Importance of Video/photographic proof of condition of rental cars.

try2bhelpful on 18/08/2019 - 00:39

we recently travelled in Europe. Whilst we were there my brother, and sister in law, hired a car to travel in Spain and Portugal. They picked us up in Madrid and we travelled for 14 days then dropped it off in Barcelona. My sister in law took photos when they picked up the car, and highlighted existing damage with the rental place, and I took a video when we dropped it off. About a month later my brother got a message from them saying the car had some damage when returned. When my brother told them we had before, and after, photographs then, apparently, the problem was the info on existing damage hadn’t made it to the computer.

Just a warning to people, particularly if you rent in Spain, to make sure you have good before and after pictures; particularly for bumper bars and obvious scrape points. If you see pre existing damage make sure it is highlighted with the rental company. Make sure the video/pictures are offloaded in case something happens to your phone/camera. Don’t delete the images when you get back, you never know.

Travel

Comments

  • ProlapsedHeinous on 18/08/2019 - 01:12
    +4

    In addition, if possible record yourself asking google or siri what the current date and time is as well(showing the screen), and record their answer before starting to record the cars condition

    • try2bhelpful on 18/08/2019 - 01:16

      My phone has date, time and the geolocation recorded when you take the photos, but not a bad idea as well.

      • ssquid on 18/08/2019 - 02:11
        +1

        Modifying metadata is trivial, video content not so much.

        • [Deactivated] on 18/08/2019 - 03:09

          walking into the car rental office to drop off the car keys during the video shot may be helpful

        • try2bhelpful on 18/08/2019 - 07:46
          +1

          Probably video the surrounds to show it is the rental place.

          • esty on 20/08/2019 - 15:47

            @try2bhelpful: turn the camera around so show it is you returning the keys

  • whooah1979 on 18/08/2019 - 02:48
    +3

    Always use a prepaid credit/debit card when hiring overseas.

  • werdnanostaw on 18/08/2019 - 08:32
    +4

    Never take "insurance" offered by rental company (though make sure it has third party personal and property cover) which may not cover things like:

    • underbody and overhead damage

    • glass and mirrors

    • interior, say coffee spill

    • single vehicle accidents

    • tyres and wheels

    • wrong fuel

    • lost keys

    • uninsured other driver

    • vehicle towing and return to depot in case of breakdown or accident

    • diminution of value due to damage

    • cost of getting vehicle to and from repair shop

    • loss of rental income while vehicle is being repaired

    • admin costs

    Use third party insurance company like www.rentalcover.com. They provide $100,000 of cover for about $10/day for whatever car rental company throws at you.

    I still take the before and after photos but I have much more peace of mind since I started using rentalcover.com.

    • try2bhelpful on 18/08/2019 - 09:02

      Thanks for info. Will investigate.

  • chav on 18/08/2019 - 09:24
    +2

    This is unfortunately very common practice with low cost or franchised car rental outlets in European holiday destinations. Video / photo evidence might help, basically you are making it hard work for the company to persue or calling their bluff.

    It will help if you need to leverage your credit card company when back in Auz. Although their starting position will be take it up with the service provider.

    I'd completely agree with werdnanostore, buy supplementary travel insurance which specifically gives you the option to pay an additional premium and reduce or remove excesses.

    I even do this when traveling in Auz and renting it's so much cheaper than the rental companies cover and gives peace of mind.

  • Cheeper on 18/08/2019 - 10:13

    Europcar?

  • cloudy on 18/08/2019 - 10:33

    Don’t they do a inspection upon drop off to let you know of damage they want to pursue?

    A month later, anyone could have done the damage to the car, putting the blame on a customer a month later seems like a impossible argument,

    • HardQuiz on 18/08/2019 - 10:53
      +1

      That’s why I never do key drop off out of business hours. Always make sure to get the all clear from a human.

      • Some Guy on 20/08/2019 - 01:36
        +1

        This. I give the keys to a human and ask for an invoice/receipt, confirming and agreeing on the condition of the vehicle right there and then.

    • try2bhelpful on 18/08/2019 - 12:18
      +3

      No, you hand over the keys and, usually, no inspection. It is up to the renter to make sure any existing issues have been documented. Some countries, and some companies, are notorious.

    • thebadmachine on 18/08/2019 - 18:27

      Drop-off inspection can differ depending on the place and individual.
      At a well known rental company in Aus, they were too easy going about it, just checked the Km’s / fuel and then walked around the car from a distance, and give you the OK.
      I think whatever they do it holds little weight.

      As OP said, they go by the records, and it depends on either your damage or when there is an error.

  • Ughhh on 18/08/2019 - 12:25

    Same thing can be said for any other rental stuff, like houses.

    • try2bhelpful on 18/08/2019 - 12:27

      True, filming the condition when first renting and referring back for the final inspection. Could backfire on you, though. :).

      • Ughhh on 18/08/2019 - 12:28
        +2

        Only use if it favours you though of course.

        • try2bhelpful on 18/08/2019 - 18:49

          Is the pug yours? we had some when I was a kid. I always say they are big dogs in little dog's bodies. My Grandma's one lost an eye in a fight with an alsation. Great dogs but stubborn as hell.

          • Ughhh on 18/08/2019 - 20:35

            @try2bhelpful: Nah, I wish. I love its judgemental yet adorable face. Fits my username perfectly imo.

  • [Deactivated] on 18/08/2019 - 16:18

    England’s not much better
    https://youtu.be/azQTpzOKPcU

  • thebadmachine on 18/08/2019 - 18:25

    Yes good practice. Even in Australia.
    I still have the photos from the last rental car. I take pictures before and after with the phone, and the date + time info are in the photos.
    They can claim the car was in better condition than when you picked it up, and charge your card at a later date.
    It was written in the info regarding the rental car, something along the lines of “we keep your card info and can charge you at a later date regarding damages we discovered upon further inspection of vehicle”.

    • cloudy on 18/08/2019 - 20:07

      Yea, my last car rental held on to the 4500 credit card verifcatoin for a few days after I returned the car. So until it’s withdrawn I guess they can still charge the card.

  • Cheeper on 18/08/2019 - 19:51

    If they want to charge you for damage they should inspect on return, no exception.
    This is a rort that too many car renters cash in on. Being able to charge for damage after many others my have used the car is so wrong.

  • crashloaded on 19/08/2019 - 22:01

    Will videos/photos make much difference once you've left the country? If they charge the card it's going to be up to you to chase the money back. Unfortunately it's just a risk you take with the cheaper rental companies.

    Best option is definitely a pre paid card or one with a small limit.

    • try2bhelpful on 20/08/2019 - 00:15

      You would still be able to argue the point with your credit card company as a charge back. The rental company is likely to back down if they know you have video proof because they have, technically, committed fraud by trying to charge you for damage you haven’t done. The rental car we went with is reasonably well known and had good reviews. One of the more notorious ones is Europcar which is quite a large company. Some car companies will only allow you to use a credit card. Forewarned is forearmed and a video, and a request for proof of damage, gives you a better chance than just trying to deny.

      • crashloaded on 20/08/2019 - 20:00
        +1

        My response to the rental company would be that I have video and photographic evidence of the damage regardless of if I actually do have it.

        I think the problem with these rental companies is most of them dont give a shit that they are committing fraud.

        I rented in Spain and more recently croatia. I didn't have a problem in spain but in croatia they fiercely scaremongered into getting insurance even though we had our own cover. Lucky we paid with debit card so it made it tougher for them to rip us off. We noted all the damage and didn't have an issue at the drop off.

        The tactics these places use is a disgrace.

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