QUESTION: Car rental: how to inspect the car upon pick-up?

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A thorough inspection of the car upon pick-up is a mandatory step that will protect you from responsibility for someone else's damage and scratches recorded by previous renters. Do not rush to leave the rental company's parking lot and spend at least fifteen to twenty minutes inspecting the vehicle, recording all identified defects on photo and video in the presence of a company employee.

To make sure you don't miss anything, follow a simple step-by-step inspection algorithm:

1. Walk around the perimeter of the car in good daylight, recording any scratches, dents, chips on the body, bumpers, and paintwork on your smartphone camera, paying special attention to the sills and the lower part of the doors.
2. Check the condition of the wheel rims and tires for cuts, bulges, and heavy tread wear, and make sure there is a spare tire, jack, and lug wrench in the trunk.
3. Inspect the windshield and side mirrors for cracks and stone chips, which are often not included in the basic insurance and may be claimed upon your return.
4. Look inside the cabin, check the cleanliness of the seat upholstery, the operability of the air conditioner, multimedia system, power windows, seat belts, and lighting signaling (headlights, turn signals, brake lights).
5. Compare the fuel level in the tank and the odometer readings with the data specified in your rental agreement, and ask the manager to enter all found defects into the vehicle acceptance certificate before you sign the document.

Remember the golden rule of the traveler: give seventy percent of your attention to the thorough processing of documents and the technical condition of the car at the start, and leave thirty percent for spontaneity, the pleasure of the road, and the travel process itself. Recording every little detail in the certificate will eliminate any claims from the rental company when returning the car.

QUESTION: Car rental: how to inspect the car upon pick-up?

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