Author: Sergiu S., Rentio · Updated on 20 October 2026
In short: if you have an accident with your rental car or discover damage, notify Rentio immediately on +40 746 678 872 (24/7 support). Then, depending on the case, you fill in the joint accident report (constatare amiabilă) or get the police report and the repair authorisation from the Police. For damage caused by an unknown party, for example the car hit in a car park, the Police repair authorisation is mandatory before you return the car. Without the required documents, the repair costs are yours to pay, even with SMART Insurance (Asigurare SMART).
If your rental car is damaged, what you do in the first few minutes matters, whether you are in Satu Mare, Baia Mare or Zalău. The rules below come from the Rentio terms and conditions, chapter 7 ("Procedure in case of damage").
What do you do right after an accident with a rental car?
Make sure everyone is safe, notify Rentio on +40 746 678 872 and collect the documents required by the contract: a joint accident report or Police documents, depending on the situation.
- Safety first. Stop the car in a safe place. If anyone is injured, call 112.
- Notify Rentio immediately. The contract requires you to report any new damage immediately (art. 7.1). Phone support is available 24/7 on +40 746 678 872, and you can also message the same number on WhatsApp.
- Establish the situation. Each case has its own documents (see below).
- Complete the documents. The joint accident report, if possible, or the police report and the repair authorisation from the Police.
- Check what you signed. You are required to check that the joint accident report and the Police documents are filled in correctly (art. 7.7).
- Take photos. Photograph the cars, the damage up close and the location.
- Do not repair anything yourself. Any technical or cosmetic work on the car is done only with Rentio's written consent (art. 2.6).
Which documents do you need, depending on the situation?
It depends on whether you are at fault, how many cars are involved and whether anyone is injured. The joint accident report is used only when two cars are involved and the drivers agree on who is at fault.
- Two cars, your fault: a joint accident report, if you both agree on who is at fault. If you do not agree, you need the police report and the repair authorisation from the Police (art. 7.3).
- Two cars, the other driver's fault: a joint accident report, plus copies of the at-fault driver's RCA (third-party liability) policy, vehicle registration certificate, ID document and driving licence. If you do not agree: a copy of the at-fault driver's RCA policy, plus the police report and the repair authorisation from the Police (art. 7.4).
- More than two cars or injured people: you call the Police for the police report and the repair authorisation (art. 7.5).
- You hit an animal: you notify the Police as soon as the accident happens (art. 7.6).
- Unknown party: you get the repair authorisation from the Police before returning the car (art. 7.2).
The car has the RCA (third-party liability) policy required by law (art. 4.1). RCA compensates third parties harmed in an accident caused by the insured driver. It does not cover the repair of the rental car when you are at fault.
What do you do if you find the car damaged in a car park?
This is damage caused by an unknown party: you notify Rentio, then go to the Police for the repair authorisation before you return the car.
Do not wait until the return day to say something. The terms require you to report any newly discovered damage immediately (art. 7.1), and the repair authorisation from the Police must be obtained before the car is returned (art. 7.2). The same applies if the car is vandalised. Photograph the damage and the place where the car was parked.
What happens with a small scratch?
Scratches must be reported too. Any new damage, including minor damage, is invoiced according to the damage cost schedule attached to the contract (art. 7.9).
That is exactly why the handover form matters: anything already noted at pickup is not new damage. We explain how to check the car so you avoid surprises in the article what to check when you pick up and return a rental car.
If the car comes back with new damage that requires repairs, Rentio may block the deposit difference on your card or in cash, up to the estimate from an authorised service centre. If the estimate is lower than the amount blocked, you get the difference back (art. 7.10).
Rental car damage: how does STANDARD differ from SMART Insurance?
With the STANDARD deposit, you pay for repairs of any damage that occurs during the rental. With SMART Insurance, your liability is reduced, but only under the conditions in the contract and with exclusions.
The STANDARD deposit means a deposit blocked on your card, 200–400 € depending on the car (for example, 200 € for the Dacia Logan). For any damage during the rental period, including hitting an animal or damage by an unknown party, you bear the cost of repairs, of the car being off the road and of loss of use (art. 2.11).
SMART Insurance is a daily fee (+10, 15 or 20 €/day, depending on the car) that reduces the deposit to 0 €. It is not a third-party liability or comprehensive insurance policy (RCA or CASCO), and certain costs remain your responsibility (Terms and conditions, chapter 5). In the T&C it appears as SCDW+ and it applies to damage established by the Police as your fault or caused by an unknown party, including the car found hit or vandalised in a car park, and to theft (art. 4.3).
Whichever option you choose, the following remain your responsibility (chapter 5):
- damage to rims and tyres: a 50 € service fee plus repair or replacement (art. 3.2.1);
- damage to the underbody (skid plate, oil sump, exhaust, silencer): 50 € plus repair (art. 3.2.2);
- filling up with the wrong fuel: 200 € plus transport on a tow truck, repair and the days the car is off the road (art. 3.12);
- loss of or damage to keys, documents or accessories: their value plus 100 € (art. 3.18);
- excessive dirt or damage to the interior, damage caused by smoking and missing fuel;
- any damage if you do not comply with the obligations in chapter 2, for example driving on unpaved roads (art. 2.5).
And most importantly: if you do not follow the damage procedure, you pay the full cost of repairs, of the car being off the road and of loss of use (art. 7.8). In other words, SMART without a police report or joint accident report does not help you. The full comparison is in STANDARD deposit or SMART Insurance, and details about the no-deposit option are on the car rental without deposit page.
What do you do if you have a flat tyre or a breakdown?
Call +40 746 678 872 and do not let anyone work on the car without Rentio's written consent (art. 2.6).
Keep two points from the contract in mind: Rentio is not responsible for fixing the tyre in case of a puncture (art. 1.2), nor for your losses caused by a breakdown or damage (art. 1.3). If the breakdown is new damage, you report it immediately, like any other damage (art. 7.1).
What happens at return if you had damage?
You hand over the car together with the Police documents or the joint accident report, and the damage is noted on the handover form.
Amounts owed for damage may be collected by card or in cash, after prior written notice, and Rentio emails you the receipts (art. 6.6). The rest of the deposit is refunded within a maximum of 30 days from signing the handover form (art. 6.9).
See also: automatic car rental in Satu Mare, car rental Baia Mare and how much it costs to rent a car in Satu Mare.
Frequently asked questions
What do I do if I crash the rental car?
Notify Rentio immediately on +40 746 678 872. If another car is involved, fill in the joint accident report or get the documents from the Police.
When do I have to call the Police?
When people are injured, when more than two cars are involved, when you hit an animal, when the drivers do not agree on who is at fault and when the damage was caused by an unknown party.
Does SMART Insurance cover any damage?
No. SMART is not an RCA (third-party liability) or CASCO (comprehensive) policy. Rims, tyres, the underbody, keys and documents, the interior, smoking and wrong fuel remain your responsibility, and the procedure in chapter 7 must be followed.
Do I have to report a small scratch too?
Yes. Any new damage is reported immediately, and new damage, including scratches, is invoiced according to the cost schedule attached to the contract.
Can I repair the damage myself so I don't have to pay?
No. Technical or cosmetic work on the car is done only with Rentio's written consent.
Choose your car and deposit option on the available cars page and book online, or call +40 746 678 872. You will find more answers in the frequently asked questions.