National Car Rental hears many valid reasons for cars being returned late or damaged. However, some of the reasons offered in the past year defy explanation and indeed with a birth of a baby girl in one of its cars, (the proud parents consequently called her Karan) it is clear that although the life of a rental car is short (typically 6 months from new) it often has some colourful experiences.

National surveyed its 145 branches over a year across the UK and had the following feedback:

Strangest Reasons for Damage

  • “I wasn’t used to wearing high heels” was the reason provided by a man dressed as a woman who returned a damaged 4x4 he had rented
  • “We were attacked by monkeys” claimed a customer who had driven through Longleat animal enclosure
  • “A stag jumped over the wall” was the reason given by a customer in Glasgow
  • “I hit a square roundabout” was the cause for damage to a vehicle in Edinburgh
  • “I thought I could damage the car as I had paid £500 deposit.” (The deposit is refunded if no damage has been caused at the end of the rental.) said one customer in London
  • “It’s the rock’s fault it got in the way” claimed a customer in Birmingham when she backed into a rock in a field
  • “The road was too narrow and we ran into a sheep” claimed a customer who had hired a car in Exeter

    Unusual Reasons for returning a car late

  • “I thought Scotland was on a different time zone.”
  • “I’ve lost the car” A customer had forgotten where he parked the car.
  • An Australian customer said “The heater wasn’t working properly it was stuck on full heat that made my shoes melt, I couldn’t drive properly after that” The driver claimed he had to make several stops as a result
  • “I forgot the clocks went forward I’m only an hour late rather than two”

    Surprising Items Left in the Car

  • A Ginger toupee
  • A package from Ann Summers
  • Underwear
  • False Leg
  • Tumble dryer
  • Rocking Horse
  • Transplant Organ Box
  • Wheelchair

    Kim Brown, marketing director for National says: “We are always sympathetic when cars are returned late and obviously if the car is damaged we have a clear process for the management of the claim. However, it is amazing some of the explanations we hear and the ‘secret life’ our rental cars have whilst out on a booking.”