@Ty
Is it though?
If it really was stolen, tell them you want to come over and look at security footage with them to identify the person.
Either they’ll have it, which will vindicate you, or their say the cameras were broken - then you know they can’t hold you to any damages because they can’t prove you didn’t return it. Legally they won’t have a way to prove anything, and if the police are called, there’s not much they can do without any visual evidence and the car can’t be sold without the title, and you can’t register it in your name so… what would you do with it???
I’m curious where this happened. U.S. Europe, third world country? Large international airport or small regional airport?
Every time I’ve returned a car to an airport, I’ve either returned the keys to the key box inside the terminal or, if there has been staff, a clearly identifiable member of staff has checked the car in front of me before I left the premises.
@Riley
I returned an Avis week-long rental at the Orlando airport. Several cars were waiting in line when it must have been the end or their shifts or their break time because they all just walked away at the same time with one of them saying over his shoulder, “Put the keys on the dash.”
That left no one to check in the cars, confirm there was no damage, see what the fuel status was, or to give a receipt, so no, you don’t always get a receipt.
We had to hurry to catch a flight so rather than waiting around, I took photos of the car, including windshield, the fuel gauge and of the keys sitting on the dash.
Knowing what I do now, I would not do that again…or rent from Avis again. There was a massive screw up when we picked up the car in Jacksonville, but that is not relevant here other than to add to why I went back to Enterprise.
@Keaton
All these car rental places are short staffed. When I picked up, I did not have a full tank and no one was there to verify anything about the car. Many hours of arguing with people. I just called my cc and have them reverse charges.
@Keaton
I once rented a car in Dallas from Avis… I am Avis preferred but still had to go into the preferred office to get my keys and told what car also got my rental agreement. On my way out the person checking everything was taking forever she finally came back and said there’s an issue with my account. I said okay, do I need to go back to the desk? She talks on the radio for a few mins and says no you are good to go. I took off, returned the car 4 days later. No one was there just a sign saying leave the keys, etc. I did so but took photos of everything (also take photos of everything before taking the car). Anyways it was for a company trip on a corporate travel card. 5-6 weeks later I finally get around to do my expense report and I can’t find the car charge anywhere. Double checked my Avis account and nothing was there. So I just left it as not my problem, a few months later I have another trip. This time though they stop me and say my credit card on file was expired and I needed to update it before I could get a car. So pretty sure that other time my credit card on file just wasn’t updated and instead of dealing with it they just said here you go and let me take the car.
@Keaton
I returned a car in Melbourne a few months ago (not avis) and was told to jump in the shuttle to the terminal and just hand over the keys. Never again.
I only drove 30 miles with the car & they tried to charge me more fuel (at a massively inflated price of course) than it could have possibly used over that distance. I didn’t have the fuel receipt but I did have the credit card charge. Fought it hard and eventually they dropped the additional fuel charge.
Thankfully I at least took photos of the outside of the car but in the future I’ll always get the car signed off fully before I leave.
@Riley
It’s in Santa Barbara, CA, US
AnnaTaylor said:
@Riley
It’s in Santa Barbara, CA, US
At SBA, I’ve always had to walk inside and either return it with a person at the desk there or drop the keys in a locked drop box.
AnnaTaylor said:
@Riley
It’s in Santa Barbara, CA, US
Post this on r/santabarbara they may have more insight into rental returns and how it works.
AnnaTaylor said:
@Riley
It’s in Santa Barbara, CA, US
Post this on r/santabarbara they may have more insight into rental returns and how it works.
That’s a good idea.
You ALWAYS get a receipt when returning car. Always!
Vega said:
You ALWAYS get a receipt when returning car. Always!
Yes. Twice I returned cars to Hertz and they said they’d email me the receipt, and I was overcharged for gas and options I didn’t order.
I took a rental from someone I work with and returned it. I didn’t bother getting a receipt, because I figured they would get an electronic one. The rental car company called a week later looking for the car. Had no idea where it was. It eventually resolved itself, but I’m not sure how.
Happened to me once. I went back and it was sitting in their lot.
Plot twist. The guy with the vest was on work release picking up trash.
Thanks everyone for all the advice. I’ll be super careful next time onwards. Got everything resolved.
AnnaTaylor said:
Thanks everyone for all the advice. I’ll be super careful next time onwards. Got everything resolved.
Don’t worry about shit.
I had a similar experience with Alamo, was really annoying and since then I only leave when I get some sort of confirmation.
Did u enter the return lot completely? The police should be able to track it from camera videos, if it’s really stolen. And why did u handover rental agreement, never do that next time!! Any agent should have ur info with the car number doesn’t need ur paperwork. They can see it but never hand over.