Latest news with #damagedetection
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Hertz just unleashed its 'rental shakedown laser machine' across America... now it ADMITS fines can be unfair
Hertz has finally admitted its new dystopian damage detectors make costly mistakes following an avalanche of complaints from furious customers. The second-largest car rental company has rolled out vehicle scanners - packed with thousands of cameras and strips of LED lights - at six US airports to make it easier to spot damage.
The Australian
28-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Australian
Hertz's AI car scanners leave US customers hit with surprise damage bills
Car rental companies are turning to AI to help identify damage to their vehicles. A new, powerful AI tool is assisting Hertz and other companies in identifying minor scratches, leading to confused renters being held responsible for damage. Hertz, one of the world's largest car rental companies, first installed the technology in April at Atlanta International Airport, before rolling it out across five other airports in the US. The scanning system, developed by UVeye, captures thousands of high-resolution images from multiple angles as a vehicle passes through a rental gate during pick-up and return. AI compares those images and uses machine learning algorithms to flag any discrepancies. The system automatically creates and sends damage reports, which an employee then reviews before flagging any damages to the customer. Hertz confirms Aussie drivers have been impacted in data breach MORE: Dua Lipa's $1m flaunt stuns onlookers According to the rental company, fewer than three per cent of vehicles scanned by the AI system show any billable damages. While this seems to be a great way to eliminate false charges, it has proven problematic for customers. According to The Drive, Hertz customer Patrick rented from Hertz at the Atlanta airport and was charged a whopping $US440 for a wheel scratch just minutes after returning his rental Volkswagen. Hertz using AI scanners to detect any dents or scratches. Picture: UVEYE Hertz plans to roll out the system at multiple other locations in the US by year's end. Picture: UVEYE The customer said he was alerted to the damage 'minutes' after dropping off the vehicle and with it, charges for the blemish: $250 for the repair, $125 for processing, and another $65 in administrative fees. It's unclear if these fees would be the same if the car had been inspected manually by a human, or if the costs are there to cover the expense of Hertz's partnership with UVeye. When Patrick attempted to address the matter with a customer service representative, he found the challenge to be quite daunting. A Hertz customer posted a photo on Reddit of minor damage that resulted in a $195 charge. Picture: @professor_pimpcain/Reddit MORE: $185m scandal engulfs China EV giants Customers can visit a web portal to view before-and-after photos taken by the scanners. However, if they have any concerns, their options are limited. While a chatbot can flag the issue for review, there is no live agent available to assist them. However, some customers see it differently. They feel that the AI system is primarily focused on maximising revenue rather than ensuring fairness. The minor damage was detected by a new artificial intelligence-powered scanner. Picture: @professor_pimpcain/Reddit The technology's ability to instantly generate fees — with no human interaction and a short window for discounts — feels less like transparency and more like pressure. One Reddit user shared his thoughts and wrote: 'In reality, the AI picks up a tiny scuff that isn't actually there because of the shiny paint and maybe it's wet out, leaving you to spend months disputing charges for something that is basically just free revenue for the company' Another user that goes by the name ChefCobra said: 'AI does what it does, just compares how car was sent out and how it came back. Problem is that when you drive car, even if you are the most safest driver, you will have stone chips from actual driving.' Jlnbos added 'their goal isn't to enhance the rental experience.' Their goal is to extract more money from their customers.' Another customer tGA1 commented stating they will never rent through Hertz again. 'I will never rent from that company or its subsidiaries again.' Reddit Example 2. (Picture: Reddit/animemufin) Reddit Example 2. (Picture: Reddit/animemufin) Hertz customers are informed of the damages detected by UVeye within minutes of returning their car rentals. Picture: UVEYE MORE: Car boss' wild call to end Aus tax breaks While Hertz is the only major rental company using the system extensively, UVeye's technology is already well-established in other automotive sectors, with notable clients such as General Motors, Hyundai, Amazon, and CarMax. The company's inspection systems are in use at hundreds of dealerships, fleet locations and vehicle auctions worldwide. UVeye is reportedly in talks with additional US rental agencies, suggesting broader adoption may be on the horizon. It is unclear if this technology will become available to Hertz rentals in Australia. James Chung Digital Content Creator James is a Digital Content Creator at and is part of the News Corp Australia's digital real estate team. His previous experience includes working for Sky News Australia.
News.com.au
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
Hertz customers outraged over AI-powered damage-detection system
Car rental companies are turning to AI to help identify damage to their vehicles. A new, powerful AI tool is assisting Hertz and other companies in identifying minor scratches, leading to confused renters being held responsible for damage. Hertz, one of the world's largest car rental companies, first installed the technology in April at Atlanta International Airport, before rolling it out across five other airports in the US. The scanning system, developed by UVeye, captures thousands of high-resolution images from multiple angles as a vehicle passes through a rental gate during pick-up and return. AI compares those images and uses machine learning algorithms to flag any discrepancies. The system automatically creates and sends damage reports, which an employee then reviews before flagging any damages to the customer. According to the rental company, fewer than three per cent of vehicles scanned by the AI system show any billable damages. While this seems to be a great way to eliminate false charges, it has proven problematic for customers. One customer renting from Hertz at the Atlanta airport was charged a whopping $US440 for a wheel scratch just minutes after returning his rental Volkswagen. Patrick, the customer we're talking about, says he was alerted to the damage 'minutes' after dropping off the vehicle and with it, charges for the blemish: $250 for the repair, $125 for processing, and another $65 in administrative fees. It's unclear if these fees would be the same if the car had been inspected manually by a human, or if the costs are there to cover the expense of Hertz's partnership with UVeye. When Patrick attempted to address the matter with a customer service representative, he found the challenge to be quite daunting. Customers can visit a web portal to view before-and-after photos taken by the scanners. However, if they have any concerns, their options are limited. While a chatbot can flag the issue for review, there is no live agent available to assist them. However, some customers see it differently. They feel that the AI system is primarily focused on maximising revenue rather than ensuring fairness. The technology's ability to instantly generate fees — with no human interaction and a short window for discounts — feels less like transparency and more like pressure. One Reddit user shared his thoughts and wrote: 'In reality, the AI picks up a tiny scuff that isn't actually there because of the shiny paint and maybe it's wet out, leaving you to spend months disputing charges for something that is basically just free revenue for the company' Another user that goes by the name ChefCobra said: 'AI does what it does, just compares how car was sent out and how it came back. Problem is that when you drive car, even if you are the most safest driver, you will have stone chips from actual driving.' While Hertz is the only major rental company using the system extensively, UVeye's technology is already well-established in other automotive sectors, with notable clients such as General Motors, Hyundai, Amazon, and CarMax. The company's inspection systems are in use at hundreds of dealerships, fleet locations and vehicle auctions worldwide. UVeye is reportedly in talks with additional US rental agencies, suggesting broader adoption may be on the horizon.
Daily Telegraph
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Telegraph
Hertz's AI car scanners leave US customers hit with surprise damage bills
Don't miss out on the headlines from On the Road. Followed categories will be added to My News. Car rental companies are turning to AI to help identify damage to their vehicles. A new, powerful AI tool is assisting Hertz and other companies in identifying minor scratches, leading to confused renters being held responsible for damage. Hertz, one of the world's largest car rental companies, first installed the technology in April at Atlanta International Airport, before rolling it out across five other airports in the US. The scanning system, developed by UVeye, captures thousands of high-resolution images from multiple angles as a vehicle passes through a rental gate during pick-up and return. AI compares those images and uses machine learning algorithms to flag any discrepancies. The system automatically creates and sends damage reports, which an employee then reviews before flagging any damages to the customer. Hertz confirms Aussie drivers have been impacted in data breach MORE: Dua Lipa's $1m flaunt stuns onlookers According to the rental company, fewer than three per cent of vehicles scanned by the AI system show any billable damages. While this seems to be a great way to eliminate false charges, it has proven problematic for customers. One customer renting from Hertz at the Atlanta airport was charged a whopping $US440 for a wheel scratch just minutes after returning his rental Volkswagen. Hertz using AI scanners to detect any dents or scratches. Picture: UVEYE Hertz plans to roll out the system at multiple other locations in the US by year's end. Picture: UVEYE Patrick, the customer we're talking about, says he was alerted to the damage 'minutes' after dropping off the vehicle and with it, charges for the blemish: $250 for the repair, $125 for processing, and another $65 in administrative fees. It's unclear if these fees would be the same if the car had been inspected manually by a human, or if the costs are there to cover the expense of Hertz's partnership with UVeye. When Patrick attempted to address the matter with a customer service representative, he found the challenge to be quite daunting. A Hertz customer posted a photo on Reddit of minor damage that resulted in a $195 charge. Picture: @professor_pimpcain/Reddit MORE: $185m scandal engulfs China EV giants Customers can visit a web portal to view before-and-after photos taken by the scanners. However, if they have any concerns, their options are limited. While a chatbot can flag the issue for review, there is no live agent available to assist them. However, some customers see it differently. They feel that the AI system is primarily focused on maximising revenue rather than ensuring fairness. The minor damage was detected by a new artificial intelligence-powered scanner. Picture: @professor_pimpcain/Reddit The technology's ability to instantly generate fees — with no human interaction and a short window for discounts — feels less like transparency and more like pressure. One Reddit user shared his thoughts and wrote: 'In reality, the AI picks up a tiny scuff that isn't actually there because of the shiny paint and maybe it's wet out, leaving you to spend months disputing charges for something that is basically just free revenue for the company' Another user that goes by the name ChefCobra said: 'AI does what it does, just compares how car was sent out and how it came back. Problem is that when you drive car, even if you are the most safest driver, you will have stone chips from actual driving.' Reddit Example 2. (Picture: Reddit/animemufin) Reddit Example 2. (Picture: Reddit/animemufin) Hertz customers are informed of the damages detected by UVeye within minutes of returning their car rentals. Picture: UVEYE MORE: Car boss' wild call to end Aus tax breaks While Hertz is the only major rental company using the system extensively, UVeye's technology is already well-established in other automotive sectors, with notable clients such as General Motors, Hyundai, Amazon, and CarMax. The company's inspection systems are in use at hundreds of dealerships, fleet locations and vehicle auctions worldwide. UVeye is reportedly in talks with additional US rental agencies, suggesting broader adoption may be on the horizon. It is unclear if this technology will become available to Hertz rentals in Australia. Originally published as Hertz customers outraged over AI-powered damage-detection system
The Independent
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
New AI tool picks up every minor scratch on your car rental – and its freaking people out
Car hire companies are rolling out new AI tools to detect even the tiniest scratches, leaving customers outraged over the 'aggressive' new technology. Developed by UVeye, the automated scanning system captures thousands of high-resolution images from every angle of the vehicle at both pickup and return, which are then compared to spot any damage. UVeye's website boasts that the technology can 'detect 5X more damage than manual checks' and can generate '6X higher total value of damage captured.' Hertz, one of the world's largest car rental companies, has introduced the system at five U.S. airports, following its debut at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport last fall. An automatic damage report is created, and an employee reviews the report only if a customer flags an issue after receiving the bill, Hertz spokeswoman Emily Spencer told The New York Times. Just three percent of vehicles scanned through the UVeye system showed billable damage, she said. Renters fear they'll be hit with hefty fees for damage as small as a scratch. Over the Fourth of July weekend, Kelly Rogers and her husband rented a minivan from Hertz at Atlanta airport to travel about 150 miles to a family wedding in Birmingham, Alabama. The drive to and from the airport went smoothly, they told The Times, and upon inspecting the car at drop-off, the couple said they saw no damage. They said a Hertz employee also inspected the minivan and found nothing. After passing through airport security, they received a message via their Hertz app: the AI system detected a dent on the passenger-side door. Rogers said she was charged $80 for the damage on top of the $115 in fees, which included 'processing' the claim and the 'cost to detect and estimate the damage.' Hertz offered to reduce the $195 charge to $130 if they paid within 24 hours, the couple said. 'It could have been a shadow,' she said. 'We were pulling it up on the app, and we're like, 'This is so bananas.'' Hertz spokesperson Spencer said that Hertz inspected the so-called damage and confirmed it as a new dent. Spencer said that the company, which plans to roll out the scanners at more than 100 U.S. airports, uses the technology to ensure customers 'are not charged for damage that didn't occur during their rental.' Another customer, Patrick, rented a Volkswagen from Hertz-owned Thrifty at Atlanta Airport and told The Drive that he received a bill just 'minutes' after dropping off the car. He returned the car with a one-inch scuff on the rear wheel and charged $440 for the damage and processing fee. He, too, was offered a discount if he paid the fee quickly. 'Saving $30 to accept responsibility is not worth it,' he told the outlet. Adam Foley condemned Hertz's 'aggressive AI use' on LinkedIn and claimed that he was charged $350 for slight damage to the vehicle's roof and fender. 'Enjoy the one-time cash grab with customers. I will never rent at Hertz while this policy continues,' he wrote. Sixt, another vehicle rental company, uses a different AI-supported tool called Car Gate. Avis Budget Group and Zipcar reportedly tested AI damage scanning technology as early as 2019, according to The Times.
