Cell phones have made it easy for travelers to photograph every aspect of their trip, from the meals they ate to the sites they saw. But, according to Travel & Leisure, most vacationers are unaware of the most important video or photo to take when traveling if you are renting a car.
There have been numerous allegations lately of car rental companies unfairly charging customers for damage that the customers claim they did not cause. Some travelers claim that weeks or even months after they returned a rental car, they receive a bill from the rental company for damages they say were “discovered upon later inspection.” In many cases, these bills can be for thousands of dollars.
Fortunately, there is one easy way to protect yourself. Travel insurance experts recommend taking videos or photographs of the rental car before you leave the lot and when you return the vehicle. This way you can prove that the vehicle was returned in the exact same state as it was received and that you did not damage it. This is especially important if you are returning the rental car to a location using rapid return, which means there is nobody checking you in.
To properly document the vehicle’s condition, you need to take video, or pictures, inside and outside of the entire car. Start by walking in a complete circle around the car, making sure that the entire vehicle is always within the frame. Take close-ups of any damage you see, such as deep scratches or dents. Then get video or photos of the top of the car and the undercarriage if possible. Lastly, document the car’s interior as well — this includes the front seats, back seats, and trunk. The article suggests keeping this documentation, along with receipts from the rental company, for at least six months.
Taking video or photos may take a few extra minutes when you are anxious to get to where you are going, but it’s time well spent to avoid having to pay a big bill later.
Message The Seniors Trust on Facebook or Twitter and let us know if you’ve ever been billed by a rental car company for damage you did not cause as this seems to be a growing trend.
