What Should I Check Before Driving Off in a Rental Car?

Introduction: You’ve just picked up a rental car – before you zoom out of the lot and start your trip, take a few minutes to inspect and familiarize yourself with the vehicle. Doing a thorough check at the start can save you from potential disputes about damage, ensure your safety, and help you feel comfortable with the car’s features. In this guide, we provide a handy checklist of things to inspect or test before you drive off in a rental car. This small investment of time will give you peace of mind and a smoother journey.

Before You Drive: Rental Car Inspection Checklist

• Exterior Condition – Walkaround Inspection:Walk around the car and look for any scratches, dents, or damage on all sides. Don’t forget to check the bumpers, doors, roof, and even the wheels/rims. If you spot any ding or scuff, no matter how minor, document it. Take clear photos with your phone (time-stamped if possible) and report it to the rental staff before leaving. Ensure they note it on the rental agreement or in their system. Most companies are diligent about pre-existing damage, but they can miss things, and you don’t want to be blamed later. Also verify that the license plate matches the paperwork (just a quick sanity check).
• Interior and Equipment Check:Inspect the interior for any obvious damage or heavy wear (stains, tears) so that you’re not held responsible for it. More importantly, make sure the key items are present: the registration and insurance info (usually in the glove box), the owner’s manual (helpful if you need it). Check that the fuel card or toll transponder (if provided) is in place. If the car has accessories like a spare tire/jack or GPS unit, take note that they’re there. If something is missing, alert the company now, not when you return.
• Dashboard and Warning Lights: Start the car and take a look at the dashboard indicators. Ensure there are no warning lights staying on (engine check light, low oil, etc.). A common one to look for is the tire pressure light. If you see any warning symbol lit up, ask the rental attendant about it before leaving. For instance, if tire pressure is low, they can address it or document it. Don’t drive off thinking it’s no big deal – it could become your headache later (or as one renter recounted, a low tire ended up as a repair charge because it was already damaged). Verify the mileage matches roughly what the contract says (so you’re not mistakenly starting with extra miles counted).
• Fuel Level: Check the fuel gauge and confirm it’s at the level stated on your rental agreement (usually full). If it’s not full and the contract says full, go back and have them mark it or fill it. If it’s supposed to be 3/4 and it looks lower, get it corrected. Fuel is money, and you don’t want to pay for someone else’s missing gas. Knowing the fuel level now also tells you if you need to fuel up immediately or later.
• Lights and Signals: Test the headlights (both low and high beams), taillights, brake lights, and turn signals. Also test the hazard lights. It’s easier to do this check if you have a companion to walk around while you toggle them. At least check the indicators on the dash for blinkers and that the headlights come on. You don’t want to discover at night that a headlight is out. If a bulb is out, request a different car or a fix; a broken light could get you a traffic ticket.
• Wipers and Windshield: Give the windshield wipers a quick test swipe (and the washer fluid spray if possible) to ensure they work and the blades are in good condition. Check the windshield for any big cracks or chips. A small chip should be documented so it’s not blamed on you or gets worse. Make sure you have washer fluid – especially if you’ll be driving through bugs or snow.
• Tires: Do a visual check of the tires. They should be properly inflated (no obvious sagging or low-pressure look) and in good shape (tread not extremely worn, no bulges or nails). Uneven or under-inflated tires can be a safety issue. If something looks off, ask the rental staff. During your trip, if that tire pressure warning comes on, you might need to add air, but at least you’ll know it may have been an existing issue if you saw it.
• Brakes: When you first roll out, gently test the brakes to ensure they feel and sound normal. If you feel grinding or excessive softness right at the start, you might want to turn back and swap cars. (You likely can’t check brake pads visually without getting dirty, but your initial drive will reveal if anything’s abnormal.)
• Familiarize Controls: Spend a minute to familiarize yourself with the car’s controls while parked. Adjust your seat and mirrors properly for comfort and visibility. Locate important controls: headlights switch, windshield wipers, cruise control, hazard lights button, turn signal lever, gear shifter (especially if it’s a model you’re not used to, e.g., some cars have a dash-mounted knob for gears). If it’s push-button start, know where the key fob needs to be. Figure out how to open the fuel tank cover and trunk from inside (so you’re not puzzling over it at a gas station later). Pair your phone with Bluetooth if you plan to use it, or at least get the infotainment set so you’re not distracted on the road. If the car has any quirky features (like an electronic parking brake), make sure you know how to use them – the owner’s manual or a quick question to the rental agent can help.
• Air Conditioning/Heat and Other Features: Turn on the AC/heater to ensure it blows cold/hot appropriately. Especially important in extreme weather destinations – you want to know it works. Check any other promised features – if you specifically rented a car with a GPS or backup camera, verify those are working. Any malfunctioning feature might be grounds to swap the car early.
• Cameras or sensors: If equipped, test the backup camera and any parking sensors by shifting to reverse briefly (with foot on brake) to see if they activate. While optional, these features help and you want to ensure they function if you rely on them.

This might sound like a lot, but it really only takes about 5-10 minutes to be thorough. It’s worth it, as renters who skip this can end up arguing over damages that they swear were already there or dealing with a car issue on the road that could have been fixed easily at the lot.

Final Preparations

Before you set off, also do the little adjustments: set up your GPS or phone mount, tune the radio or connect your playlist, and note where you’ll need to return (especially in a large airport complex, know the return address or landmark). Check that you have the rental paperwork with you, and if driving in a new city, maybe look at a map briefly so the first few turns out of the rental center aren’t confusing.

If during your inspection anything significant concerns you, don’t hesitate to go back to the rental desk and request a different vehicle. It’s much easier to swap at the start than to deal with a breakdown or a disagreement later. Rental companies would rather give you a car you’re happy with and confident in.