A first-time car rental experience involved returning a vehicle to Dollar, where an initial walk-around inspection at drop-off confirmed no visible damage. However, the following day, the renter was charged $500 for an alleged dent near the rear tire area.
When requested, the rental company provided before-and-after photos along with a repair bill, but no detailed accident report or formal documentation explaining the claim. The renter expressed difficulty identifying any visible damage in the images provided.
Although a pre-rental walkaround video was taken, no photos were captured at the time of return. The rental was paid using a credit card that includes secondary insurance coverage, but claims require first seeking a denial from primary auto insurance, which may involve additional considerations such as deductibles or potential premium impact.
The situation raises uncertainty about the best course of action—whether to dispute the charge directly with the credit card issuer or proceed through insurance—and highlights common concerns around post-return damage claims and supporting evidence from rental companies.
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