What this form is for
Create a walk record for a rental light vehicle in the United States, including pickup and return. Fill out the form on the screen. Download the resulting PDF or CSV file. Bring it with you to the rental lot prior to driving off, then bring it back when you return the keys.
It contains the rental agreement number, the dates for pickup and return, the odometer reading, and the fuel or charge level (in the header section). The body of the form has space to record any existing damage to the interior, wheels, tires, lamps, glass, body panels, and spare tire or inflator kit. The sign-off section contains spaces for the renter’s signature at pickup and return, as well as an optional line for an agent.
There are no federal statutes regarding what is listed on this sheet. It comes from consumer practices based off recommendations from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Texas Comptroller, and the Iowa Attorney General.
The Iowa Attorney General suggests taking pictures of the inside and outside of the car prior to driving away. You should also note dents, scratches, and windshield chips. Check the tire condition, interior condition, fuel level, and mileage. The Texas Comptroller’s recommendation is to check lamps and tires and note any mismatched paint and dents on the agreement. Tire and wheel numbers on this walk match 49 CFR 570.9 and NHTSA TireWise guidelines.
What it is not
- It is not the rental contract, a collision damage waiver, or a promise that the company will accept this PDF as its official inspection. The agreement you sign at the counter still controls fuel policy, additional drivers, and who pays for damage.
- It is not a vehicle condition report. That published handover sheet is for sale, lease return, or transfer of a light vehicle between two parties, with VIN-heavy header fields and dual inspector/receiver roles. This form is a renter walk at pickup and return.
- It is not a used-car inspection checklist. That buyer walkthrough covers rust, engine bay, transmission, a test drive, title clues, and a buy/walk recommendation. Do not use this rental sheet to decide whether to purchase a car.
- It is not a state inspection sticker, a CMV pre-trip, or a shop lift PPI. It does not replace the company's own damage grid if the counter prints one.
How to fill each block
According to these rules, the minimum amount of tread allowed is 2/32 inch for light vehicles with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or less. Lamp function is in accordance with FMVSS No. 108 equipment standards. In other words, all lamps should be functional: headlamps, tail lamps, stop lamps, turn signals, parking lamps, the license plate lamp, the high-mounted stop lamp, reverse lamps and hazard flashers.
Take down the agreement number (this is the actual paper contract, NOT the confirmation email). Note the company name, lot location, year, make, model, color, and plate/unit number of the vehicle in front of you. At this point note the pickup date, mileage, and fuel/charge level when exiting the parking stall.
Leave the return date, mileage, and fuel level fields blank until the drop. Write in the exact fuel policy stated in the agreement. While full-to-full is the norm, there are other policies like same-to-same, prepaid tank, and EV return-as-received. According to the FTC, most companies assume you'll give them a full tank upon return, and they'll charge you their price if you don't. The company's additional-driver fee and rules differs, so only write in what's stated in the agreement.
If you did shoot a video or timestamped photos, check the photo box. According to the Iowa Attorney General, renters is advised to take pictures of the interior and the glass. They should also photograph the tires, existing damage, fuel level, and mileage prior to driving off. Take final pics on return and save the return receipt too.
In daylight (or with a flashlight if you’re in your dark garage), walk around all the exterior body panels. For each, mark them as: OK, Damage, or N/A. N/A applies if the car doesn’t have that panel. This includes a sunroof on a vehicle that doesn’t have one, a trunk lid on a coupe, or rear doors on a two-door car. In the notes section of that row, note where any missing trim, cracks, dents, or scratches exists.
When done, ask the rental agent to make the same marks on the company’s form before you depart. One major rental brand was forced by a New Jersey Attorney General settlement to document visible pre-existing damage and show it to the renter for acknowledgment. They must then provide the customer with a copy of the filled-out inspection. That is an enforcement action against that particular operator, not a national law. But it’s why this template has a checkbox for the renter copy and space to pick up notes.
Look for cracked and chipped windshields, particularly on the wiper path. Glazing performance and driver visibility is regulated by FMVSS No. 205. This rule applies to both replacement and new glass. There is no Pass/Fail metric for a rental regarding how large an in-use windshield chip can be. Rules differs from state to state regarding stickers. Note down any chips anyway so the company can’t charge you for new damage at return time.
Go around and activate all exterior lamps: headlights, parking lamps, left/right turn signal, hazards, brakes. Use a wall reflection or have someone watch your hand move across the brake pedal to verify brakes are working. Set the brake and shift to reverse to test reverse lamps. Check the license plate lamp, too. Taped-on, fogged-over or cracked lenses are considered Damage even though the bulb works. If the car was never equipped with fog lamps, mark them as N/A.
Inspect all four road tires for objects embedded in their grooves, bulges, cuts and tread depth. The Light Vehicle Replacement point is 2/32 inch. (NHTSA treats 2/32 as the replacement point.) To determine if your tread is down to 2/32, look for the wear bars (they’re flush) or use a penny test that shows the top of Lincoln’s head. Do not regard this tread depth as a rule of thumb like at a rental counter. This is a safety check.
Maximum pressure (found on the tire sidewall) is NOT the same thing as cold inflation pressure found on the driver’s door Tire and Loading Information label. “Cold” means the vehicle hasn’t been driven more than three hours according to NHTSA. A lot walk is often on warm tires; still mark a tire that is obviously flat or low. Wheel cracks, elongated bolt holes, welded repairs, and missing lugs are 570.10. Even if the wheel is serviceable, curb rash is considered Damage on this form. Same-axle size mismatch is a 570.9 rejection item. Mark it as Damage and don’t drive the car until the company swaps it.
Look for missing parts, rips, tears, and burns. Also, look for stains in the seats, carpeting, mats, door panels, headliner, belts, and cargo area. If pets/smoking are prohibited by the deal, smell for evidence of either. Turn on the ignition and record any warning lights remaining lit.
According to the 2022 CR-V owner’s manual (under federal TPMS), each tire, including the spare if provided, should be checked monthly when cold to the placard. It adds: “TPMS is not a substitute for that check.” A lit TPMS lamp at pickup is a Damage/defect note for the company, not a DIY reset.
Clear paired phones from the infotainment system before you return the vehicle. In its connected-car section, the FTC cautions that pairing via Bluetooth or USB can leave behind call logs, contacts and locations for the following renter.
What varies
Does the car have a full-size spare? A compact spare? Or just a sealant inflator? According to Toyota’s owner’s manual, drivers is advised to inspect their spare tire, its condition, and its pressure. This says: Wheel nuts shouldn’t be loose; tires aren’t too worn or damaged.
The Honda TPMS chapter says: A compact spare may not be monitored. Only mark the wrench and jack rows as N/A if you’ve been issued a toolless kit by the company. If a wheel-lock key is needed, its absence is Damage at pickup since you can’t change a tire without one.
Before leaving the lot, write down any pre-existing damage in the pickup notes. Before walking away from the car at return, write down any new damage in the return notes. If there's no agent when you drop off the car, use the after-hours box. Note the time and location. Note how you dropped the keys. Confirm you took a photo of the stall.
Sign in the pickup section after the first walk. After the second walk, sign in the return section. You can also fill out the agent lines. Only check the copy box if you really got a PDF or paper copy of the inspection.
There’s no federal rule for fuel policy: It’s a contract term. Full-to-full is a common fuel policy used by rental companies. Others use "same-to-same" or "prepaid fuel," too. Or they call it “EV charge-as-received.” Note what’s on the gauge when you pick up the car and compare that to the policy listed in your rental agreement.
Other charges can include mileage caps; one-way drop fees; airport surcharges; and toll-device fees. State and company practices also apply to additional-driver fees and minimum age. At many brands, according to the FTC, the age minimum is 25, and there are fees for young drivers. (This is not a federal driving-age law on this form.)
The company might offer optional collision damage waiver (CDW) coverage, which the FTC says is known as loss damage waiver (LDW). This is a promise from the company to reimburse you if the vehicle gets damaged during the rental. It doesn't protect your personal belongings or any injuries you sustain.
The coverage could be invalidated if someone who isn't authorized drives the car or if you drive while impaired or recklessly. Your credit card or personal auto policy might already provide coverage for a rental; check with the card issuer and/or insurer. Whether your personal auto policy or credit card already covers a rental is between you, the insurer, and the card.
After you finish
Tint rules; windshield-chip repair thresholds; State inspection stickers. These are state issues. The walk is a record of what you saw. It's no certification that a sticker was present. Lot hours for after-hours returns vary. Some have cameras. Some do an inspection later. Take your own photos when you return the vehicle. Photograph all sides, the interior, fuel or charge level, roof, glass, wheels, and odometer. This follows Texas Comptroller return advice.
If it's a Class A combination or some other heavy truck, forget about it. Pre-trip inspections for commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) are what you need here. If you're purchasing the vehicle, a shop pre-purchase inspection (PPI) will do. This is not a rental sheet.
If you would like a copy of what you’ve written down, here’s a link to download a filled-in PDF or CSV (to open in Excel). If you’d rather write it down on paper, here’s a link to download a blank PDF.
Your answers are stored in this tab only. Next time someone visits they’ll see an empty form. Nothing gets sent to the rental company, and nothing is stored on this site with your signature on it.
Save all of these: The original timestamped photos, this walk record, fuel receipts, the rental agreement and return receipt until after the final charge posts. Both the Iowa Attorney General and the New Jersey inspection-copy practice cite saving paperwork as evidence if you're hit with a damage bill later. File complaints about unresolved rental issues with the company, the FTC (ReportFraud.ftc.gov), and your state attorney general.
Don't assume that because they sent back a finished PDF that means the company has officially closed out the rental without any damage. If possible, have them send it back to you via a staffed counter with a return receipt. Otherwise, those pictures, plus this return block, will serve as your evidence. It doesn't automatically clear damage.
Not a substitute for the OEM or a licensed inspection
There is no warranty, and this is not a contract. This is not legal advice. This is not a replacement for a licensed inspection, the rental company’s inspection process, or the vehicle’s OEM owner’s manual. Check the spare service and tire inflation using the vehicle's manual and its door placard. See Toyota’s tire and exterior check and Honda’s TPMS explanation above.
Don’t make up your own Pass/Fail limits, as none are stated in 570.9, 570.10, FMVSS 108, or FMVSS 205. Damage-liability, fuel, and additional-driver terms follow what you agreed to and the law of the state you rented from (which varies).