What to Check When Picking Up a Rental Car: A Step-by-Step Guide

Why the First 10 Minutes Matter

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.

1. Exterior Bodywork and Damage

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:

• The underside of front and rear bumpers
• Door edges and wing mirror housings
• The roof (especially on SUVs and minivans)
• Wheel rims and wheel arches
• Windscreen and windows: cracks or stone chip marks

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.

2. Interior Condition

The interior deserves as much attention as the outside. Check the following:

• Seats, headlining, and door panels for tears or stains
• Gear lever, steering wheel, and handbrake for cracks or wear
• Air conditioning and heating — test both
• All electric windows and mirrors
• Seatbelt mechanisms on every seat

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.

3. Tyres and Wheels

Tyres affect both your safety and your liability. Check each one individually:

• Is the tread depth adequate? Excessively worn tyres are both dangerous and a potential liability.
• Are there any bulges, cuts, or punctures on the sidewall or tread?
• Are the rims damaged — dented or kerbed?
• Is there a spare tyre and is it inflated?

Tyre damage is frequently excluded from CDW cover, which makes it especially important to identify and document at pickup.

4. Fuel Level

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.

5. HGS Tag and Balance

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.

6. Dashboard Warning Lights

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.

7. Documents and Paperwork

• Is the vehicle registration document in the car?
• Are the insurance and roadside assistance documents present?
• Have you received emergency contact numbers?
• Does your contract correctly reflect the insurance and protection package you selected?

How RepeatCar Handles the Handover

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