How to Report Damage on a Rental Car
Tell the rental company and document everything before you return the car, because what you report later is harder to prove.
Report it to the rental company before you return the car
Call the rental counter or the roadside number on your agreement as soon as the damage happens, even if it's minor. Ask what their process requires, because some companies want a written incident report on file before you drop the car off.
Take photos of the damage from several angles, along with the date and the car's mileage. If another vehicle or person was involved, get their information too. This record is what protects you if the rental company tries to charge you for something that happened before you had the car, or disputes how the damage occurred.
Whether you bought the rental company's damage waiver changes what happens next
If you accepted the collision damage waiver when you picked up the car, the rental company generally won't come after you for the cost of repairs, though you still need to report the damage and follow their process. If you declined it, your own car insurance or the credit card you used to book the rental may be the ones who end up paying.
Check your own auto policy before you call anyone else. Many policies that include collision or comprehensive coverage extend that coverage to a rental car you're driving, but the details depend on your insurer and your specific policy. If you're not sure, your agent can tell you in a few minutes.
If you paid with a credit card, check what that card covers. Some offer rental coverage as a card benefit, but only if you declined the rental company's waiver and paid for the whole rental with that card. The terms are set by the card issuer, not the rental company.
Knowing which of these applies to you before you report the damage means you know who to call next and what questions to ask them.
How you reported it affects whether you're billed for more than the damage itself
Rental companies sometimes charge for loss of use, which is the income they say they lost while the car was being repaired, and for diminished value, which is the drop in the car's resale value after an accident. Whether these charges hold up often depends on your rental agreement and the state you rented in.
A clear, timely report with photos and a description of exactly what happened makes it harder for the rental company to add charges you can't verify. If you wait to report the damage, or report it only when you return the car, you have less to point to if a charge seems wrong.
Ask for a copy of the incident report before you leave the rental location. If a bill arrives later with charges you don't recognize, that report is what you'll use to question it.
Questions people ask about this
Do I have to pay the deductible on a rental car I damaged?
It depends on whether you have the rental company's damage waiver, your own insurance, or credit card coverage, and each works differently. Check which of these applies before the rental company bills you, since the deductible might fall to your insurer rather than to you directly.
What happens if I don't report minor damage to a rental car?
The rental company may notice the damage during their inspection and charge you for it without the benefit of your account of what happened. Reporting it yourself, even for something small, gives you a record that shows when and how it occurred.
Will reporting rental car damage raise my insurance rates?
It depends on whether you use your own policy to cover the damage, and if you do, your insurer may treat it as a claim. Ask your insurer directly whether a rental claim affects your rate before you decide which coverage to use.
Can the rental company charge my credit card without telling me?
Most rental agreements allow the company to charge the card on file for damage, but they're generally expected to notify you first. Read the agreement you signed at pickup, since the specific terms are set by the rental company.
Who do I call first if I damage a rental car in an accident with another driver?
Call the police if the accident involves another vehicle, then call the rental company's roadside or claims line listed on your agreement. Exchange information with the other driver just as you would in your own car, since that record matters regardless of whose car you were driving.
If you want to know whether your own policy would cover a rental car before you ever need it, it helps to compare what different insurers offer.
Report the damage to the rental company before you return the car, and get a copy of the incident report in writing. Call your own auto insurer and ask whether your policy extends to rental cars and what it would cost you if you filed a claim. Check the benefits on the credit card you used to book the rental, since it may offer coverage you didn't know about. Keep your photos, the rental agreement, and the incident report together in case a bill arrives later with charges you need to question.
