San Diego, US – July 29, 2025‍

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In light of recent reports concerning customer disputes over automated vehicle damage charges in the rental industry, Self Inspection is reaffirming its commitment to transparency, fairness, and renter empowerment through a fundamentally different approach to vehicle inspections.

Recent media coverage has highlighted concerns about the use of AI-powered inspection systems that automatically charge renters for minor cosmetic damage, sometimes without clear proof or context. These systems, now being rolled out at scale by major rental agencies, have sparked backlash due to unexpected post-rental charges, minimal recourse, and a lack of transparency.

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Self Inspection was built to solve this exact problem, by putting the power and the proof directly in the hands of renters and operators.

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A transparent, renter-first inspection process

Unlike fully automated systems that rely solely on AI to detect and assess damage, Self Inspection follows a hybrid approach focused on accountability and ease of use:

• Renter-Initiated Video Inspections
  Upon vehicle pickup or return, the renter is invited to record a 360° guided video walkaround using their smartphone. The process is intuitive, takes under two minutes, and documents the car’s condition in real-time.
  
  
• Time-Stamped, Immutable Records
  Every inspection video is time-stamped, geotagged, and uploaded to a secure portal accessible to the Operator and the Renter creating a shared source of truth that prevents disputes before they happen.
  
  
• Human Oversight with AI Assistance
  While our platform includes intelligent detection tools to flag potential issues, final validation is handled by trained human reviewers. There are no instant, automated charges or AI-generated bills.
  
  
• Not every damage is a billable problem.
  Our system is designed with the real world in mind. Treating tiny issues like chips or 1" scratches the same as a smashed bumper should not be the standard.
  
  
• Zero Surprise Charges
  No renter is ever billed without having full visibility into the vehicle inspection report, including visual proof and detailed notes. This approach minimizes misunderstandings, eliminates ambiguity and builds long-term trust.
  
  

Designed for fairness, built for scale

Self Inspection is trusted by rental, dealership and fleet operators across North America. Our solution is modular, scalable, and fully customizable to match different operational models and customer policies.

“We’ve seen how dangerous it can be to remove humans entirely from a process that impacts customers financially,” said Constantine Yaremtso, Co-Founder of Self Inspection. “Our goal has always been to deliver technology that empowers - not penalizes - people. That’s why we designed a system where every party has clarity, context and control.”

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About Self Inspection

Self Inspection is an innovative vehicle inspection platform designed to simplify and streamline the vehicle handover process for rental, fleet, and dealership businesses. The platform allows renters or staff to easily capture video and photo documentation via guided workflows, enabling faster turnaround, fewer disputes, and standardized reporting, without removing the human touch.

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For media inquiries or demo requests, please contact:

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press@selfinspection.com
www.selfinspection.com

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