Folks, digital photographs cost $0.00.

On every rental, I take about 3 minutes at beginning and 3 minutes at end to take 10 pictures of the car upon pickup and upon return.

Left rear corner, left rear quarter, left front, left front corner, front grille, etc.

I'm even more pleased if the attendants see me doing it.

Has avoided any problem.

(I did have a car damaged in Italy once -- hit while parked -- but at the time Amex rental car insurance did not cover in Italy, neither did my own car insurance, so I had the rental car company full coverage, and simply handed them back the car with the damaged bumper.)