Always Check Your Rental Car Before Driving Off

We recently rented a car at LAX. Arriving as Fastbreak members, we were pleased to see our name on the board suggesting a car was ready for us. As we approached the line at the counter however, it was said that cars were unavailable and a short wait was necessary. Ok. Since our first night’s stay was down in San Diego, a good 2 hours’ drive, we were concerned about being left without a car but fortunately we did manage to get one.

The first car came around and we started our new covid ritual of disinfecting and wiping it all down. Just as I was done and I put the bags in the trunk, I saw some loose trim and reported this.

I noticed that there was some loose trim when I closed the trunk!

They told us at the gate to take it back as we might be responsible for missing parts. Who needs that kind of a hassle, so we went back to the counter.

Next, they pulled out a shiny red Mustang for us and we thought, Great!! Wiping this car down again, we got in and as we were about to drive off, we noticed a crack in the windshield. Wow!

Crack in the windshield of our rental car

We almost drove off and thought they must know, but to be safe went in a reported it. We were told: “When did that happen? We can’t let you leave with that!”. Good thing we checked, I imagine that would be expensive and surely, we would not want to be blamed!

Third time was the charm. We got a brand-new Kia which actually suited us very well.

Finally, we got a brand-new car and were ready to hit the road!

Conclusion

Long story short, DO take the time to check out your rental and take pictures. Better to err on the side of caution when you pick it up, who needs to have the delays and headaches of dealing with insurance claims and more.

As a side note, we noticed the lady in front of us using her AA Advantage credit card, so I asked if they had reinstated the insurance for rentals on that card. Citi recently took it away. Perhaps as a side travel tip, check your credit card’s car rental policy to make sure you’re not only collecting points but also getting the best coverage from the choices in your wallet.

See our article on insurance: 6 Types of Travel Insurance for Peace of Mind on Your Next Trip