How to photograph your car before you leave it at a garage, valet or car wash
Updated · 4 min read
Before you hand over the keys, photograph all four sides of the car, the wheels and the windscreen, then the dashboard showing the mileage and fuel level, and ask the staff to note any existing marks on the work order. Do it in the car park, in daylight if you can, with the shop or valet stand visible in at least one photo. If you find a new dent or scratch at pickup, photograph it before you drive off and before you sign anything.
This guide is about the photos. Who is liable, and whether a shop's notice saying it is not responsible for damage holds up, depends on your country and on the contract you signed, so check with your insurer or a consumer advice service. This is photo advice, not legal advice.
What should I photograph at drop-off?
1. Each side of the car, from a few metres away, so the whole panel is in frame: front, rear, left and right. Add the roof and bonnet (hood) if you can see them.
2. The corners and bumpers up close, the wheels and alloys (kerb scuffs are a common complaint) and each door edge.
3. The windscreen and windows, for chips and cracks, and the mirrors.
4. Existing marks, close up and then one step back, so the position on the car is clear. Light at a low angle shows shallow dents.
5. The dashboard with the engine on or the ignition on, showing mileage and fuel, plus any warning lights.
6. The inside, if the car is being cleaned or valeted: seats, carpets and the boot (trunk), and anything left in the car.
Should I record a video as well?
A slow walk-around video, once around the car and then the interior, is a quick way to cover everything without missing a side. Say the date and the place out loud at the start. Photos are still better for details, because you can zoom into a still, so treat the video as the overview.
What should I ask the staff to do?
- Walk around the car with you and write existing damage on the work order, intake form or valet ticket, and give you a copy.
- Tell you if they take their own intake photos, and ask for copies.
- Read the small print on the ticket or the signs on the premises, because many places say they are not responsible for damage. Take a photo of the sign and the ticket.
- Take valuables out of the car, and note anything you leave in it.
What if I find damage at pickup?
- Check the car before you pay and before you drive off. Photograph the damage where the car stands, with the shop in the background, and compare it with your drop-off photos.
- Tell a manager straight away and ask for the incident to be written down. Do not sign a form saying the car was received in good condition until the damage is noted on it.
- Ask for the shop's intake photos and any camera footage, in writing, and ask them to keep it.
- Get an independent written estimate, and tell your insurer before you pay for repairs.
- A photo taken days after pickup cannot show where the damage happened, which is why photos at the moment of pickup matter most.
How do I keep the date and place with the photos?
The iPhone Camera saves the date and time in each photo's hidden data, with coordinates if Location Services is on for the Camera. That data is often removed when a photo goes through a chat app or a web form, so the person reading your complaint may see only the picture.
Check that the phone's date and time are set automatically, keep the original photos on your phone, and send the drop-off set and the pickup set together. A date and place printed on the image itself stay visible wherever the file goes.
Frequently asked questions
- What photos should I take before leaving my car at a garage?
- All four sides, the corners, wheels, windscreen, any existing marks up close, and the dashboard showing mileage and fuel. A slow walk-around video helps as an overview.
- Can a garage or valet refuse to take responsibility for damage?
- Some post notices saying they are not responsible, and whether that holds up depends on your country and the contract. Photograph the sign and the ticket, and ask your insurer or a consumer advice service.
- Should the staff write down existing damage?
- Yes, if they will. Ask them to walk around the car with you and note marks on the work order or ticket, and keep a copy.
- What if I only notice the damage after I got home?
- Photograph it straight away and contact the shop at once, but it is harder to show where it happened. Photos at the moment of pickup, in the shop's car park, are much stronger.
- Does a timestamp on the photo prove the car was undamaged?
- No. It makes the date and place easy to see, but it is not proof. Clear photos of every side taken at drop-off, plus the written intake form, make your account easier to follow.