Monitoring technology could end disputes over car hire damage

Cambridge Consultants claims its DropTag condition monitoring technology could spell the end of disputes over liability if a hire car is damaged.

The Drop Tag Drive service uses a small tag fixed to the windscreen, which continually monitors all vehicle accelerations and impacts to give a picture of what has happened to the car during the hire period.

It uses Bluetooth smart technology and connects to any smartphone. In high volumes, the cost for a hire car company works out at £1 per tag per month with the reusable tags lasting more than a year.

The tag is ‘always on’ – sensing what is happening to the vehicle and relaying the information to the driver and the car hire company via a smartphone app.

In the case of an accident, DropTag Drive can confirm if the vehicle was stationary when it was hit – removing blame from the driver. It can detect low-speed car park collisions down to 2mph impacts.

If no incidents are detected during the hire period, the app will give the driver the all-clear as they arrive in the drop-off area – prompted by a signal from a beacon in the depot which lets the tag know it is about to be returned. The driver can then simply park the car and go on their way.

“We’ve all suffered that anxious wait at the hire car drop-off point as our car is examined for any signs of damage,” said Tom Lawrie-Fussey, DropTag product manager. “Now there’s a way to keep tabs on the vehicle when it’s parked – and to help settle any arguments over who might be to blame in a crash.”

The advantage for the hire car company is that it gets real-time visibility of how its cars are being driven, helping with vehicle maintenance and turnaround times. Safe drivers could be rewarded with money-off vouchers for future car hire or pricing could be adjusted according to whether a customer is a low-risk or high-risk driver.