🚗 Heads Up: A.I. is Watching That Rental Car a Lot Closer Than You Think

Somebody (AI) is Watching You!

If you’re renting a car this summer, buckle up—not just for safety, but because high-tech artificial intelligence tools are quietly changing how car rental companies track damage, and some customers are feeling the sting.

In a recent New York Times article by Gabe Castro-Root, we learned that Hertz and other major rental agencies are now using ultra-precise A.I.-powered scanners to inspect vehicles before and after your rental. These scanners, made by a company called UVeye, take thousands of high-resolution images and compare them to detect even the faintest dings or scratches. Sound high-tech? It is. But the result? Some customers are getting hit with charges for damage they say wasn’t there—or couldn’t even be seen.

One couple, after returning their rental minivan to Hertz in Atlanta with no visible damage (and with a clean bill from the agent who checked it in), received a surprise charge of $195 after the scanner claimed it found a dent. The kicker? The photo looked like a shadow. And they weren’t the only ones.

Hertz defends the system as more “accurate” and “transparent,” saying it flags fewer than 3% of rentals with billable damage. But those 3% now include fees for detecting and processing the damage—not just fixing it.

Other rental companies are watching—or already testing—similar A.I. tools. Sixt is using a system called “Car Gate,” while Avis and Budget say they’ve experimented with it but still rely on human assessment. For now.

So what does this mean for you? When you rent a vehicle:

• Do your own photo documentation at pickup and return—close-ups and wide shots.

• Don’t assume a clean walk-around with an employee clears you—those scanners are the final word.

• Review your bill closely—and speak up fast if something seems off.

Technology is changing how we travel, but this might be one “innovation” that feels less like convenience and more like “gotcha.”

Stay savvy, friends.

📖 Read the full New York Times article by Gabe Castro-Root here:https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/09/travel/hertz-ai-car-damage.html