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Car rental checklist: the inspection you shouldn't skip
Five minutes of inspection when you pick up the car can save you a bill on return. Here's what to check, what to photograph and how to avoid nasty surprises.
General guidance only. Rental terms, insurance and excess vary by company, country and offer, and change over time. This checklist is provided "as is", on a best-effort basis. Always read the rental agreement before you sign.
Before you sign: the documents
- A valid driving licence (and an international driving permit if you rent outside the EU).
- An ID card or passport.
- A credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit (debit cards are often refused).
- The booking voucher and, if needed, the declaration of additional drivers.
The condition report: photograph everything
This is the step that protects your wallet. Before you leave the car park, do a full walk-around and take dated photos:
- Bodywork: every scratch, dent, wheel, bumper, and the roof (often forgotten).
- Windows and mirrors: chips on the windscreen, cracks.
- Interior: seats, dashboard, cleanliness.
- Fuel level and odometer reading.
- Tyres and the presence of a spare wheel or puncture kit.
Then have every defect noted on the contract (the condition report). A defect not recorded at pick-up may be charged to you on return.
Fuel, insurance and excess
- Fuel policy: "full / full" (return it full) is usually the best value.
- Excess (deposit): this is the amount you may be liable for if there's damage. Note it.
- Included insurance: check what the CDW (damage) and theft cover actually include, and the common exclusions (roof, underbody, tyres, glass).
- Excess waiver: offered by the rental company or via your own insurance / bank card — compare before buying it on the spot.
When you return the car
- Return the car with the agreed fuel level.
- Walk around and photograph the car again at the moment you hand it back.
- Ask for a signed return condition report or, failing that, keep proof of the time and condition.
- Keep the closed contract and watch the deposit charges over the following days.
If you crash a rental car
- Make it safe and call 112 if needed.
- Fill in an accident statement with the other driver.
- Photograph the scene, the damage, the plates and the positions.
- Notify the rental company via its assistance number and follow its procedure.
Frequently asked questions
What should I check before taking a rental car?
Walk around the vehicle and photograph every scratch, wheel, window and the roof, plus the interior, the fuel and the odometer. Have every defect noted on the contract before you leave.
What documents do I need to rent a car?
A valid licence, an ID card or passport, and a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit. Outside the EU an international driving permit may be required.
What do I do if I crash a rental car?
Make it safe, call 112 if needed, fill in an accident statement, photograph everything and notify the rental company. AcciZen helps you capture it all at the right moment. Open AcciZen →
A photo condition report, with nothing missed — that's exactly what AcciZen does.
AcciZen guides you to photograph the car in the right order, with the place and time stamped. At pick-up and at return, you leave with clear proof of the car's condition. Free, no sign-up, in 6 languages.
Open AcciZen
Last updated: June 2026.
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