Some rental companies now scan cars at return with cameras and software that flag small dents and scratches.
- A scanner image is evidence, but it does not settle whether the damage happened during your rental, what it costs or whether every fee is allowed.
- Ask for the scan images from pick-up and return, the repair basis and a breakdown of fees, and do not let a short payment discount rush you.
You drive into the return lane and pass through a gate with cameras. A few hours later you get an email: a small dent was found on the rear door, and you can pay a reduced amount if you settle quickly. A scanner can see more than a human, but it does not decide who caused a mark or what it is worth. This guide explains what is known about automated damage scanners and how to check a claim based on one.
What AI damage scanners do
An automated inspection system photographs the car from many angles as it drives through a gate or past a set of cameras. Software compares the images and flags marks such as dents, scratches or tyre damage. Some systems also scan the underbody.
The best documented case so far is in the United States. In April 2025, Hertz announced a partnership with the AI company UVeye to install scanning systems at its US airport locations, according to Sherwood News. In August 2025, US Senator Richard Blumenthal wrote to Hertz asking about the accuracy of the inspections and how fees are calculated. His letter said UVeye reportedly claims it can detect five times more damage than manual checks.
What the reported cases show
The reported examples show the same pattern: very small damage, a fast claim and fees on top of the repair.
| Reported example | Repair part | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dent not seen by renter or staff | 80 dollars | 115 dollars for detection, estimate and processing | 195 dollars |
| One-inch scuff on a wheel | 250 dollars | 125 dollars processing, 65 dollars admin | 440 dollars |
The Blumenthal letter also described reduced amounts offered for quick payment, typically within one or two days, and a renter who was told to expect an email reply within ten business days, after the discount had expired. Sherwood News reported that disputes first went through a chatbot.
These are reports from one market and one company. They are useful because they show what to look for in any scanner-based claim.
Ask for the scan from both ends of your rental
A scanner at return proves little on its own. The key question is whether the same mark was there before. Ask the company for:
- the scan images from return, with date and time;
- the scan or inspection from pick-up, if one was made;
- the exact location and size of the damage.
If there was no scan at pick-up, compare the return images with your own pick-up photos and the vehicle condition report. Konsumentverket notes that the burden of proof rests with the company to show you were responsible.
Is it damage, or normal wear?
Scanners flag marks that a person might ignore. Konsumentverket says normal wear and tear, such as small stone chips, minor paint scratches and scratches that can be polished out, should not be charged to you. Read wear and tear or damage: where is the line?
Split the amount into parts
Ask for a breakdown: repair, detection or processing fee, administrative fee, loss of use. Each part needs a basis in your contract. Our article on what a damage claim should contain explains which fees to question, and the amount check shows whether the repair price is in a normal range.
Do not let a discount deadline decide for you
Ask for your data
Under the GDPR you can ask a company for a copy of the personal data it holds about you, and information about how it is used. The EDPB guidelines say you do not have to give reasons, and the company must answer within one month, extendable by two months where necessary. For a scanner claim, the records linked to your rental can be part of that. Read how to make a data access request to a rental company.
Object in writing
Write a short, factual objection: say that you dispute the claim, list the documents you want, and ask the company not to charge your card while the dispute is open. Our letter templates help you start, and the guide on how to dispute a damage claim gives the full structure.
If the claim is already on your card
Check the deadline for a chargeback with your card issuer straight away. The deadline calculator helps you keep the dates in view. Then read what to do when a rental company charges your credit card.
Frequently asked questions
Are AI scanners used in Europe?
Automated inspection systems are spreading in the rental sector, and the most reported case so far is in the United States. Whether a specific company uses one at your location is something you can ask at the desk, or check in the claim you receive.
If the scanner saw it, can I still dispute it?
Yes. A scan shows a mark at a moment in time. You can still ask whether the same mark was there at pick-up, whether it counts as damage or normal wear, and whether the amount and fees are justified.
The company offers a discount if I pay within a day. Should I?
Only if you are sure the claim is correct. A short deadline for a discount does not change your right to ask for evidence. Write to the company first if you have doubts, and keep the discount offer as part of your file.
Sources
- blumenthal.senate.govUS Senator Blumenthal: Letter to Hertz about AI rental car inspections (27 August 2025)
- sherwood.newsSherwood News: Hertz's AI damage scanner and customer charges (23 June 2025)
- konsumentverket.seKonsumentverket: Problems with your rental car
- edpb.europa.euEDPB: Guidelines 01/2022 on the right of access (PDF)