Rental Car Guide: 10 Checks from Pickup to Return
Most problems with a rental car can be prevented at pickup and return. The three most important steps are having existing damage written on the report at pickup, recording the fuel and km, and doing the same check together at return. The 10-point list below sets out, in order, what to watch for from booking to return. The details of the terms are listed in each offer's details and in the rental agreement.
Before you book
- Compare the terms. Read the security deposit, km allowance and age and licence requirements as well as the price. On our platform on 13 October 2026, the median security deposit was 6.500 TL and the most common km allowance was 400 km a day.
- Choose the right pickup point. If you are arriving by plane, the airport is practical; if you are staying in the city, a local pickup point near where you are staying.
At pickup
- Have your documents ready. Bring your driving licence and ID (a passport for foreign nationals).
- Have damage written on the report. Walk around the car and have any scratches, dents, wheel and glass damage recorded on the report; take photos and a short video from every corner.
- Record the fuel and km. Photograph the fuel level and the km reading on the dashboard. You are expected to return the car with the same fuel level; missing fuel may be charged.
- Get to know the car. Try the headlights, wipers, handbrake, air conditioning and gear shift while the car is parked; if a warning light is on, ask before you set off.
During the rental
- HGS and fines. Bridge and motorway tolls are paid via the car's HGS and passed on to you; traffic and parking fines also reach the renter through the company. More detail: HGS toll tag guide for rental cars.
- If there is an accident or breakdown. First make sure you are safe; if another party is involved, fill in an accident report form (kaza tespit tutanağı), otherwise inform the police or gendarmerie, and call the company straight away. The report is a condition of many covers. More detail: car rental insurance guide.
At return
- Check the car together. At return, walk around the car with the staff member and see on the report that there is no new damage. Photograph the fuel and km again.
- Follow up on the deposit refund. Ask when the security deposit will be returned; tolls or fines that arrive late may be deducted from the deposit.
Frequently asked questions
What should I check when I pick up a rental car?
Have existing damage written on the report and photograph it, record the fuel level and km, and try basic equipment such as the headlights and air conditioning while the car is parked.
How should I return the fuel in a rental car?
You are usually expected to return the car with the fuel level it had when you picked it up. Missing fuel may be charged by the company; the rule is listed in the offer's terms.
What happens if I get a traffic fine in a rental car?
The fine goes to the owner of the car, that is, the company; the company passes it on to the renter. Some companies also add a service fee.
What should I do if I have an accident?
Make sure you are safe; if another party is involved, fill in an accident report form, otherwise inform the police or gendarmerie, and call the company straight away.
When is the security deposit returned?
It depends on the company. Ask at return; tolls or fines that arrive late may be deducted from the deposit.
