# Charged for interior damage to a rental car: burns, stains, tears or smell?

> Interior damage means marks inside the car, such as cigarette burns, stains, torn upholstery or a lasting smell. Some rental waivers and card insurances exclude it, so a claim can be for the full repair cost rather than just the excess. Normal wear inside the car should not be charged, and the company has to show the damage is new and how the price was calculated. Photos of the interior at pick-up are your strongest evidence.

Updated: 2026-10-22 · Source: https://scratchfair.com/en/knowledge/damage-claim/interior-damage-rental-car-burns-stains

Most damage checks focus on the outside of the car: bumpers, wheels, the windscreen. Then an invoice arrives for a burn mark in the back seat, a stain on the roof lining or a smell of smoke. ==Some rental companies exclude interior damage from their waiver, so the charge can be the full repair cost instead of your excess.== This article explains where normal wear ends, what the company has to show, and how to respond.

## What counts as interior damage?

Interior damage is any mark or defect inside the car that goes beyond normal use. Typical claims are about:

- cigarette burns in seats, carpets or the roof lining;
- stains from drinks, food, make-up or sun cream that do not come out with normal cleaning;
- torn or cut upholstery, often from luggage, sports equipment or a pet's claws;
- broken or deeply scratched plastic trim, cup holders or boot covers;
- a lasting smell, for example of smoke, that needs special treatment.

A claim for interior damage is different from a cleaning fee. A cleaning fee is about dirt that comes out, such as sand or crumbs. Interior damage is about something that needs repair or replacement. Read our article on [cleaning fees after return](https://scratchfair.com/en/knowledge/return/cleaning-fee-rental-car) if the charge is about dirt rather than damage.

## Wear or damage inside the car?

A rental car is used by many people, and the inside shows it. Konsumentverket, the Swedish consumer agency, says you should not have to pay for normal wear and tear on a rental car. Leaseurope's guidelines for its car rental members add that damage price lists should not be used to charge for fair wear and tear.

| What you see | Usually seen as | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Shiny or slightly faded seat fabric | Wear | Gradual result of normal use |
| Light marks on plastics that wipe off | Wear | No repair needed |
| Small creases in leather seats | Wear | Normal for the material |
| A stain that comes out with a standard valet | Cleaning, not damage | No lasting defect |
| A cigarette burn hole in a seat | Damage | Needs repair or a new part |
| A tear or cut in the upholstery | Damage | Needs repair or a new cover |
| A broken interior part | Damage | Needs replacement |
| A strong smoke smell | Depends | Real cost of treatment, if caused during your rental |

Use this table to frame your questions, not as a legal rule. The standard for wear differs between companies, and the age of the car matters. Our article on [wear and tear or damage](https://scratchfair.com/en/knowledge/damage-claim/wear-and-tear-or-damage) explains the same line for the outside of the car.

## Why your cover often does not apply

Many travellers assume the collision damage waiver (CDW) limits what they pay to the excess. For interior damage, that is not always the case. Enterprise Switzerland, for example, lists interior damage among the items that its CDW and theft protection do not cover, next to tyres, wrong fuel, the roof and the undercarriage. Card insurances can have the same gap: the rental car cover of BIL's Mastercard Platinum in Luxembourg, for example, excludes interior damage not caused by theft or a traffic accident, such as smoking burns or damage by animals.

That has two consequences. First, the company may charge the full repair cost, even if it is higher than your excess. Second, a zero-excess product bought at the desk may not help either. Check the exclusions in your own contract and policy before you travel. Our guide on [CDW, excess and super cover](https://scratchfair.com/en/knowledge/pick-up/car-rental-insurance-cdw-excess-explained) shows how the layers fit together.

> [!TIP]
> Before you drive off, open every door and the boot and film the seats, the roof lining, the carpets and the boot floor. The Irish consumer agency CCPC advises checking the interior for stains, tears and burns at pick-up, and ECC Germany recommends photos or a video of the whole car, including the inside.

## What the company has to show

Konsumentverket states that the burden of proof rests with the hire company to show you were responsible for the damage. In practice, for an interior claim the company needs to make three things clear:

1. **That the damage is new.** It was not on the pick-up report and is not visible in earlier photos.
2. **That it is damage, not wear.** A worn seat is not a burn, and a faded mark is not a stain.
3. **That the price is fair.** Leaseurope's guidelines say companies should give customers evidence of minor damage and show how the repair costs were calculated.

Our article on [who has to prove rental car damage](https://scratchfair.com/en/knowledge/rules/who-has-to-prove-rental-car-damage) explains the burden of proof in more detail.

## 1. Compare with your pick-up evidence

Look at the pick-up report and your own photos or video. Interior marks are often missed at the desk, because staff walk around the car rather than through it. If your video shows the mark at pick-up, the claim fails on that point. If you have no interior photos, look at any holiday photos taken inside the car, such as a passenger shot or a dashboard photo with the seats in view.

## 2. Ask for the evidence and the calculation

Write to the company and ask for:

- dated, close-up photos of the damage, with the location in the car;
- the return report, and whether you were present at the inspection;
- the repair invoice or estimate, with parts and labour;
- the price list or standard used, if the amount comes from a damage matrix.

The [what a damage claim should contain](https://scratchfair.com/en/knowledge/damage-claim/what-a-damage-claim-should-contain) checklist helps you see what is missing.

## 3. Check repair against replacement

Many small interior defects can be repaired: a small burn in fabric can often be patched, and a stain can often be removed by a specialist. If the company charges for a whole new seat cover or a new roof lining, ask whether a repair was considered and why it was not possible. Compare the amount with the [amount check](https://scratchfair.com/en/tools/amount-check) to see if it is in a plausible range.

## 4. For a smell, ask what was actually done

A smoke smell is hard to prove with a photo. If you are charged for it, ask what treatment was done, by whom, and for the invoice. A flat smoking fee is a contract term, so check whether it was in the terms you accepted. If you did not smoke in the car, say so clearly, and point out if the car was not checked with you at return.

> [!WARNING]
> If the amount was already taken from your card, a chargeback has time limits that keep running while you write to the company. Note the date of the charge in the [deadline calculator](https://scratchfair.com/en/tools/deadlines) as soon as you see it.

## 5. Escalate if needed

If the company does not explain or adjust the charge, follow the steps in [how to dispute a damage claim](https://scratchfair.com/en/knowledge/dispute/how-to-dispute-a-damage-claim). For a company in another EU country, your home [European Consumer Centre](https://scratchfair.com/en/knowledge/ecc-and-disputes/ecc-complaint-car-rental) can help.

## How to phrase it

```letter
You charge [amount] for [describe damage, for example a burn mark on the rear seat]. I did not cause this damage, and it is not mentioned on the return report. Please send dated photos of the damage, the repair invoice or estimate with parts and labour, and explain whether a repair instead of a replacement was considered. My pick-up video of [date] shows [what it shows]. Until you provide this, I dispute the charge.
```

Our [letter templates](https://scratchfair.com/en/tools/letter-templates) include complete objection letters you can adapt.

## FAQ

**Does CDW cover a cigarette burn in the seat?**

Often not. Some rental companies list interior damage as excluded from the collision damage waiver and theft protection, so the excess limit may not apply. Check the exclusions in your own rental terms before you assume you are covered.

**Can a rental company charge for a smell?**

It can charge for a real cost, such as specialist cleaning to remove smoke, if the contract allows it and it can show the smell was caused during your rental. Ask what treatment was done and for the invoice, not just a flat fee.

**Is a worn seat or a shiny steering wheel damage?**

Normally not. Gradual wear from many drivers is part of using a rental car. Consumer authorities say you should not pay for normal wear and tear, and Leaseurope's guidelines say damage price lists should not be used to charge for it.

## Sources

- [CCPC Ireland: Renting a car](https://www.ccpc.ie/consumer-advice/cars/renting-a-car)
- [Konsumentverket: Problems with your rental car](https://www.konsumentverket.se/en/articles/problems-with-your-rental-car/)
- [Leaseurope: Guidelines to the Code of Best Practice for car rental (PDF)](https://www.leaseurope.org/_flysystem/s3/2020-07/LE%20RAC%20guidelines%206.5.pdf)
- [Enterprise Switzerland: Damage waiver exclusions and voids](https://www.enterprise.ch/en/support/damage-waiver-exclusions/voids)
- [BIL: Mastercard Platinum car rental excess insurance (PDF)](https://www.bil.com/Documents/brochures/mc-platinum-franchise-location-voiture-en.pdf)