Our Story

I’ve hired cars on almost every holiday for over twenty years. Four times, a car hire company has tried to charge me for damage I didn’t cause. The worst of those turned into a 4-month fight over a deposit — and it’s the reason Rental Car Proof exists.

The trip that changed everything

In 2024 I was in Spain for a few days, needing a car to get up and down the Costa del Sol. The price was such a bargain it was a no-brainer — even the bus would have cost more. This wasn’t some fly-by-night operator either; it was a reputable company with a desk inside the terminal.

I was uneasy the moment I collected the car. There were dents and scratches on every side. But I know how the game works — so I diligently photographed every mark. I returned the car just 24 hours later and did the same again. Savvy consumer, all boxes ticked. I thought I was covered.

A few weeks later, the trouble started. No refund of my deposit.

The runaround

I called the company. They couldn’t help — I didn’t have my hire agreement number. I’d been told everything was digital and would be emailed to me. Whether that email was ever sent, I still don’t know, but it never reached me. Without it, every call went nowhere. Message after message, call after call, hit a brick wall.

I got lucky: I was flying back into the same airport six weeks later. I was able to go back to the desk, show my passport, and insist on a copy of the agreement. That’s when I was handed an invoice for four separate repairs — adding up, suspiciously precisely, to exactly my deposit.

I stayed calm. I knew I couldn’t win the argument at the desk. But now I had the paperwork, and I had my photos.

The turning point

I sent my pictures off, confident. The company replied with their own evidence — and rejected every one of mine. No timestamps, no proof of location, not admissible.

My credit card provider suggested something I hadn’t thought of: screenshot the EXIF data — the hidden timestamp and GPS location on each photo, and submit that alongside the images. Surprisingly simple, and it worked. My claim was accepted.

The lesson was clear, and it’s the whole idea behind this company: photos alone aren’t enough anymore. Timestamped, geotagged photos are.

(I’m not naming the company — search almost any car hire brand’s reviews and you’ll find someone with a story like mine. This was never about one bad operator. It’s about a system where the onus has quietly shifted onto the customer, and most people don’t find out until it’s too late. Even if you trust the company you’re hiring from, ALWAYS get your own proof.)

Ordinary photos weren’t enough

The car hire company dismissed my pictures until I supplied the original timestamps and location data. Here’s the evidence from both sides.

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1 / 4The car hire company’s evidence: its photos of the alleged damage.

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Why Rental Car Proof exists

I love the freedom of driving when I travel — it shows you a country in a completely different way than a bus or a tour ever could. What I don’t love is watching car hire companies take advantage of people while they’re away from home, tired, and unfamiliar with the games these companies play.

I’m a traveller first, before anything else. I spent a year travelling the world between jobs — so did my wife, before we’d even met. We got married in Thailand, and now live in Spain with our two kids.

Even if you never use the app

That’s completely fine. Rental Car Proof publishes free guides and checklists so that anyone can travel with a bit more peace of mind, whether or not they ever open the app. And if there’s ever anything I can help with, get in touch.

Our mission is to be the people you turn to first when a damage charge doesn’t add up.

Anthony Webster
Avid traveller, founder of Rental Car Proof