Renting a Car in Hawaii? An AI Scanner Doesn’t Replace Your Own Photos

Hawaii travel news can change quickly. Always confirm current details with official sources before making travel plans.

You return the rental car, grab your bags, and head for your flight. A damage report can still arrive in your inbox afterward.

Hertz uses AI-powered inspections at selected airport locations to compare the car at pickup and return. It also tells renters to take their own photos.

For your Hawaii trip, that’s the advice I’d keep: photograph the car before you leave the lot and again before you hand it back.

We haven’t independently confirmed which Hawaii airport rental counters currently use these scanners. Check with the location where you’re booked.

Take the photos while the car is still there

At pickup, you’re ready to get to your hotel. At return, you’re thinking about your flight. Neither is a great time to rush through the photos.

Make time for a walk around the parked car at both ends of the rental. Start with wider shots, then get closer to existing marks.

Here’s what I’d photograph:

• Each side of the car, including the front and rear.
• Both bumpers and any visible scratches or dents.
• Wheels and rims you can clearly see.
• The windshield and other visible glass.
• Any existing damage listed on your rental paperwork.

A slow walkaround video can help show where a mark sits on the car. Pair it with clear photos of the mark itself.

Keep the originals together with your agreement, existing-damage record, return receipt, and any messages about the car.

The goal is simple: if a question comes up later, you have something specific to point to. Photos alone won’t guarantee the outcome of a dispute.

And if you spot damage at pickup, report it before leaving. Hertz directs renters to do that immediately through the support feature in the rental agreement.

Save the response too. You want a record that you raised the issue, along with the photo showing it.

What is the scanner actually checking?

Hertz calls the process Digital Vehicle Inspection, or DVI. UVeye powers the system, which compares images from pickup and return to look for changes.

Depending on the location, Hertz says the inspection can use a drive-through scanner or a mobile device.

If there’s a damage report, the useful part is the comparison. Hertz says its UVeye reports include images from both ends of the rental.

The link arrives by email, text, or both. If you can’t see the pickup image for the area being questioned, ask for it.

What do we know about the Hawaii locations?

UVeye lists Honolulu on Oahu and Kahului on Maui in its public directory. But those entries name the cities, not airport rental counters.

The company also works with dealerships. So those listings don’t tell us which rental brands or airport facilities use the equipment.

Ask your rental location two questions before the trip: How do you record the car’s condition, and how do I get the inspection results?

The photo checklist works either way.

Still deciding whether to book a car for the whole trip? Our guide to whether you need a rental car in Hawaii can help with that decision.

A small mark doesn’t tell you the whole story

Hertz says it doesn’t charge for ordinary wear. Its damage policy has different rules depending on what part of the car is involved.

For example, its body-damage examples include a single dent larger than one inch. Its glass rules include any chip or crack.

That detail matters. A size rule for a body dent doesn’t tell you how a windshield chip will be handled.

Multiple marks and other damage types have their own rules too. These are Hertz’s examples, not a policy for every rental company.

If you receive a bill, ask which rule applies to the mark they’re charging you for.

If a bill arrives, get specific

I’d start with the photos. Does the pickup image show the same area as the return image? Can you clearly see what the company says changed?

Compare those images with your own. If you disagree with the claim:

1. Ask for any missing images and a breakdown of the charges.
2. Send your photos and the record of damage you reported at pickup.
3. Explain the specific problem, such as a scratch that already appears in your pickup photo.
4. Keep the case number and copies of every response.

Here’s one easy-to-miss detail: Hertz directs disputes through the support chat in the inspection report, but says that chat has no live agents.

Its usual Customer Care channels are still available. If the report chat leaves your question unanswered, contact Customer Care with the same case number.

If you’re using rental coverage through an insurer or credit card, contact that provider promptly too. Hertz notes that coverage can have limits and reporting deadlines.

There have been reported disputes. In a June 2026 InvestigateTV story carried by Hawaii News Now, an Atlanta Hertz renter challenged a bill received after return.

Hertz later closed the claim, and she owed nothing, according to the report. That was a mainland rental, and one case doesn’t tell us how often this happens.

For your trip, I’d keep it simple. Leave time for the walkaround, report existing damage, and save the pickup and return photos in one place.

Then, if a damage question follows you home, you have your records ready.

FAQs

Should I take rental-car photos if there is an AI scanner?

Yes. Hertz recommends taking your own photos at pickup and return, even with digital inspections. Save clear views of each side, bumpers, wheels, glass, and existing marks.

Are AI damage scanners confirmed at Hawaii airport rental counters?

Hawaii’s Best Travel has not independently confirmed which Hawaii airport rental counters currently use AI scanners. UVeye lists Honolulu and Kahului, but its city entries do not identify rental facilities. Ask your booked location about its inspection process.

Can a rental-car damage report arrive after return?

Yes. Hertz describes post-rental inspection reports delivered by email, text, or both. Keep your pickup and return photos, rental agreement, and return receipt so you can review any later claim.

What should I do if I disagree with a rental-car damage claim?

Compare the pickup and return images with your photos. Ask for missing images and an itemized bill, submit your records, and explain the specific issue. Hertz directs disputes through the report’s support chat, with its usual Customer Care channels also available.

Sources

• Hertz, Accident and Damage, including Digital Vehicle Inspection, inspection results, damage thresholds, dispute procedures, and outside coverage. Undated FAQs; damage-policy material marked revision July 2025. Checked October 7, 2026. 
• Hertz, How can I protect myself from any pre-existing damages or discrepancies in your process? Undated. Checked October 7, 2026. 
• UVeye, Find Your Nearest UVeye System. Undated. Checked October 7, 2026.
• InvestigateTV / Hawaii News Now, Rental car AI scanners flag alleged damage, leaving customers with surprise bills. Published June 29, 2026, at 7:19 a.m. HST. Checked October 7, 2026.