Car Hire Scams: Damage Control

When you arrive at your holiday destination, you're usually tired from the flight, bogged down with luggage and just wanting to get to your hotel. If you've hired a car, you want to get in it and go as soon as you can. Car hire firms know this, and many will take advantage of the fact. The 'discovered damage' ploy is one of the oldest tricks in the car hire book, and costs tourists millions of pounds each year.

Picture the scene; You arrive at the car rental office, glance over the car, sign the papers, take the keys, and drive to your hotel. Throughout your holiday you drive carefully, taking good care of the vehicle. You return it to the office on the day of your departure, only to have the tiniest of dents or the smallest of scratches pointed out to you. You dispute it but it's too late; you find your credit card – which you needed to provide details of to get the car in the first place – has been hit with a huge bill for 'repairs'.

Sadly, this scene will be a reality to around 9 million Britons each year. More and more car hire firms are catching on to the fact that there's even more money to be made out of tourists than just the cost of the rental. But this doesn't mean that renting a car should be avoided; as long as you know what to do and how to protect yourself you can avoid becoming just another statistic.

When you arrive at the rental lot, don't appear to be in a rush. Ask for the car to be driven into a well lit area, or outside if it's during the day. You need to examine the car as thoroughly as possible, inside and out. Take your time with this; if you notice any damage whatsoever, however small, report it to the rental staff and make a note of it yourself. If you have a digital camera, take photographs, with the date/time stamp on if possible. Check underneath the car for signs of an oil leak or any other damage. Inspect the windscreen for chips, and examine the doors and bumpers for dents or scratches. Open the car and check the upholstery and all the fixings to make sure they're clean and without scratches or tears. Open the boot and ensure the spare wheel is present, with air in the tyre.

Once you've had a thorough look at the car and noted any existing damage, you'll need to sign the forms. Read these carefully and make sure that all the damage you've discovered is marked down on the form. If the form isn't filled out to your satisfaction, refuse to sign until all damage has been noted.

You will also be asked if you wish to take out CDW – Collision Damage Waiver. This is a form of insurance which is usually payable by the day, and can save you hundreds should there be any damages to the car caused by you. Of course, this may be covered by your car insurance, so if you don't need it, check everything you sign to make sure it's not been added without your consent.

Provided you're vigilant, taking out a car rental needn't cost more than necessary. Car rentals can be invaluable on your holiday and are a great way to see places you'd otherwise miss. Cheap car hire firms can be found and booked online.