Before handing your keys to a valet, documenting your car's condition is your best defense against false damage claims. A quick 5-minute walkaround with timestamped photos can save you hundreds of dollars in disputed repairs.
Start by parking in a well-lit area. Walk around your entire vehicle, taking photos of every panel from multiple angles. Use your phone's camera in high-resolution mode—modern smartphone cameras are sufficient for creating verifiable, timestamped evidence.
Focus on common damage zones: front and rear bumpers (most common for parking scrapes), door edges, wheel rims, and side mirrors. If you have pre-existing dents, scratches, or paint chips, document them clearly. Open the doors and photograph the door jambs—these are often missed.
CarShake makes this easy: scan your car with a single tap, and the app time-stamps every photo with GPS location and an encrypted hash that creates a verifiable, timestamped record. The app stores your scan so you can reference it later if a damage claim appears.