Damage map
A damage map is an interactive vehicle diagram letting staff pinpoint the location and type of damage at handover and return. Combined with photos and a customer signature, it is a record that helps settle disputes.
Definition
A damage map is the visual tool rental businesses use to document the state of a vehicle or piece of equipment at handover to a customer and again at return. Staff tap a specific spot on the body or hull and pick a damage type (scratch, dent, crack, stain). Each marker links to a photo and an optional text note.
How it works
In practice: staff open the reservation card on a tablet. Depending on the system, the vehicle appears as a top-down diagram or in several views (front, rear, sides, interior). At handover, staff and customer walk around the vehicle together. Each existing damage gets tapped onto the screen; the system asks for type and a photo. The customer sees all markers and signs the screen. At return, staff revisit the same map and add any new damage. The diff between initial and final state shows which damages are new and may be charged against the deposit.
Why it matters for a rental company
Without a damage map, 'it was already like that' and 'no it wasn't' disputes are unavoidable, and without evidence they are hard to win. Photos, the customer's signature and a comparison of the state at pickup and return help settle those disputes and cut losses from damage that would otherwise go uncharged.
What OneRental does
In OneRental the damage map is part of pickup and return on a tablet. It has 15 drawings: car, van, motorcycle, quad, bike, kayak, SUP, jet-ski, boat, trailer, excavator, loader, tractor, combine and lift, and the drawing follows the vehicle type. Staff mark the location and type of damage and attach a photo. At return the system separates damage recorded at pickup from new damage and compares odometer and fuel readings with pickup. The customer signs on screen, and the pickup and return protocol PDFs show the drawing with the damage numbered.
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