How do you pick up a rental car from a body shop?

The first thing you need to do is to check if your insurance or the at-fault driver's (whatever the case may be) insurance policy covers your rental.

This helps you understand who pays—you, your insurance, or the other driver.

You can avoid potential frustration and delays by scheduling your rental early with the repair shop.

While some body shops independently offer car rental services, making the rental process easier for owners, some body shops are in partnership with rental services.

In such cases, if you don't schedule rentals early, you might experience delays.

The right documents you need to get ready include:

Preparation is key when picking up a rental car from a body shop.

Ask the body shop or rental office for the pickup location.

Is it at the body shop or the rental office?

Ask, don't assume.

Don't be that person who picks up a rental car only to end up paying a fortune for a series of damages you aren't responsible for.

Take pictures.

Walk around the car with the agent. Treat it like the borrowed possession it is.

Drive away, but stay in touch with the repair shop for updates. You can bet it's a wise decision.