Driving "someone else's car" is a huge responsibility for many people. You want to avoid any damage. On the other hand, you're worried that when you return the car, you'll be judged for allowing the damage that already happened. Many people feel this way. Of course, we don't want to be charged for the cost of fixing scratches on the car, washing the upholstery, or replacing a mirror that wasn't our fault.
That is why, before you leave the Car Rental Center, carefully inspect the car and read the acceptance certificate. It should reflect all elements that deviate from the norm. Pay special attention to:
1. Fuel level
As a rule, the car is given to the Rental Center with a full tank - such requirements are specified in most contracts. When you receive the car, the tank must also be full. Be sure to check it so that you do not feel cheated later. Sometimes mistakes happen, they can also be made by the Car Rental Center, and if you notice them in time, no one will get hurt.
2. Stains, scratches, dents
In general, a damaged body can sometimes be seen from afar. Cars from the Rental Center have already traveled more than one road and served more than one driver. Of course, there are situations when someone hits the door in the parking lot. With a large number of such blows or a major incident, marks will remain on the body.
Therefore, it is better to walk around the car and take a closer look for major damage. Make sure that these are noted in the documents you sign.
Pay special attention to the doors, bumpers, side mirrors and light areas. This is where the above-mentioned faults most often occur.
3. Stains on the seats and cabin
Cars at the Rental Center are carefully checked and cleaned before their subsequent drivers. However, this does not mean that they always leave in perfect condition, like new. Especially in family cars, there are stains that are not so easy to wash off.
You can check the interior, especially the rear seats. Of course, there is no point in reporting tiny stains or a little dust - let's not go crazy.
However, it is worth paying attention to large marks that affect the aesthetics of the car. Basic cleaning is usually included in the rental price, but removing blood stains, sticky juices, large amounts of hair may already be a specialized cleaning. So take a closer look to see if there are any uncleaned areas left inside the car by previous renters.
4. Equipment
Cars from the Rental Center have different equipment. Sometimes it includes many elements, and sometimes only the basic minimum. Make sure that everything is specified in the documents. Is the interior mirror working and movable? Are the headrests adjustable? Are all the floor mats in place? Are all the handles above the doors and for the windows (in older cars) in place?
We do not recommend counting the buttons, because you may not leave the Car Rental Center for several hours. Pay special attention to the moving parts.
5. Basic check of the car
This is something we do not have to remind drivers about. Rented cars, as if they were your own, need to be thoroughly checked for safety. The staff probably took care of these elements, but you, as a driver, are certainly familiar with the principle of “limited trust”.
Before the trip, check the oil level, washer fluid, headlights, windshield wipers and other elements that you would check in your car before a long trip.
The amount of information creates the impression that the transfer of the car lasted a whole day. Trust us - it only seems that way. The cars are cleaned, serviced and thoroughly checked by the Rental Center employees.
Anything that deviates from the norm is entered into the vehicle registration document. However, we are all human and can miss something. Checking the car by you is an additional protection, which will also facilitate the return process.
Thanks to the basic check at the beginning, there is no need to argue about the damage that occurred at the end - it is well known when it was done. Each described element is about 3-4 minutes of check. In general, it will take up to 20 minutes. It is worth spending them if they can save you from many problems in the future.
