Rental car inspection checklist

Damage bills for rental cars rarely arrive at the counter. They tend to come days later, by email, with a photo of a scratch you don't remember. Hertz renters reported bills of several hundred dollars for small marks found by automated scanners after return, and complaints were still coming in August 2026 (Your Mileage May Vary, Carscoops).

At that point it is your memory against their photo. The fix is simple: take your own photos at pickup and at return, in the same order, so every "before" has an "after".

Before you drive off

Do this in the parking bay, before you load your bags. Bags in the trunk hide the trunk, and once you leave the lot it becomes harder to say the damage was already there.

1. Find good light. If the bay is dark, move the car under a light or ask for a different bay. Scratches show up best when light hits the panel at an angle.
2. Start at the front and go clockwise. A fixed order means you don't skip a corner, and your return photos line up with your pickup photos.
3. Point out what you find. Show any damage to an agent and ask them to add it to the rental agreement or the check-out sheet. Photograph the note.

The 18 shots

These are the shots the Handback car guide walks you through. They cover the places damage claims are usually about.

Why the wheels matter

Curb scuffs on the rim edge are one of the most common small damage claims. They are also easy to miss standing up. Crouch down and take each wheel close, so the whole edge of the rim is in the frame.

Why the windshield matters

A small chip in the glass can be billed as a windshield replacement. Chips are almost invisible straight on. Stand at the side and shoot across the glass so the light catches them.

Inside the car

Photograph the seats for stains and tears, the dashboard for warning lights, and the floor. Take the mileage and fuel level as two separate, readable photos. Fuel and mileage disputes are common and these two photos settle them.

At return

Do the same walk again, in the same order, before you hand over the keys. If you return after hours or to an empty lot, your return photos are the only record of the car's condition when you left it. Include one photo that shows where you parked and, if you can, the key drop box.

If an agent checks the car with you, ask for a return receipt that says no new damage was found. Photograph it.

Make the photos count

A photo on your camera roll has a date, but a date you can change in a few taps. If you are ever asked to prove the car looked like that at pickup, it helps to have:

• the time set by someone other than you;
• proof the photo has not been edited since;
• the photos in one place you can send as a single link.

That is what Handback adds. Each photo is taken in the app, its SHA-256 fingerprint is sent to our server, and the server stamps it with its own time. Later you send one link, and anyone can check the photos have not changed.

Sources

• Your Mileage May Vary, "Hertz's AI Scanners Are Still Charging For Tiny Damage", 19 August 2026. yourmileagemayvary.com
• Carscoops, coverage of calls for an FTC inquiry into Hertz's damage scanners, April 2026. carscoops.com
• The Autopian, "Customers outraged with Hertz AI scanners". theautopian.com