Most disagreements about a rental start at the return desk, but they are decided at pick-up. If a scratch is not on the hand-over sheet, nobody can prove when it appeared. The good news: ten calm minutes before you drive away are enough. This is the checklist we give every Lindenway customer, and it works with any rental company.
Walk around the car with the agent
Do the walk-around together, not alone after the agent has left. Look at the car in daylight or under good light, and crouch down: most damage sits low, on bumpers, sills and wheels.
- Bodywork: scratches, dents and chipped paint on every panel, including the roof if you can see it.
- Wheels: kerb marks on the rims and the condition of the tyres. The tread should be clearly visible across the whole width.
- Glass: small chips in the windscreen grow into cracks. Point out every one.
- Lights: ask the agent to switch on the headlights, indicators and brake lights while you watch.
Every mark you find goes on the hand-over sheet or into the app, with a photo. We send you our own photos of the car as well, so both sides have the same record.
Take your own photos and a short video
Walk around the car once with your phone recording, slowly, then take close-ups of anything you noticed. Photos are automatically dated, which is exactly what you need if a question comes up later. Do the same at return, in the same order.
Check the inside
- The fuel gauge or battery level matches what the contract says. Our cars leave with a full tank and come back full.
- The mileage on the dashboard matches the contract.
- No warning lights stay on after the engine starts.
- Seats, carpets and the boot are clean and undamaged. Smoking in the car is not allowed, and a smell is hard to argue about later.
Make sure the equipment is there
Romanian law asks every car to carry a first-aid kit, a fire extinguisher and two warning triangles, and a reflective vest is a good idea. Check where they are before you need them. If you asked for a child seat, a roof box or snow chains, check they are in the car and that you know how to fit them.
Read the three numbers that matter
Before you sign, find these on the contract and make sure you understand them:
- The deposit: how much is blocked on your card and when it is released. Ours goes back within a few working days of a clean return. Our rental terms list the amounts.
- The mileage: how many kilometres a day are included and what each extra kilometre costs.
- The excess: how much you would pay yourself if the car is damaged, and how to reduce it.
Know who to call
Save the company's phone number and find out what happens at night or on a weekend. Ours answers around the clock, and a photo on WhatsApp is often enough for us to tell you what to do next.
Ten minutes, a few photos and three numbers: that is all it takes to return the car without surprises. When you are ready, pick a car from the fleet.