# Rental car sustains minor damage. What should I do? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 24, 2003, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rental-car-sustains-minor-damage-what-should-i-do/177305 "2003-05-24T23:40:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![voltaire321](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e495f1/32.png) [@voltaire321](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire321)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rental-car-sustains-minor-damage-what-should-i-do/177305/41 "2003-05-28T14:31:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Early Out \* > \*\*I’d read my insurance policy _very_ carefully before relying on this approach - it sounds to me as if your insurance rep is confused. > > \*\* She may have been, but as I was dubious at the time I grilled her over it for quite a while before I was satisfied. In any case, you’re absolutely correct, just because my policy was that way it doesn’t mean that anyone else’s will be. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rental-car-sustains-minor-damage-what-should-i-do/177305/42 "2003-06-05T14:36:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Osip \* > I am sorry what part of “…returns the car back in the condition it was in at time of rental …” was so hard to digest? Maybe I should have elaborated a bit better. I rashly assumed you were one of the posters who implied ‘as long as the rental company doesn’t notice, or it **looks** OK…’ > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Osip \* > Fair enough. Besides, you’re on the other side of the pond. A bit far to borrow a chainsaw or a cup of sugar… Now that’s an interesting choice! 🙂 > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Osip \* > Once again "…returns the car back in the condition it was in at time of rental… " I by no condone doing a patchwork job to “get by” and slip out of a responsiblity. I only offered the thought since he knows a professional who can and does this kind of repair and that it would be less expensive for him to go this route. We are talking about a small gash that effected the paint on his bumper. Not structual damage to the unibody frame. > > Somehow I am thinking you and I are not near as far off in thought. Hopefully this post has cleared it up and you can quit the :rolleyes: in my general direction. Yes, I agree with that. I think getting a quote from a (professional) friend and offering that choice to the rental people is good. As you understand, I’m concerned about a rental car being ‘repaired’ by a ‘friend’ and the rental company knowing nothing about it until an accident happens. 1. I call on all persons here present to witness that I retract any :rolleyes: from Osip. 🆒 2. Hi, Renata! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![yawndave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/43a26b/32.png) [@yawndave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yawndave)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rental-car-sustains-minor-damage-what-should-i-do/177305/43 "2003-06-05T18:30:47Z")
I put a scrape on a rental car while in Hawaii, nothing major,about 6 inches along the wheel well, took a little paint off. I reported it to them, and never heard anything more about it. The question I have is: at what point does the rental company actually decide it’s worth it to repair dings or scrapes? ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rental-car-sustains-minor-damage-what-should-i-do/177305/44 "2003-06-05T21:50:55Z")
You’d have to ask them that one, yawndave. A lot of the time I think they just leave them there & resell it later. Ever visit a rental car resale lot? One time I brought a car back & paid for it & then I forgot to put gas back in it & I had told them I did put it in & I told the guy & he said forget it. You never know how nice they can be 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rental-car-sustains-minor-damage-what-should-i-do/177305/45 "2003-06-06T01:37:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by glee \* > \*\*I rashly assumed you were one of the posters who implied ‘as long as the rental company doesn’t notice, or it **looks** OK…’ > Now that’s an interesting choice! 🙂 \*\* Well would you prefer I cross the sea to borrow a chainsaw a shovel and a feather? > [@](#): > > \*\* > Yes, I agree with that. I think getting a quote from a (professional) friend and offering that choice to the rental people is good > \*\* No problem, I was under the impression his friend is a professional and your impression went to the other side of the spectrum\*\* > [@](#): > > I call on all persons here present to witness that I retract any :rolleyes: from Osip. 🆒 > B] It took you this long to produce a retraction? :rolleyes: 😃 By the way. Just to add I was giving my views as they were because they are cosmetic damage, serious damage does have an effect on the resale value of a car so cannot be squeezed into the repair and not mention it. Lets face it, if I borrowed your chainsaw on a regular basis and brought it back and went on a long speach detailing the facts that I had resharpened the blade, changed the filters, sparkplug and steam cleaned the dirt off it… after a while your gonna get tired of this windbag borring things. Glad we got everything straightened out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rental-car-sustains-minor-damage-what-should-i-do/177305.md?page=2)