AI scanners at rental car lots are ‘definitely not perfect,’ watchdog says

(InvestigateTV) — Several rental car companies are now using AI scanning systems to check vehicles for damage, and a consumer watchdog says renters should document the car themselves to avoid a surprise bill.

The scanners look like a car wash at pick-up or drop-off. Cameras take photos and videos from different angles, looking for damage.

Teresa Murray, consumer watchdog director with the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, said the technology comes with both benefits and drawbacks.

Murray said artificial intelligence can make mistakes that matter in a rental car setting.

“We know that artificial intelligence can hallucinate. We know AI can fabricate data, misinterpret data, and in the case of damage in a rental car, it could mean that a splotch of dirt gets mistaken for a dent. You know, some kind of shadow could look like some pretty significant damage. So, it’s definitely not perfect,” Murray said.

Murray’s advice is the same whether a company uses AI or an employee looks the vehicle over: take a few minutes to inspect the car closely before leaving the lot.

“People should take pictures of every single thing and they should take walk around video. If you need to crouch down on the ground to get up under it, you know, the wheels and all that kind of stuff. The hubcaps, the interior, the trunk, you know, the glass, I mean everything. Do it. And I mean, if you’re going to rent a car, you need to allow 5 to 10 minutes to do this, depending on whether it’s with a live worker or without,” Murray said.

If a company uses an AI scanner, Murray recommends doing the same inspection before and after the trip. Having your own photos gives you a way to challenge a charge if a damage bill arrives later.