It's Not Only Hertz: AI Damage Scanners Are Expanding to Additional Rental Car Firms.

      UVeye

      Subscribe to The Drive’s daily newsletter

      Stay updated with the latest car news, reviews, and features.

      While the spotlight on digital vehicle rental scanners employing artificial intelligence may have begun with Hertz, it is not the sole provider leveraging this technology, and it certainly won’t be the last. Competitor Sixt is also utilizing scanners, and two customers recently contacted The Drive to describe how the company billed them for damages that it later acknowledged were already present on its vehicles. There are indications that Avis might also be introducing digital inspections.

      After my previous article on this subject, several messages flooded my inbox detailing experiences with rental car damage scanners. Some were straightforward, while others were more complicated. Most accounts revolved around Hertz and Sixt, but one individual mentioned needing to drive their Avis rental through a scanner at LAX, and another stated that Enterprise was employing a scanner at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. Neither reported any issues in those cases, but these accounts suggest that this technology may be advancing more rapidly than the public realizes.

      The Drive also contacted Avis Budget Group and Enterprise Mobility (which includes the National and Alamo brands) to confirm if these companies utilize scanners for rental inspections. An Avis representative did not directly answer this question but stated, “the damage assessment process at Avis remains human-led. While we may use certain technologies, including AI, to support internal efficiencies, they do not replace the judgment or involvement of our employees. Delivering fair, transparent, and service-driven experiences for our customers remains our top priority.” Notably, Avis tested an AI-based system developed by a company called Ravin at London Heathrow Airport in 2019.

      As for Enterprise, the company was more explicit in its response, firmly denying the use of the technology. “Enterprise Mobility is not using digital damage scanners at check-in, check-out, or in our damage review process for any of our car rental brands, including Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental, and Alamo,” the company informed The Drive via email.

      A rental passes through Hertz’s UVeye AI vehicle inspection scanner. UVeye

      Sixt's Scanners Are Misaligning Their Timelines

      Sixt is a rental car company that, similar to Hertz, has made its scanners known. Its Car Gate system assesses vehicles when customers first take them and again upon return. A notable distinction between Hertz’s usage and Sixt’s is that Sixt claims it only issues damage claims after a staff member has reviewed the computer’s findings. Yet, in two remarkably similar instances, Sixt customers informed The Drive that the company billed them for damages that were determined to have occurred prior to their rentals.

      One reader, Badi, recounted renting a Mazda CX-50 from Sixt at Atlanta Hartsfield Airport. Three weeks after returning the vehicle, after being “extremely careful with parking,” they received a bill for $605.82 for wheel damage. Badi asked for proof, and Sixt replied with a photo “showing what appeared to be a pristine wheel,” according to the customer. Badi could not identify the claimed issue until an employee zoomed in to point out the scuff. The images provide further details.

      Then, Badi observed that the image Sixt provided as evidence was timestamped from when they initially drove the Mazda off the lot, not when they returned it. This photo was captured during the first scan to establish a baseline for the vehicle's condition so the customer would not ideally be charged for pre-existing blemishes. Badi noted that Sixt wanted to replace the entire wheel for damage they did not cause, estimating the cost at $600. The Sixt representative they interacted with reportedly threatened collections if the invoice was not settled within a specified timeframe.

      “I immediately contacted Sixt, explaining they were using the wrong photo,” Badi reported to The Drive via email. “After escalating to management, they dropped the claim entirely. Had they not mistakenly shared the exit photo, they likely would have pursued collections.”

      It is evident that the damage highlighted on the later date was also visible on the earlier date when Badi first took the vehicle. Courtesy photos

      The Drive reached out to Sixt regarding this incident for more context. The company did not provide details but stated, “We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience to the customer. This experience does not reflect our high service standards. In the rare event a discrepancy occurs, our team is committed to reviewing it thoroughly and resolving it promptly—as was done here in response to the customer’s feedback.”

      Another Sixt customer, Ray, recounted an experience quite similar to Badi's at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. After returning their rental on a particularly rainy day, Ray said they received an email from Sixt showing two small scratches: one on a wheel and another on a fender. “The email stated that I needed to provide my insurance information to them or pay $650,” Ray told us. You can likely guess