Damage to a hire car
Discussion
I'm in a hire car at the moment as mine's being repaired from a 3rd party collision. I'm driving what would be classed as a premium car, from a national hire company.
When I collected it and checked it over, they advised that any surface scratches which would polish out were not noted either on delivery or on return, and any other damage would be checked against a gauge which they have - if it fits inside the gauge, they don't charge.
The car has collected a small scratch over the past few days. Not down to me personally; I suspect someone has squeezed past it in a car park with a bag, or similar. It's small, less than 10mm, but very visible as the car's black and the basecoat is white (WHY do manufacturers do that??).
If it was my own car, I'd have the options of paying for a repair, ignoring it, or touching it in. I'm clear that it's my liability either way, even if I didn't cause the damage myself.
The car is due to go back to the hirer shortly. My question is - what would you do? Leave it and see what they say? Or touch it in before returning it? I'm not sure I should be touching in a mark on a car which isn't mine?
When I collected it and checked it over, they advised that any surface scratches which would polish out were not noted either on delivery or on return, and any other damage would be checked against a gauge which they have - if it fits inside the gauge, they don't charge.
The car has collected a small scratch over the past few days. Not down to me personally; I suspect someone has squeezed past it in a car park with a bag, or similar. It's small, less than 10mm, but very visible as the car's black and the basecoat is white (WHY do manufacturers do that??).
If it was my own car, I'd have the options of paying for a repair, ignoring it, or touching it in. I'm clear that it's my liability either way, even if I didn't cause the damage myself.
The car is due to go back to the hirer shortly. My question is - what would you do? Leave it and see what they say? Or touch it in before returning it? I'm not sure I should be touching in a mark on a car which isn't mine?
In my experience hire car companies will nail you for everything.
Surprisingly I even saw one chap get charged the cost of a new tyre after he had a puncture in a hire car.
I would have expected a puncture to be the ultimate in no-fault costs, but it’s not.
I think cleaning the car would look more suspect that it being dirty.
I’d say the morally corrupt thing to do would be to get some black touch up wax in there, then get the car muddy and dusty to hide it.
Surprisingly I even saw one chap get charged the cost of a new tyre after he had a puncture in a hire car.
I would have expected a puncture to be the ultimate in no-fault costs, but it’s not.
I think cleaning the car would look more suspect that it being dirty.
I’d say the morally corrupt thing to do would be to get some black touch up wax in there, then get the car muddy and dusty to hide it.
C8PPO said:
However, just to play devil's ninny for a moment, if they clock what I've done......then what???
They call the police and you get arrested for fraud.Just kidding.
If they clock it you just tell the truth.
It got a small scratch, you decided to fix it before returning it so there was no charge.
If they aren’t happy with your repair then can they tell you what the charge is please.
I agree with your other point but not about the puncture.
When I have hired cars -> punctures are definately NOT included in the hire insurance and its often pointed out/made clear in the terms/contract.
Thats kind of fair enough I would say ... its not like your car insurance covers a puncture to your car now is it?
When I have hired cars -> punctures are definately NOT included in the hire insurance and its often pointed out/made clear in the terms/contract.
Thats kind of fair enough I would say ... its not like your car insurance covers a puncture to your car now is it?
Snowboy said:
Surprisingly I even saw one chap get charged the cost of a new tyre after he had a puncture in a hire car.
I would have expected a puncture to be the ultimate in no-fault costs, but it’s not.
I would have expected a puncture to be the ultimate in no-fault costs, but it’s not.
prob around 11 or 12 years ago, having left a nightclub, i reversed my Ford Ka courtesy car (mine was being serviced) into a concrete bollard which i'd failed to notice. I ended up taking it to a local paintshop and getting that repaired to save myself the min £1k excess, and giving them excuses as to why it was gonna be a few days late coming back.
In your case however, i'd guess just some half decent black car polish would suffice.
In your case however, i'd guess just some half decent black car polish would suffice.
Rakoosh said:
I agree with your other point but not about the puncture.
When I have hired cars -> punctures are definately NOT included in the hire insurance and its often pointed out/made clear in the terms/contract.
Thats kind of fair enough I would say ... its not like your car insurance covers a puncture to your car now is it?
I get that now.When I have hired cars -> punctures are definately NOT included in the hire insurance and its often pointed out/made clear in the terms/contract.
Thats kind of fair enough I would say ... its not like your car insurance covers a puncture to your car now is it?
I’d just assumed that puncture repair was just an overhead of the hire company and that an individual wouldn’t be responsible for a bit of bad luck in getting a puncture on the M5.
I assumed it would just be a running cost of the hire company like changing the oil and brakes.
I grazed the bumper of a Polo loaned to me from the VW garage a few years ago and had to stump up £600 excess. The thing was, the rest of the car was covered in bumps and bruises - they would have collected about 15 to 20 lots of £600 from other users, comfortably exceeding the value of the car - they would have spruced it up once and for all at the end of it's life as a loaner, and sold it on for a nice profit.
It is unlikely that if the rental company notices the damage that they'll repair it and send you the £100 Dentmaster bill - more likely they'll either sting you for the full excess or turn a blind eye.
It is unlikely that if the rental company notices the damage that they'll repair it and send you the £100 Dentmaster bill - more likely they'll either sting you for the full excess or turn a blind eye.
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