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ReiVi · One app, one job

RentalSafefor rental car drivers

At return, the invoice lists a scratch that was already there before.

Rental car log: record damage with photos before you drive off

Before you set off, you walk once around the car and record every bit of damage with a photo and its position, plus fuel and mileage. The app sets the date and time itself. At return you do the same round and can show what was already there.

View on Google Play

For Android · free with ads · PDF report as a one-time purchase

  • No account
  • Entries stay on your device
  • Logging works offline
  • No subscription
Page 1
Rental car log · Sample with made-up entriesPickup on Aug 3, Munich Airport
TimePositionDamageSize
10:15Rear left doorDentapprox. 3 cm
10:17Front right rimScratch on the edgeapprox. 5 cm
10:18WindshieldRock chipapprox. 4 mm
10:20DashboardFuel and mileagefull · 23,410 km
Damage at pickup3, all with photos

All entries are made up and only show what a log looks like.

How your rental car log comes together

  1. Walk-around check at pickup

    Walk once around the car and photograph every scratch, every dent and every rock chip. For each photo you give the position on the vehicle, and the app sets the date and time.

  2. Record fuel and mileage

    Record the fuel level and the odometer reading with a photo. At return you repeat the same round, so you can compare condition by condition.

  3. Create the PDF report

    All photos, damage, fuel levels and mileage readings are in one PDF. You send it by email to the car rental company or your insurer.

What you should record at pickup

It almost always gets expensive at return, and for damage that was already there before. If you record properly at pickup what you find, you have something to show later. The log should include:

DetailExampleIn the app
Every bit of damage with a photodent, rear left doorphoto with timestamp
Position on the carrear leftposition on the vehicle
Mileage and fuel23,410 km, fullfuel and mileage
Date, time, placeAug 3, 10:15, Munich Airportdate automatic
License plate and contract numberM-AB 1234no separate field
Countersignaturedamage noted in the rental company's reportno separate field

Check the interior, tires and rims too, not just the paintwork. Fine scratches and curb damage on rims are often charged. The license plate and contract number are in the rental agreement. It is best to have the rental company confirm existing damage in its own report before you drive off.

Why your own photos help you

After the return, an invoice arrives for a scratch you never caused. Without your own evidence, it is your word against theirs, and the rental company wants to keep the deductible.

In Germany, if the rental company claims damages under § 280 of the Civil Code (BGB), it usually has to show that the damage is new and happened during your rental period. Photos from pickup with date and time are your counter-argument. They show what was already there.

Whether a claim is justified depends on the individual case and your rental agreement. The app records the condition and organizes it. In a dispute over large amounts, a consumer advice center or a lawyer can help you.

Paper report or app?

A sheet with a sketch of the car on which you mark damage with an X is better than nothing. But an X does not show how big the scratch was, and whether it was already there at pickup is only in your handwriting.

With the app you have your own record. Every bit of damage has a photo with date and time, fuel and mileage are documented, and at return you compare the same spots.

MerkmalPaper templateApp
Costnonefree with ads, PDF as a one-time purchase
DamageX on the sketchphoto with position
Timeyou write it downthe app sets it
Fuel and mileagecopied by handwith photo
Sharingtake a photo of itPDF by email

What the app costs

no subscriptionbuy once

You record damage with photo, position, fuel and mileage for free. The free version shows ads. A one-time purchase in the Play Store unlocks the PDF report and removes the ads. There is no subscription.

Common questions about the rental car log

Do I need my own log for a rental car?

It is not required. But your own log with photos from pickup and return is the simplest protection against deductions from the deductible for damage that was already there.

What do I do if damage is charged at return?

Compare the spot with your photos from pickup. If the damage was already there, send the rental company the PDF report with the photos. For large claims, a consumer advice center can help.

Which vehicles is the app suitable for?

For any rental car, loaner car, car sharing or replacement car. You do the same walk-around check at pickup and return.

Does the app work without internet?

Yes, recording works offline, even in the parking garage at the airport. Your entries stay on your device, and you do not need an account.

Can I share the log as a PDF?

Yes. The PDF report contains all photos, damage, fuel levels and mileage readings. You share it by email with the car rental company or your insurer. The report is part of the one-time purchase.

Which languages is the app available in?

In 24 languages. It switches automatically to the language of your device, which is handy on vacation abroad.

This app is made by ReiVi, the app label of Viktor Reinik from Freilassing, Germany. Every ReiVi app does exactly one job and works without an account. Who is behind ReiVi (in German)

View on Google Play

Legal basis (Germany): § 280 BGB (damages for breach of duty). This page is not legal advice. For large claims, a consumer advice center or a lawyer can help. Updated on October 26, 2026.

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