Vehicle inspection guided, time-stamped and compared.

A vehicle inspection that helps at return describes the same vehicle, from the same angles, at pick-up and at return, with dated photos and signatures. In Flotly, staff follow a zone-by-zone flow on phone or tablet: each photo is time-stamped, geotagged and sealed with a proof reference (SHA-256) when saved. On return, pick-up and return are matched to isolate new damage; the rental business then decides on invoicing and the security deposit.

The six-step flow

1. Open the booking and start the pick-up inspection from the file (or via link / QR code if you use it). Flotly blocks check-in until pick-up is complete.
2. Photograph zone by zone in the guided order (sides, wheels, interior, gauges). Each photo stores time, location and a verifiable proof reference.
3. Flag existing damage on the relevant zone, with its photo, before on-screen customer signature.
4. On return, run the same flow on the same vehicle, with the same zones.
5. Compare pick-up and return: Flotly matches documented zones and highlights what was not present at pick-up (no automatic damage detection).
6. Qualify damage, capture on the deposit if needed, issue the invoice: amounts and decisions stay validated by your team.

What makes a photo harder to dispute

• Contradictory process: the customer sees the shots and signs (or a refusal is recorded).
• Dating and context: capture time, agent, vehicle and booking attached to the file.
• Verifiable integrity: the proof reference checks that a file was not altered after capture (this is not qualified time-stamping from a third party).
• Comparability: same zones, same angles at pick-up and return.
• Exportable file: PDF report, photos and integrity manifest for exchanges with the insurer or customer.

Pick-up and return in one file

On return, you view pick-up zones alongside return zones. Newly flagged damage is isolated; you review photos, validate the amount (quote or internal grid) and decide on a partial or full capture on the Stripe security deposit, then an invoice linked to the agreement. Flotly never charges without an explicit action from your team.

For the full method in a dispute, see vehicle inspection in a dispute and the zone-by-zone checklist.

What Flotly does not guarantee

• No automatic detection of scratches or impacts on photos (optional credit-based drafting aid, if enabled, does not replace staff review).
• No legal certification of the file: probative weight is for the court and the full context.
• No qualified time-stamping in the sense of a trusted third party.
• The QR code per vehicle is optional: without QR, the customer books via your link and staff start the inspection from the booking.

Which vehicles?

• Cars and courtesy vehicles.
• Vans (tailgate, load area).
• Motorbikes and scooters.
• Bikes and e-bikes.
• Professional equipment when a photo inspection is required on the file.

Related guides and tools

• Full vehicle inspection checklist
• Free inspection template
• Security deposit: hold, capture, release
• Security and proof integrity