Posted on October 13, 2010 by Fiona Hilliard

Did you know that the most common disagreement between a renter and their car rental agent is over who caused that hairline scratch or nasty dent?

Stick to this golden rule and you should steer clear of having to argue “it wasn’t me”…

****Always inspect the car with an agent before driving away****

When you get to the car rental pick up desk, you should be handed a vehicle inspection form.  You’ll be expected to sign this before the car leaves the lot. It is very important that you pay attention during the inspection to avoid being blamed for damage that you didn’t cause.   Depending on who and where you are renting from, during the process, the rental agent may also take some digital photos of the car.  As the saying goes, “the camera doesn’t lie” -  this is a great time for you to take some photographs for your own records too.

How to photograph your rental car:

1. Ensure that there is good lighting or your camera has a good quality flash.

Using your mobile phone (or digital camera) begin by first taking a photograph of the vehicle’s right-hand side profile.
Next, photograph the left hand side. Once you are satisfied that you’ve captured a clear representation of both sides, you should then take a walk around to the front of the vehicle.

2. Standing at a reasonable distance from the bonnet of the car, take several photographs from various angles.  Don’t be afraid to zoom in on any scratches or dents you notice.  Pay particular attention to the lights and the bumper.

3. Next move on to the vehicle’s rear.  Again take your time photographing the lights and bumpers, as well as the registration plate. These are common places for damage to occur. The area around the fuel cap is another area worth documenting.

4. Spend some time walking around both sides of the vehicle, photographing the areas around the door handles, as well as the actual doors for scratches and damage.

5. Don’t limit yourself to images of the exterior of the car.  Be sure to photograph any tears or damage to the upholstery inside the car too.

Once you are happy that you’ve covered everything, sign the inspection form.  Be careful not to delete any photos just in case you need them at a later stage.