Busting up your rental car
Discussion
What ways have you messed up your rental car, without actually having to pay for any damage or them not noticing.
For me:
Drove into a ditch on a dirt road in Chile. Had to be pulled out by a passing camper van. Beat up the front bumper, but I did a home repair job and they didn't notice.
Didn't notice a pole beside me while reversing. Reversed off the wing mirror.
17yo girl ran into the back of my big rental SUV. Her car was messed up; my big SUV just had a few scratches on the bumper. Didn't mention it to the rental company.
For me:
Drove into a ditch on a dirt road in Chile. Had to be pulled out by a passing camper van. Beat up the front bumper, but I did a home repair job and they didn't notice.
Didn't notice a pole beside me while reversing. Reversed off the wing mirror.
17yo girl ran into the back of my big rental SUV. Her car was messed up; my big SUV just had a few scratches on the bumper. Didn't mention it to the rental company.
Our first road trip 9 years ago be bashed our RV on a concrete divider coming through Pittsburgh. luckily it was only superficial damage but the side door struggled to open and creaked like crazy. A screwdriver and a can of oil fixed it. Was still some marks on it but they didn't look it over.
I rented a knackered Seat Ibiza in Majorca, basically from the equivalent of Rentawreck.
It had dents, dirt and several hundred thousand km on the clock.
The guy handed over the keys and said do what you want, this is its last hire before we junk it.
We had a lot of fun off-roading to beaches and everyone steered well clear on the roads as it was clear we had nothing to lose.
Happy days.
Years ago:
Not a hire car as such but a courtesy car from a local garage/bodyshop. My friends car was hit by someone and this was the car loaned by the small bodyshop while it was in being fixed through insurance.
It was a crappy 5 door Peugeot 205 GRD. My friends spent a couple of days absolutely ragging it senseless in the back roads, thrashing it on the beach in salty sand and salt water, and jumping it over hump back bridges to see who could jump it the furthest, amongst other things.
By the time it was returned the 'STOP ENGINE' light was on.
When my mate returned it, the bodyshop owner asked if the car had been ok for him, mate said yes everything was great. The owner went on to say that it what a good little car it was, it belonged to his wife, and they only lent it out to people when the odd insurance job came in...
Whoops.
Not a hire car as such but a courtesy car from a local garage/bodyshop. My friends car was hit by someone and this was the car loaned by the small bodyshop while it was in being fixed through insurance.
It was a crappy 5 door Peugeot 205 GRD. My friends spent a couple of days absolutely ragging it senseless in the back roads, thrashing it on the beach in salty sand and salt water, and jumping it over hump back bridges to see who could jump it the furthest, amongst other things.
By the time it was returned the 'STOP ENGINE' light was on.
When my mate returned it, the bodyshop owner asked if the car had been ok for him, mate said yes everything was great. The owner went on to say that it what a good little car it was, it belonged to his wife, and they only lent it out to people when the odd insurance job came in...
Whoops.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 22 August 23:22
Not my rental car but...
I started with a rental company a few weeks ago to fill in the gaps whilst I'm back at university. It's been interesting so far.
Car went out with 34 miles on the clock and "new car" scribbled all over the paperwork, It was booked from an insurance company. Came back with over 6,000 miles, 2 scrapes on the bumper, a scrape down the side, hole in the interior, all wheels kerbed, no fuel and absolutely filthy inside and out.
He clearly didn't care, he paid extra for a stupid low excess.
I did once glue back in one of the tears in the sidewall on a tyre from an enterprise hire car. The girl noticed and asked the manager... Manager didn't seem to care and I was sent on my way.
I started with a rental company a few weeks ago to fill in the gaps whilst I'm back at university. It's been interesting so far.
Car went out with 34 miles on the clock and "new car" scribbled all over the paperwork, It was booked from an insurance company. Came back with over 6,000 miles, 2 scrapes on the bumper, a scrape down the side, hole in the interior, all wheels kerbed, no fuel and absolutely filthy inside and out.
He clearly didn't care, he paid extra for a stupid low excess.
I did once glue back in one of the tears in the sidewall on a tyre from an enterprise hire car. The girl noticed and asked the manager... Manager didn't seem to care and I was sent on my way.
Edited by MethylatedSpirit on Tuesday 22 August 23:51
Worked for Enterprise for 2 and a half years. 95% of people working there have absolutely no idea or interest in cars.
Managed to flat spot 2 rear tyres on an Astra. Smash second gear out of an Astra gearbox casing. Destroy a clutch and flywheel on an Astra. Blow the head gasket on an Aygo. Managed to get a Peugeot estate stolen but returned 6 months later. Knocked a few mirrors off vans. Most recently me and my father have had the paneling out the back of a rented 10 Mile VW transporter pushing dents out, after he bumped it moving house.
But had countless stories of customers returning cars "that was on there when I had it"
Once had a customer get brand new range rover on insurance replacement, trainee couldn't work out how the tyres were bald on return a week later. Cheeky sod had swapped his wheels over! Had a customer swap a load of parts off a Mercedes Sprinter van he rented off us with his bumped one, it was only picked up on the cleaning/inspection later when the horn didn't work.
Had American drivers crash cars on the roundabout outside an airport driving the wrong way. Actually i'd say 1 in 2 Americans bumped them.
If possible, NEVER buy an ex rental, they are serviced and repaired by the lowest bidder...if at all.
Managed to flat spot 2 rear tyres on an Astra. Smash second gear out of an Astra gearbox casing. Destroy a clutch and flywheel on an Astra. Blow the head gasket on an Aygo. Managed to get a Peugeot estate stolen but returned 6 months later. Knocked a few mirrors off vans. Most recently me and my father have had the paneling out the back of a rented 10 Mile VW transporter pushing dents out, after he bumped it moving house.
But had countless stories of customers returning cars "that was on there when I had it"
Once had a customer get brand new range rover on insurance replacement, trainee couldn't work out how the tyres were bald on return a week later. Cheeky sod had swapped his wheels over! Had a customer swap a load of parts off a Mercedes Sprinter van he rented off us with his bumped one, it was only picked up on the cleaning/inspection later when the horn didn't work.
Had American drivers crash cars on the roundabout outside an airport driving the wrong way. Actually i'd say 1 in 2 Americans bumped them.
If possible, NEVER buy an ex rental, they are serviced and repaired by the lowest bidder...if at all.
minimad69 said:
If possible, NEVER buy an ex rental, they are serviced and repaired by the lowest bidder...if at all.
I used to work for Budget, a corporate site not a franchise, they leased all their cars and services were all carried out by the main dealers.I wrote off a Corolla driving a stage of the NZ Rally after the sweep car had been through, some clown was driving the opposite way and we met mid corner. other than that a couple of smashed mirrors
I was in albany in Australia for the weekend in a new Rav4.
The missus at the time wanted to see wave rock on the drive back to perth. The other 3 of us didn't. So we compromised and headed for wave rock.
In the middle of nowhere we are cruising at a steady 160km/h to make good progress and come across a flock of birds. Pink ones if it makes any difference. The birds favourite colour.
So a pink bird of unknown species decides to aim for the grill, we hit it, flock of feathers and we pull over whilst tears ensure. The plastic grill is damaged pretty bad so we decide upon the next shop we find to grab some glue and stick it back together. My pal pulls the bird out whilst the smell of bbq chicken is strong.
Get to wave rock having acquired some glue and set about gluing the grill back together. Nearly as good as new. Happy days. Obligitory surfer shot on the rock and off we trot.
Driving at a much steadier 120km/h the sun starts to set and there is nothing around, we pass about 6 or 7 cars in 100km which is eery but expected. I ease off to 90km/h as the kangaroo signs start to appear. Within 10 second, theres a f
king roo.
Hard on the brakes. ABS is juddering but this roo looks like it has had his day. We plow straight through the poor bd. Come to a stop and try to get out of the car. Nope, both of the front wings have been shunted over the front doors. We jump over the back seats get out to view the damage. There is a lot. Blood, fur and what looks like st. But we are in the middle of nowhere and the rad is bust.
Quickly gang we just back in the car and aim for perth, it's only 70km's or so. Just about make it back when the car goes into limp mode with all the warning lights on. I think I may have melted a piston.
Call the rental firm in the morning and tell them to send a low loader as it isn't going anywhere under it's own steam.
Rental man comes, we pay our 50 dollar excess (12.50 each as I am a tight fker) and that was the last we heard of that.
Didn't want to see the fking rock anyway.
TLDR: Killed a bird, kangaroo and boiled the car.
The missus at the time wanted to see wave rock on the drive back to perth. The other 3 of us didn't. So we compromised and headed for wave rock.
In the middle of nowhere we are cruising at a steady 160km/h to make good progress and come across a flock of birds. Pink ones if it makes any difference. The birds favourite colour.
So a pink bird of unknown species decides to aim for the grill, we hit it, flock of feathers and we pull over whilst tears ensure. The plastic grill is damaged pretty bad so we decide upon the next shop we find to grab some glue and stick it back together. My pal pulls the bird out whilst the smell of bbq chicken is strong.
Get to wave rock having acquired some glue and set about gluing the grill back together. Nearly as good as new. Happy days. Obligitory surfer shot on the rock and off we trot.
Driving at a much steadier 120km/h the sun starts to set and there is nothing around, we pass about 6 or 7 cars in 100km which is eery but expected. I ease off to 90km/h as the kangaroo signs start to appear. Within 10 second, theres a f
king roo. Hard on the brakes. ABS is juddering but this roo looks like it has had his day. We plow straight through the poor b
d. Come to a stop and try to get out of the car. Nope, both of the front wings have been shunted over the front doors. We jump over the back seats get out to view the damage. There is a lot. Blood, fur and what looks like st. But we are in the middle of nowhere and the rad is bust.Quickly gang we just back in the car and aim for perth, it's only 70km's or so. Just about make it back when the car goes into limp mode with all the warning lights on. I think I may have melted a piston.
Call the rental firm in the morning and tell them to send a low loader as it isn't going anywhere under it's own steam.
Rental man comes, we pay our 50 dollar excess (12.50 each as I am a tight f
ker) and that was the last we heard of that.Didn't want to see the f
king rock anyway.TLDR: Killed a bird, kangaroo and boiled the car.
Lord Marylebone said:
It was a crappy 5 door Peugeot 205 GRD. My friends spent a couple of days absolutely ragging it senseless in the back roads, thrashing it on the beach in salty sand and salt water, and jumping it over hump back bridges to see who could jump it the furthest, amongst other things.
By the time it was returned the 'STOP ENGINE' light was on.
Why would you do that? Its a complete asshole move to deliberately mess up someone elses car for no reason, no?By the time it was returned the 'STOP ENGINE' light was on.
We had a crawler crane on a dock start to tilt over, the guy driving it hit the quick release and dropped the shipping container squarely on the top of the operation managers rental car.
It looked like the top down picture on the damage diagram, with the wheels flat out from the sides, compressed it down to about 2ft tall as well. National were not happy when they came to recover it.
It looked like the top down picture on the damage diagram, with the wheels flat out from the sides, compressed it down to about 2ft tall as well. National were not happy when they came to recover it.
BryanR said:
We had a crawler crane on a dock start to tilt over, the guy driving it hit the quick release and dropped the shipping container squarely on the top of the operation managers rental car.
It looked like the top down picture on the damage diagram, with the wheels flat out from the sides, compressed it down to about 2ft tall as well. National were not happy when they came to recover it.
Winner It looked like the top down picture on the damage diagram, with the wheels flat out from the sides, compressed it down to about 2ft tall as well. National were not happy when they came to recover it.
sc0tt said:
I was in albany in Australia for the weekend in a new Rav4.
The missus at the time wanted to see wave rock on the drive back to perth. The other 3 of us didn't. So we compromised and headed for wave rock.
In the middle of nowhere we are cruising at a steady 160km/h to make good progress and come across a flock of birds. Pink ones if it makes any difference. The birds favourite colour.
So a pink bird of unknown species decides to aim for the grill, we hit it, flock of feathers and we pull over whilst tears ensure. The plastic grill is damaged pretty bad so we decide upon the next shop we find to grab some glue and stick it back together. My pal pulls the bird out whilst the smell of bbq chicken is strong.
Get to wave rock having acquired some glue and set about gluing the grill back together. Nearly as good as new. Happy days. Obligitory surfer shot on the rock and off we trot.
Driving at a much steadier 120km/h the sun starts to set and there is nothing around, we pass about 6 or 7 cars in 100km which is eery but expected. I ease off to 90km/h as the kangaroo signs start to appear. Within 10 second, theres a fking roo.
Hard on the brakes. ABS is juddering but this roo looks like it has had his day. We plow straight through the poor bd. Come to a stop and try to get out of the car. Nope, both of the front wings have been shunted over the front doors. We jump over the back seats get out to view the damage. There is a lot. Blood, fur and what looks like st. But we are in the middle of nowhere and the rad is bust.
Quickly gang we just back in the car and aim for perth, it's only 70km's or so. Just about make it back when the car goes into limp mode with all the warning lights on. I think I may have melted a piston.
Call the rental firm in the morning and tell them to send a low loader as it isn't going anywhere under it's own steam.
Rental man comes, we pay our 50 dollar excess (12.50 each as I am a tight fker) and that was the last we heard of that.
Didn't want to see the fking rock anyway.
TLDR: Killed a bird, kangaroo and boiled the car.
The missus at the time wanted to see wave rock on the drive back to perth. The other 3 of us didn't. So we compromised and headed for wave rock.
In the middle of nowhere we are cruising at a steady 160km/h to make good progress and come across a flock of birds. Pink ones if it makes any difference. The birds favourite colour.
So a pink bird of unknown species decides to aim for the grill, we hit it, flock of feathers and we pull over whilst tears ensure. The plastic grill is damaged pretty bad so we decide upon the next shop we find to grab some glue and stick it back together. My pal pulls the bird out whilst the smell of bbq chicken is strong.
Get to wave rock having acquired some glue and set about gluing the grill back together. Nearly as good as new. Happy days. Obligitory surfer shot on the rock and off we trot.
Driving at a much steadier 120km/h the sun starts to set and there is nothing around, we pass about 6 or 7 cars in 100km which is eery but expected. I ease off to 90km/h as the kangaroo signs start to appear. Within 10 second, theres a f
king roo. Hard on the brakes. ABS is juddering but this roo looks like it has had his day. We plow straight through the poor b
d. Come to a stop and try to get out of the car. Nope, both of the front wings have been shunted over the front doors. We jump over the back seats get out to view the damage. There is a lot. Blood, fur and what looks like st. But we are in the middle of nowhere and the rad is bust.Quickly gang we just back in the car and aim for perth, it's only 70km's or so. Just about make it back when the car goes into limp mode with all the warning lights on. I think I may have melted a piston.
Call the rental firm in the morning and tell them to send a low loader as it isn't going anywhere under it's own steam.
Rental man comes, we pay our 50 dollar excess (12.50 each as I am a tight f
ker) and that was the last we heard of that.Didn't want to see the f
king rock anyway.TLDR: Killed a bird, kangaroo and boiled the car.
Good story - particular highlights were:The missus at the time wanted to see wave rock on the drive back to perth. The other 3 of us didn't. So we compromised and headed for wave rock.
And
(12.50 each as I am a tight f
ker)Genuinely laughed out loud!
Made the error of driving through a ultra orthodox area of town during shabbat as we entered one road, there was a large group of men who pelted the car with stones. Leaving a nice collection of dents and dings.
The car was inspected, and the rental guy said "you drove through Mea Shearim didn't you?, happens all the time" and wandered off muttering about how the company should start warning renters.
The car was inspected, and the rental guy said "you drove through Mea Shearim didn't you?, happens all the time" and wandered off muttering about how the company should start warning renters.
sc0tt said:
I was in albany in Australia for the weekend in a new Rav4.
The missus at the time wanted to see wave rock on the drive back to perth. The other 3 of us didn't. So we compromised and headed for wave rock.
In the middle of nowhere we are cruising at a steady 160km/h to make good progress and come across a flock of birds. Pink ones if it makes any difference. The birds favourite colour.
So a pink bird of unknown species decides to aim for the grill, we hit it, flock of feathers and we pull over whilst tears ensure. The plastic grill is damaged pretty bad so we decide upon the next shop we find to grab some glue and stick it back together. My pal pulls the bird out whilst the smell of bbq chicken is strong.
Get to wave rock having acquired some glue and set about gluing the grill back together. Nearly as good as new. Happy days. Obligitory surfer shot on the rock and off we trot.
Driving at a much steadier 120km/h the sun starts to set and there is nothing around, we pass about 6 or 7 cars in 100km which is eery but expected. I ease off to 90km/h as the kangaroo signs start to appear. Within 10 second, theres a fking roo.
Hard on the brakes. ABS is juddering but this roo looks like it has had his day. We plow straight through the poor bd. Come to a stop and try to get out of the car. Nope, both of the front wings have been shunted over the front doors. We jump over the back seats get out to view the damage. There is a lot. Blood, fur and what looks like st. But we are in the middle of nowhere and the rad is bust.
Quickly gang we just back in the car and aim for perth, it's only 70km's or so. Just about make it back when the car goes into limp mode with all the warning lights on. I think I may have melted a piston.
Call the rental firm in the morning and tell them to send a low loader as it isn't going anywhere under it's own steam.
Rental man comes, we pay our 50 dollar excess (12.50 each as I am a tight fker) and that was the last we heard of that.
Didn't want to see the fking rock anyway.
TLDR: Killed a bird, kangaroo and boiled the car.
Similar - I hit a pack of dogs/goats on a South African motorway when I mis-calculated timings and ended up out just after dusk. Only 10k to the hotel so we carried on going.The missus at the time wanted to see wave rock on the drive back to perth. The other 3 of us didn't. So we compromised and headed for wave rock.
In the middle of nowhere we are cruising at a steady 160km/h to make good progress and come across a flock of birds. Pink ones if it makes any difference. The birds favourite colour.
So a pink bird of unknown species decides to aim for the grill, we hit it, flock of feathers and we pull over whilst tears ensure. The plastic grill is damaged pretty bad so we decide upon the next shop we find to grab some glue and stick it back together. My pal pulls the bird out whilst the smell of bbq chicken is strong.
Get to wave rock having acquired some glue and set about gluing the grill back together. Nearly as good as new. Happy days. Obligitory surfer shot on the rock and off we trot.
Driving at a much steadier 120km/h the sun starts to set and there is nothing around, we pass about 6 or 7 cars in 100km which is eery but expected. I ease off to 90km/h as the kangaroo signs start to appear. Within 10 second, theres a f
king roo. Hard on the brakes. ABS is juddering but this roo looks like it has had his day. We plow straight through the poor b
d. Come to a stop and try to get out of the car. Nope, both of the front wings have been shunted over the front doors. We jump over the back seats get out to view the damage. There is a lot. Blood, fur and what looks like st. But we are in the middle of nowhere and the rad is bust.Quickly gang we just back in the car and aim for perth, it's only 70km's or so. Just about make it back when the car goes into limp mode with all the warning lights on. I think I may have melted a piston.
Call the rental firm in the morning and tell them to send a low loader as it isn't going anywhere under it's own steam.
Rental man comes, we pay our 50 dollar excess (12.50 each as I am a tight f
ker) and that was the last we heard of that.Didn't want to see the f
king rock anyway.TLDR: Killed a bird, kangaroo and boiled the car.
Car was pretty buggered but thankfully nothing mechanical was affected
I went to a Run What You Brung type rally day many years ago. One guy turned up in a rented Daewoo Nexia and was quicker than my mate in his newish Impreza turbo because he just didn't care about the car.
Worst I've done was some enthusiastic driving around Scotland in a rented Vectra that resulted in the engine going to limp home mode. Took it back to Avis and they didn't have any more vectras so I had to have a 156 for the rest of the trip
Worst I've done was some enthusiastic driving around Scotland in a rented Vectra that resulted in the engine going to limp home mode. Took it back to Avis and they didn't have any more vectras so I had to have a 156 for the rest of the trip
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