Rival copies Hertz with giant laser tunnel that makes up fake damage costing hundreds of dollars

Daily Mail ^ | 8-7-25 | Ben Shimkus

[MarlonRando]

Damage scanners are taking over more rental car return lots — and customers aren't happy. Since Hertz rolled out AI scanners in April, it has faced backlash for charging almost $1,000 for tiny scuffs.

Now Sixt, a premium rival with 100 locations in the US, has in recent weeks begun using a similar tool called Car Gate.

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TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet; Conspiracy
KEYWORDS: automotive; rentals; scam

[MarlonRando]

I’ll think twice before renting a car next time. Isn’t AI great?? It’s the gift that keeps on giving.

[TheThirdRuffian]

After employees had multiple hassles with car rental companies that were complete and utter BS (we required employees to take their own before and after filmed walk arounds with their phone, which is how we resolved all of them — after a fight) I instituted a “no rental” policy unless there was no option.

Uber or Lyft were almost always cheaper, no limit or looking at what trips they made. Car service (suv with driver) for big cities.

[BobL]

I know that if I ran Hertz (or any other company stupid enough to buy 20,000 EVs without ever asking my customers), I would never bother to fix anything small. Instead, I’d keep charging sucker, I mean customer, after customer for the same ‘damage’.

So the libertarians can SUCK IT as far as their ‘free market fixes everything’. Here’s how I would fix it:
(1) - Provide ‘damage’ reports from all prior customers for each car by VIN and post those reports in a publicly accessible database.
(2) - Require PROOF that any charges for damage were actually incurred, subject to government audit.

This crap is starting to really piss me off, by the way.

[FlingWingFlyer]

I’ve rented my last car. This is thievery by the rental companies.

[PUGACHEV]

I recently rented a car at the Tampa airport from Fox, a French company. It was bundled with a VRBO reservation. It was cheap and everything went remarkably smoothly. I will definitely use them again whenever possible.

[antidemoncrat]

Everyone thought HAL 9000 was imaginary but now all its children are taking control.

[Freee-dame]

I rent from Enterprise and never have a problem. Checking the prices for Enterprise, Hertz and Avis showed that Hertz costs much more. I wonder if only business travelers use Hertz.

[SomeCallMeTim]

Only people from stupid businesses. Hertz is almost always the most expensive.. and for this, you get hassles? No thanks

[PTBAA]

Take pictures of all sides of your rental before driving it off the lot, it could save you hundreds, if not thousands.

[Ex-Con777]

I always avoid Sixt. They have always been known to make up new damage. If you have pictures of the scratch at rental time, they will drop the claim. If not……say goodbye to $1k.

EC

[hecticskeptic]

Two comments.... Once upon a time many years ago, it used to be that if the drive was longer than five hours, one would take a flight and rent a car. Then as air travel became hated more and more, that drive was extended to 10 hours.... and now, it’s in the process of being extended again due to things like this scanning business. This thing of scanning the car means that not only is the distance being extended because of dislike of air travel, it could quickly become extended even more because of dislike of car renting.

My second comment is a question.... has anyone ever used Turo? https://turo.com/ I have not done that but it seems like a good option for those occasions where it simply is too far to drive.....and totally avoids the entire scanning question. How would Turo work at an airport? Would the owner of the car just meet the person there who is taking over the car and hand the keys over?

[DouglasKC]

As long as they also scan it just before we drive it off the lot that would be fine.

[fruser1]

Demand a scan and report before you accept the vehicle.

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

Since Hertz rolled out AI scanners in April, it has faced backlash for charging almost $1,000 for tiny scuffs.

I always purchase their insurance when renting a car so I don't worry about, nor have to pay for damage.

[missthethunder]

Yes, we always also get the insurance.

[MarlonRando]

never heard of Turo. I will definitely check it out because I do rent from time to time.