • rickxs on 26/10/2017 - 11:09

    a photo would help

    ,

  • bobbified on 26/10/2017 - 11:15

    marks on the part of the car that might have been scraped
    I don't know if this was caused by the driveway because I hadn't checked this area before - they might have been there before, or maybe not.

    Where exactly is the part that may have been scraped?
    Is it metal or plastic? Is it under the car? What did it scrape against?
    You can usually tell if it's a fresh scrape, particularly on metal and it probably would've left a mark or some paint bits on the driveway.

    Unfortunately, we don't have self-healing paint jobs on cars, so chances are, if you heard it scrape, then there is a scape mark!

  • Herodotus on 26/10/2017 - 12:41
    +2

    Hi. I reversed a hire van into a pole and creased the boot. I was a student with NO excess. I drove car back into returns yard, reversed it flush against the wall and the staff member couldn't be bothered properly checking. Signed release form and strutted out.

    • bobbified on 26/10/2017 - 14:21
      +8

      Reversed into a pole, eh?

      ^^ Username definitely checks out!

  • oscargamer on 26/10/2017 - 15:50
    +1

    What damage is on the report when you collected it?
    If there is new damage, you are responsible.

  • try2bhelpful on 26/10/2017 - 16:25
    +1

    Personally I would return it and see if they contact you about the damage. If it is minimal they may not bother you at all. It is a good idea to take before and after photos for any car you hire so that you don't get pinged on something that was already there or something that occured after you hired it.

    • drillvoice on 29/10/2017 - 10:23

      Thanks for the suggestion.

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