What happens when I return rental car with small dent?

They might not even notice. If they did, you have the insurance right?

Did you buy the CDW coverage? Or does the credit card you used to rent it have it?

MColleen wrote: ↑ Worried that they will take me to the cleaners. Does anyone have any experience, advice, or information on their procedures? Thanks.

you obviously did not buy any insurance here, if they catch you then you will be paying for it
if not, buy insurance next time

If you didn't get some sort of insurance, you will most likely be paying for damage.

Rental car people are pretty thorough and this is what they look for.

Many renters take a video of the car before and after to protect themselves from fraudulent claims. It seems you put a dent on the car somehow so they will most likely find it and charge you something. If you found it, chances are good they will too. If you look at a certain angle, you can see every imperfection of the car on each area (on the subject of dents).

If it was me, depending on the size of the dent, I'd be pulling out a plunger and see if I can pop it back out. If you try this, make sure you don't make it worse, sheet metal is so thin nowadays.

You are charged to repair it, what do you mean?

Your question cannot be answered by us. It depends on the size of the dent and the rental agency, then from there other factors like the rental agent. Enterprise in my experience has been the most forgiving if it is indeed small. They have a little diagram they go by usually if its about the size of a quarter or smaller they don't care.

If it's a ding, they will forgive. If it's a dent, you will be charged. Hopefully you had credit-card with coverage.

MColleen wrote: ↑ Worried that they will take me to the cleaners. Does anyone have any experience, advice, or information on their procedures? Thanks.

Too many variables. If you have CDW coverage then you don't have to worry about it.

If you don't, it's luck of the draw if the return agent notice it or not.

Return car when it's dark and raining, hope they don't notice.

"Small dent" can mean different things to different people. Without a picture to go by, it's hard to say.

Does it look like this?



I know just driving around some female family members, they swing their purse (scratches) and knee the door to close it, slam the seat belt in the door, etc. Not much pride in ownership for a certain sex, in my experience.

Photo doesn't show, but it has started to pop out.

If you just drop it in hoping they won’t notice, it might backfire on you. They’ll end up doing the repairs themselves through a body shop then charging your cc on file for the repairs.

Even if they don’t notice, the next renter will notice it and will probably flag it before rental release.

Otherwise —
1) file damage report with rental agency
2) contact your credit card company that ha CDW insurance and file a claim (if used)
2a) if no CDW insurance, might want to check if your own auto insurance covers rental cars but your premiums will jump.
2b) pay out of pocket.
3) credit card company insurers contact directly with rental agency and deals with repairs, paper work, and pay out.
4) done.

I’ve gone through this process once out of renting every week for work back in 2018-2019. Fingers crossed I don’t have to deal with it ever again.


Just saw the photos — if you can make the bumper pop out, then it might not be an issue with rental agency. Most agencies don’t care about coin sized damages. In fact, a Hertz agency told me if the damage is less than a US dollar bill they’d ignore it (in US obviously)

MColleen wrote: ↑ Concerns above.

Highly recommend you remove the picture showing the license plate...jeez

hierophant wrote: ↑ Highly recommend you remove the picture showing the license plate...jeez

Why?

CanadianLurker wrote: ↑ Why?

Privacy issues! That dent is very noticeable

mikka2017 wrote: ↑ Privacy issues! That dent is very noticeable

Don’t be paranoid dog

Yeah people and their licence plates....like who cares, and in this case it isn't even their licence plate lol.

Turn in the vehicle and get ready to pay about $1000.....