The moment you pick up a rental car is the most important moment of the entire hire. Any damage you spot before driving away is documented and cannot be charged to you later. But if you skip the inspection and take the keys, you accept responsibility for everything — including pre-existing damage you didn't cause. This guide walks you through every check worth making before you pull out of the lot.
Walk all the way around the car and photograph every scratch, dent, or paint scuff you find. Pay particular attention to areas that are easy to overlook:
Take all photos with a visible timestamp. A short video walk-around is even better — it's much harder to dispute in the event of a disagreement.
The interior deserves as much attention as the outside. Check the following:
Interior damage is often harder to document and more likely to be disputed at return — which is exactly why you need to check it thoroughly at pickup.
Tyres affect both your safety and your liability. Check each one individually:
Tyre damage is frequently excluded from CDW cover, which makes it especially important to identify and document at pickup.
Photograph the fuel gauge before you leave. Confirm the fuel policy stated in your contract — full-to-full, full-to-empty, or otherwise. If you're receiving the car full, make sure the gauge reads genuinely full. Even a small discrepancy can cause problems at return.
Check whether the car has an HGS electronic toll tag fitted. If it does, ask about the balance or check it yourself. If the balance is too low and you drive through a toll road or bridge, the resulting violation charge will be passed on to you. RepeatCar vehicles are fitted with HGS tags — we recommend confirming the balance at handover.
Start the engine and check the dashboard. If any warning lights remain on — engine fault, tyre pressure, oil level — report them immediately before driving. Ask for the issue to be noted in writing. Never accept a vehicle with unresolved warning lights.
At RepeatCar, every vehicle goes through a technical and hygiene inspection before handover. Any existing damage is recorded on the handover report, so there are no surprises at return. Our team is available 24/7 — in Turkish, English, German, and Russian — if you have any questions during or after pickup.
Start your rental the right way: repeatcar.com
