First Thing To Do When Renting A Car

Renting a car is an incredibly common travel experience, but there’s a crucial step that many people overlook in their rental journeys.

And it turns out that this simple-but-major action could save you a lot of money and hassle.

According to experts, the very first thing you should do when you get your rental car is take a couple of minutes to inspect and photograph the vehicle.

“Many rental car companies do a fairly quick inspection when you return the car, and if they notice a dent or scratch that wasn’t documented beforehand, it could fall on you to prove you weren’t responsible,” said Sally French, a travel expert at NerdWallet.

Having quick access to evidence that the ding was there when you picked up the car can save you lots of money in unexpected fees or repair bills.

“Unfortunately, not all rental companies are equally thorough or honest when documenting pre-existing damage,” said travel blogger Rocky Trifari. “You could be held financially responsible for damage that was already there or that occurred after you returned the car. I’ve heard stories of people being charged hundreds ― or even thousands ― of dollars for things they didn’t do.”

Without evidence, it’s your word against the rental company’s, but documenting the state of the car yourself puts the control back in your hands.

“It’s much easier to prove you aren’t responsible for damage to a rental car if you inspect and report the damage before driving off,” said money and budgeting expert Andrea Woroch. “Taking pictures can validate this claim since you can show the image and time stamp of when the picture was taken to prove you are not responsible for any scratch, dent or any other damage.”

Some rental car agencies might say you don’t need to worry about normal wear and tear (such as a tiny scratch that’s less than an inch), but erring on the side of caution is better than assuming you can’t be held liable for preexisting dings.

“While many car rental companies will inspect vehicles for damage before you pick up, it’s best to double check it yourself,” Woroch said. “Inspect the vehicle closer for any damage inside and out, and drive the car to a lighted area if you are in a poorly lit underground parking lot.”

She advised photographing any signs of damage you notice and reporting it immediately to avoid…