What to note to avoid "losing money and getting nothing" when renting a self-drive car

Vehicle exterior

Most car rentals will include a car wash. Wash off any dirt from the previous rental and check the front and rear bumpers, which are the most likely areas of real-world traffic.

In bright sunlight, you should look at the car body at a 45 degree angle to check if the paint has two different colors or ripples on the surface. A previous renter who repainted the car without the owner knowing will lead to unnecessary trouble later.

Run your hand along the seams connecting the front bumper to the grille, the rear bumper to the rear of the car to detect if the plastic parts are welded, screwed or loose. The plastic parts may be damaged and temporarily attached to the car, it may come off completely if you rent a car and use it a lot.

Open and close the doors, trunk, and hood a few times to make sure everything fits together and the hinges are working properly.

Car interior

Common but less frequently overlooked items include the air conditioning system, turn signal wipers, windshield washers, DVD players and entertainment system equipment.

If you have time, you can also check the floor mats and ceiling panels for tears or scratches. Finally, you should check the lighting system, horn, fuel gauge, and remaining fuel in the tank to prepare for maximum safety for the upcoming journey.

Vehicle registration

The car you rent must have all the necessary documents (vehicle registration, vehicle inspection, civil liability insurance, road fees) to avoid losing money if the traffic police accidentally fine you.

A paradox exists that the documents you receive are only notarized photocopies and the traffic police will not recognize their legal value. The car owner also cannot provide the original documents because they are concerned about property safety issues. You can make a commitment with the car company, they will cover the costs incurred due to not providing you with enough documents.

Tires

Regular tires will wear out due to continuous use of the vehicle. If the tire is worn on both sides and the tread depth is less than 2.5cm, you should take pictures as evidence for comparison of related risks later when returning the car. In addition, the details of cracks and splits should be checked more carefully, it will greatly affect your safety on the journey.

Accessories included

Spare tires, repair kits, and emergency signaling devices should be checked before receiving the vehicle. An irresponsible delivery person will forget to remind you, but they will check carefully before receiving the vehicle. To avoid paying for lost parts, you should clearly write down the list of parts currently on the vehicle on the delivery note with the certification of the delivery person.

Check the brakes

In addition to safety reasons, you should test drive the car for a short distance to detect possible damage in the future. Press the brake hard enough to see if the car decelerates well, the brake system works well. Make sure everything does not give a feeling of shaking, or any strange sound from the brake system, clutch, accelerator. Slight shaking between accelerations shows that the engine parts have worn out, if unfortunately, it is your turn to damage the car, the repair cost can stretch to tens of millions of dong.

Check the steering rack

The steering rack is one of the most damaged parts on a service vehicle. You should check the steering accuracy, the sound or vibration of the steering wheel when turning 90 degrees and turning completely. If there are any signs of abnormality, you should immediately report to the delivery staff and describe the condition in the handover minutes.

Take photos of the vehicle's current condition

Finally, take photos of all damages, scratches and the condition of the fragile parts of the car. This is necessary for future comparison of risks.