Is this the latest car rental scam?

Similar thing happened to me… between the employee positioning herself in front of the rear wheel with a partially slashed tire and enthusing about what a great car it was with low mileage (distraction technique?) – and the very low lighting of the car rental garages typically found these days in most large airports, it can be a challenge to properly protect yourself from this kind of setup prior to driving off the lot.

This does seem to be fairly prevalent nowadays. While we have not had a claim against us for preexisting damage (knock on fiberglass), we have noticed a certain laissez-faire attitude when it comes to inspections. In some cases, this seems to be a customer-centric policy (as it appears to be with agencies like Alamo – note the use of the word “appears”) but does seem much sketchier in other cases. I think Cindy is spot on in with her above advice.

I don’t rent cars often, but I’ve had to get loaner cars several times this year when my car goes in for repairs. Every time, I’ve had to point out damage to the car that isn’t noted on the form when I’m asked to sign it. When I return the car, I always have to ask for a rental agent to come look at it before I hand the keys back–they don’t do it automatically. It might just be laziness (it’s not exactly in the car repair shop’s interest to cheat a frequent customer), but you never know. And so I always check and ask them to, as well.

@Chris

I’ve rented cars over the years in the US, Europe and Asia. I’ve run into 2 problems.

1. A parking ticket that AVIS claimed I received while the car was in my possession rented the car in Cordoba Spain.
2. They tried to over charge me by a day in Palermo 5an in correct subtraction of the days.

Those are the only problems I have had ever had. I speak fluent french but the language barrier has never been a problem in Italy Spain Jordan or elsewhere.

Perhaps I have been lucky but after 40 years with no problems I have to admit I am a bit scared reading this blog.

Richard

It does seem like the rental car companies I have used in the last few years are searching for way to “get you” for damage that you didn’t do. I have had 2 bad experiences in the last 2 years. It has made me become overly critical in my review of the cars and insistent on documenting even the most minor blemish on any surface. It take forever.

While I can’t prove this is true, I have a strong suspicion that it happens quite regularly.

If a customer takes the “Collision Damage Waiver” (CDW), then the rental company is out any damage.. i.e. it is self-insured for the damage to the vehicle caused by the customer. The rental company will often not inspect a vehicle upon return, where the CDW has been taken out.

Now if the next customer who rents that car doesn’t take out the waiver, and the rental company didn’t really inspect it after the return from the prior customer, then the newest renter on the hook for any damage, even if they really didn’t cause it. Rental company isn’t out of pocket for the damage, yet still made a tidy profit from the 15-20 per day charge for the CDW.

Only a suspicion…..

I’ve been traveling since 1986, moderately since 1993, and extensively since 1998. In the past I rented from whomever was cheapest, then Budget, and now I basically rent from Hertz. I’ve had exactly one damage claim, and that was from Alamo. I ignored them and they went away.

@O.Berkeley

we had the damage insurance. We handed in the car and walked away — no further problem about it. Why drive paranoid your entire vacation?
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Because 1) your own insurance probably covers it, 2) your gold or corporate card probably covers the remainder, and 3)the insurance is highly overpriced.

I guess if your car rentals are limited to one week for vacation then its not a big deal, but if you travel often for business, that overpriced scam insurance adds up really quickly

Last time I rented from a Hertz location at a hotel, the lone employee there was in a room near the lobby, and the cars out near another wing. Got to the car, and it had clearly been scraped past something, with minor damage all down the left side. I took pictures and went back in; the guy wrote it on my checkout form and said he’d put it in the record (this was a one-way rental to a Local Edition in another state).

When I returned the car, I started to explain to the employee there; he said yeah, no problem dismissively and signed off on the checkin. I’m Hertz Gold with a large corporate affiliation (though this rental was personal), and I gather they are more lenient on damage anyway. Hopefully they didn’t stick it to the next person.

But thanks to Chris and all the posters here — I always walk around and take pictures now, instead of just driving off.

When I recently rented a car (Budget), damage was not even discussed when I was checking out. I knew once I got to the car I would do a walk around. And sure enough there was clear damage to the front bumper. I brought the car up to the front on my way out and went inside. I told the agent their was damage I would like them to note. He sent a guy over (not an agent but someone who looks like they wash and deal with the cars when they are returned but not customers). He noted the damage on a form and gave me a copy. So while they did not try to hide the damage, I find it interesting that they are now putting the responsibility completely on the renter to look for damage. This was not the case when I rented from Hertz recently. They did a walk around with me. At the airport the current trend is to get you to your car as soon as possible and often you have to walk a distance to even get to it so the standard walk around is no longer happening.

The line that I’ve had recently is that a particular scratch is too minor to warrant attention. Twice, of late, I’ve had rental agents call damage minor and unworthy of mentioning that I’d consider to be something I’d want fixed on my own car (and I’m not overly fixated on pristine condition). I force them to document it anyway. No idea whether the scratch would have proven grounds for additional fees later on if I had not been vigilant.