🔑 Car hire checklist

Almost every hire car dispute comes down to something not checked or not photographed at collection — the walk-round takes five minutes and it's the only real protection you have.

18 items

1. At the collection desk
2. Driving licence and the DVLA check code, if hiring in the UKThe code is separate from the physical licence and expires after 21 days — generate it close to collection, not weeks before.
3. Credit card in the lead driver's nameMany hire companies won't accept a debit card for the security deposit, and it needs to match the name on the booking.
4. Booking confirmation printed or saved offlineSignal at an airport rental desk isn't guaranteed, and a saved email is faster than digging through inbox search.
5. Excess insurance considered before travellingA standalone policy bought in advance is usually far cheaper than the hire desk's own excess waiver for the same cover.
6. Whole car photographed and videoed at collectionEvery panel, the wheels, the roof — with the date visible. This is the only protection against a damage charge weeks later.
7. Existing damage reported and noted on the hire agreementNot just photographed — pointed out to the desk staff and written onto the paperwork before you drive away.
8. Fuel level at collection noted and photographedMatched at return if the policy is like-for-like, so there's proof if there's ever a dispute about the level.
9. Fuel policy understoodReturn at the same level if offered — prepaying for a full tank almost always costs more than filling it yourself.
10. Mileage or the odometer reading noted at collectionFor a limited-mileage policy, so an unexpected charge at return isn't the first you hear of a limit.
11. Child seats booked in advance, if neededOften limited in number and not always the size expected — check what's actually provided rather than assuming.
12. Sat nav or a phone mount sortedCharged as an extra by most companies — a phone mount and offline maps are usually cheaper and just as good.
13. Toll and congestion charge policy checkedSome hire companies bill an administration fee on top of the toll itself if it isn't paid at the time.
14. Return location and opening hours confirmedAn out-of-hours drop-off with no staff present is worth photographing the car for exactly the same reason as collection.
15. Windscreen and tyres checked for damage before signing anythingTwo of the most commonly disputed charges, and the easiest to miss on a quick glance.
16. Everything removed from the car before returning itChargers, sunglasses, the parking ticket needed to leave the return car park — check every pocket and the boot.
17. Return fuel receipt keptProof of when and where it was filled, in case the level is disputed at the desk.
18. Charges reviewed on the card statement after the hire, not just at the deskSome fees are added after drop-off — check the following weeks, not only the receipt handed over on the day.