Anyone use rental cars with AI scanners?

[katallo]

So far, I have heard Hertz is the only company to avoid if you do not want to deal with AI scanners. Does anyone know if this is still limited to Hertz?

 

[EACarlson]

Rumor is that the big three are all going to be doing it, but so far it's only Hertz and only at some airports. I've seen no reports that the scanners are in use at MCO. TPA is the only one in FL so far.

 

[Genie+]

I lucked out with recent rental. They tried to charge me for a windshield chip.

I had taken pictures at pick up and hadn’t even noticed. A couple hours later I noticed the chip from inside the car and took a pic. Very fortunate for me, one of my original pictures captured the chip as well.

So I had one low detail image from pickup, and one detailed pic from 2 hours later. They accepted and removed the $500 charge.

 

[Genie+]

Now Im thinking the customer should use AI to document existing damage at pickup. Lol! Send them a list of 100+ imperfections before even leaving the lot!

 

[reddog21]

Avis was using it as LAX but only for internal purposes......so they say.

I always take pictures of the car before I leave the garage and again when I return the car.

 

[_19disnA]

Curious how many issues they will have when people return wet cars during a rainstorm or with snow/ice/slush in the Winter?..............LOL. My guess is some company who makes these sold management on the idea of how much $$$ they will make charging people for small damage issues. Likely you will spend HOURS on the phone/email trying to get any sort of error resolved.

I have a new car with all sorts of those sensors that supposedly tell me when I am about to hit the front of my garage or am driving too close to the lane next to me. While all of these sensors/software/etc seem great in theory, on my car they are more of a nuisance when I have to constantly try to figure out what it thinks I am doing wrong or they 'alert' me when there is no problem. Fortunately, I could shut off most of those sensors. I doubt these rental car devices are any better at finding 'damage'.

I consider renting a car a commodity and would avoid using Hertz if they have the potential of using those AI scanners where I am renting.

 

[katallo]

I agree about not using Hertz. It’s a shame since they are 100.00 less but it’s not worth the hassle. I certainly understand a bumper being hit but not and inch scuff mark on a tire.

 

[_19disnA]

I often wonder how much damage the typical rental car actually gets. Apparently Hertz thinks the revenue will exceed the cost to purchase/setup/operate/maintain these new devices. Hertz was the one who went big on EV's a couple of years ago and that didn't work out so well for them either.

 

[_19disnA]

Just finished a rental with Avis and they did NOT have any sort of scanners at check-in. An employee walked around the car to check for damage, looked at the ending miles, if the gas tank was full and input to one of those hand-held devices to show the car was returned. That is how every rental car return I have ever done works. No idea how Hertz thinks some sort of scanner will be cost effective or generate revenue for them, just seems like added costs to operate that way.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Welp, here’s a miserable tale
https://thepointsguy.com/travel/rental-car-ai-scanner-mistake/

TLDR; AI takes before/after photos. Magically only catches damage when returned. Sixt wouldn’t review the case and threatened collections until the intermediary intervened with executive office.

 

[MikeOhio]

This will be everywhere soon.

 

[katallo]

It seems to be hertz and Sixt at MCO. Is there a way to find out which companies are not using this?

 

[VGCgroupie]

Now Im thinking the customer should use AI to document existing damage at pickup. Lol! Send them a list of 100+ imperfections before even leaving the lot!

So my experience with this is that the link they send you to upload damages sucks. You try to submit all the photos and basically the site freezes up.. that has happened eery single time I have tried to submit more than 1 photo.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Welp, here’s a miserable tale
https://thepointsguy.com/travel/rental-car-ai-scanner-mistake/

TLDR; AI takes before/after photos. Magically only catches damage when returned. Sixt wouldn’t review the case and threatened collections until the intermediary intervened with executive office.

Interesting read. So it seems its not just because AI scanner was used its because the company just flat out provides crappy customer service after the fact. The AI scanner actually showed the damage before the customer left which is very helpful, but not helpful when the company is using automation for every interaction.

 

[pens4821]

I haven’t had experience, but did get nervous after reading about them elsewhere. I had a rental booked through Hertz for later in the month at MCO, but read some horror stories so decided against it. I’m paying maybe $80 more, but I’m ok with that for peace of mind.

It’s not even the issue of the scanners, as I’m sure everyone will be using them sooner or later. It’s the fact that a lot of stories I read where you have a hard time contacting someone about it (even with pictures of your own to prove). Saying the chat box doesn’t work, calling is automated, and not hearing back after emailing pictures. Not sure if any of this is true, just what I read about it.

 

[EACarlson]

I'm paying $20 to have the AMEX insurance. They will fight with Hertz on my behalf and eventually how it will get fixed. It's going to take a lawsuit.