Hertz - Damage to Car When I Rented It - Is There Chance I Could be Blamed?

I rented a Subaru Forester from Tampa airport location. The car had more damage than I've ever seen on a rental car (dent behind gas tank, scraps along drivers side, dent behind R front wheel, badly stained back seats, stained floormats). I documented (written) all problems and took documentation back to desk. Agent offered me another car, but I really wanted to keep Forester (b/c it's car I drive at home). Agent took my notes and wrote RA and circled it and initialed that (initials AV) and circled those.

I turned car in at MCO. I again pointed out damage to car return person, showing my documentation that damages existed at TPA. I asked if by if checking car in at station, does it mean that car was returned in condition that I took it out. Agent said yes. However, they check cars in so quickly, how could she have looked at the damage? It was a few clicks on the handheld and she was on to next car.

Should I do anything at this point? Should I put this in writing to Hertz? Will I get a "surprise" in several months about the damage to this car? And, yes, looking back on it, I should have taken photos (and maybe just gotten a different car!)

I don't know what the likelihood of getting gouged for this is going to be. Hopefully, you received some kind of documentation from TPA showing that you reported prior damage.

In my case - I never take a vehicle with anything more significant than small scratches at the trunk (normally considered wear and tear at airport locations). If I ever get a car with more than that, I will demand that it be exchanged for another vehicle.

The last vehicle that I had that was damaged was a RAV4 in ATL. It had a stone chip in the windshield that was not visible when I first got in the car (was in the upper level parking garage stalls that day). I did not notice the ding until I got out in the sunlight, at which point I turned right around and requested a new vehicle.

When they check you in and look at the car, they are supposed to make you file an accident report if they have noticed any damage. If they didn't do this, I would say you are OK.

For example, I got a Chrysler Crossfire once at DFW that had a missing gas tank door -- I noted it at the location, but wanted to take the car anyway (it was either that or a Taurus :p). When I returned, the agent noted the damage, but I mentioned that it had already been noted at the time of pickup. He didn't ask any more questions, and processed my rental normally. It's been probably six or seven months now, and I've never heard anything from Hertz on that car.

If you keep the damage sheet you had been given with it showing the damage when you rented the car, you should be OK as long as everything is noted on it.

I wouldn't be overly concerned if they didn't care that much.

I find Hertz to be good about not assessing damage charges when it's not warranted. Had it been Enterprise, then I would say you should retain legal counsel :)

I wouldn't worry. If the return agent doesn't mark it as having damage, then the car/rental isn't flagged and you should be in the clear.

It is always possible if damage isn't caught by the return agent and it found later that they'll look back to the list of previous renters and try to pin it on them (you) but in this case given that the car is marked as damaged when you picked it up you should be in the clear.

I find Hertz to be good about not assessing damage charges when it's not warranted. Had it been Enterprise, then I would say you should retain legal counsel :)

Ditto. Legal counsel also recommended for Dollar.

At avis, we were taught that if the check in agent gives a reciept and goes off to the next car without noting damage, then your chances of collection drop by 2/3. Because the agent never pointed out the damage to you and got you to sign an acknowledgement that the damage was there, they find it difficult to buill skilled insurance reps on claims. Typically, the insurance reps simply say

"Im sorry, the proof that my client caused the damage is where? you didnt get proof that they did the damage? Is there a check out form that has an authorized agent for your company and the customer signing it showing damage was NOT there from the beginning?

Show me proof that my client did the damage, then call me back, til then dont waste my time. "

essentially, if you get past the check in, your usually scott free, but keep the vehicle contract that shows the damage in a safe place just in case.

where enterprise gets you is that they "claim" to walk you to your car everytime and walk around with you. But often they slip in a "vehicle condition report" statement .sw an agent (not knowing I was a current avis manager) get me to decline all coverages etc etc, and then slip in a paper with an X on it to "sign here" right in after initialling the "decline" statements. It was slick and I caught it, asked for his manager and asked for the manager to come with me to the car...The car did have a ding in it that was "billable" and I would have been liable for the damages if the car left the lot. I was beyond furious (I was renting the car for a college buddy who had a bad driving record, avis was doing record checks, enterprise didnt) and it took everything I had to keep from calling the cops. BUt since I was the "competition", I dont know how that would have played out, so I dropped it, after my friend was upgraded to a very nice SUV for 19 dollars a day.





I rented a Subaru Forester from Tampa airport location. The car had more damage than I've ever seen on a rental car (dent behind gas tank, scraps along drivers side, dent behind R front wheel, badly stained back seats, stained floormats). I documented (written) all problems and took documentation back to desk. Agent offered me another car, but I really wanted to keep Forester (b/c it's car I drive at home). Agent took my notes and wrote RA and circled it and initialed that (initials AV) and circled those.

I turned car in at MCO. I again pointed out damage to car return person, showing my documentation that damages existed at TPA. I asked if by if checking car in at station, does it mean that car was returned in condition that I took it out. Agent said yes. However, they check cars in so quickly, how could she have looked at the damage? It was a few clicks on the handheld and she was on to next car.

Should I do anything at this point? Should I put this in writing to Hertz? Will I get a "surprise" in several months about the damage to this car? And, yes, looking back on it, I should have taken photos (and maybe just gotten a different car!)

I find Hertz to be good about not assessing damage charges when it's not warranted. Had it been Enterprise, then I would say you should retain legal counsel
That's exactly what I was thinking. I've taken a few cars with damage and always had it noted on my agreement when leaving, but not once have they ever even asked about it when I returned.

The only time I had any issue was in CUN, but that seems to run substantially differently from the US locations.

I took out one of the roof lights on a H2 rental from Hertz at my company's parking garage. Didn't opt for any insurance on, but pointed it out when I brought the vehicle back. They didn't even care.

If you checked it in to a live person, and got a receipt, no need to worry.

The only time I had any issue was in CUN, but that seems to run substantially differently from the US locations.

I had a real problem at LGW, even though the damage was noted on the check-out contract. In the end, we got it worked out, but it took some mild level of threats & escalation. Autoeurope was the broker, and was very concerned when I reported the issues.

Just keep a copy of your contract showing the prior damage and you have nothing to worry about.