Start with context before taking close-ups
If the vehicle is safely parked, take a wider photograph showing the car and affected wheel together. Follow it with a view of the tyre and rim. A close-up alone can be difficult to connect to a particular wheel, especially when several people send images through different messages.
Use front left, front right, rear left or rear right, viewed from the seated driver's position. That description avoids confusion when the hire car has its steering wheel on a different side from your car at home.
Keep the markings readable and the evidence unchanged
Send a sharp image of the complete sidewall marking, including the characters after the size. A second photograph can capture the brand and model.
Keep original photographs and note when you first noticed the problem. Do not remove an embedded object or stage another position to improve the picture. An image helps communicate what you observed; it does not establish the cause of the damage.
Create one record for the rental-company conversation
Put the registration, agreement number, wheel position and short account of events in the same message as the relevant images. Compare these with your collection photographs if you have them, without treating a visual comparison as an inspection result.
Follow your own rental company's reporting instructions. SIXT, for example, directs customers with a damaged tyre to its assistance team. Ask which files they need, and keep their response with any approval reference before agreeing independent work.
Add the confirmed work record afterwards
Once an authorised visit is completed, retain the appointment reference and receipt with the original images. Ask the fitter to explain the assessed problem and the work carried out. If a replacement was supplied, record its specification for the rental company.
Share documents through the recipient's agreed channel. The photo record is useful for an accurate handover, but neither a photograph nor a fitting receipt promises reimbursement or decides a damage claim. Keep the rental company's approval separate from your observations.
Before you book
- Label the affected wheel consistently.
- Take context and marking photographs safely.
- Retain original files and collection images.
- Save the authorisation and completed work record.
Your tyres, taken care of.
Tell us where you’ve safely stopped and what your vehicle needs. We’ll check availability and confirm your quote and arrival estimate.
Your questions, answered.
Must I photograph the road-facing side of the car?
No. Do not enter traffic or an exposed position to complete a photo checklist. Tell the team which information you cannot safely obtain; the vehicle and wheel can be assessed through the appropriate assistance arrangement.
Will the pictures prove who pays for the tyre?
Pictures help record the condition and communicate details. They do not determine responsibility, approval or cover. Follow the rental agreement and ask the rental company to confirm its decision directly.
Useful sources
For further information, explore these sources.