Image Credit: Pexels / Negative SpaceHave you rented a car recently? If so, you might want to check your bill. Several renters are getting unwelcome surprises weeks after they return their cars. Not only are they getting bills for damages they didn't cause, but they're exorbitant ones at that. The charges can run from a few hundred dollars to a couple thousand. Often they arrive long after the trip is over, when a renter has no easy way to prove the car's condition. Some of the bills are legit, but plenty of others certainly aren't.Take Sheilah Williams, a 70-year-old from St. Louis who rents cars to visit family in Texas. She returned an Enterprise rental in May, and no one mentioned any damage at drop-off. Days later, the company called about hail damage. It sent her a $2,000 repair bill and photos of the car marked with circles. After a news investigation from a local station got involved, Enterprise reviewed the case and dropped the claim.Karl Erickson of Seattle went through something similar with Hertz after returning a car in Colorado Springs last fall. Nearly a month later, a $1,300 bill showed up for damage he doesn't believe he caused. It took him weeks of letters and claims before Hertz finally relented. Hertz, in fact, is one company that's been at the center of these issues.AdvertisementAdvertisementConsumer advocate Christopher Elliott calls it the "ding and dent scam," and says it's been around for years. It seems some folks are just now unlucky enough to experience it. Sorting out which bills are fair, and how to fight the ones that aren't, takes a bit of explaining though. And some people either may not be in a position to do so, or they don't know how to fight the charges.Why the Bills Show Up So Long After RentalsRenters increasingly get billed long after they've dropped a car off, weeks to months later. By then, they've got a shadow of a chance to prove their car was in good shape. The Better Business Bureau says complaints against Hertz jumped after it started using artificial intelligence to scan their returned cars for damage. Then customers found it almost impossible to contact anyone for help after getting the bills.Of course, all the companies tell a different story. Hertz says billable damage happens in only about 3% of its rentals. It adds that customers can always dispute a claim, which it reviews with inspection data and human oversight. Enterprise, after dropping Williams' bill, made a point that catches many renters off guard. Under the rental contract, you're generally responsible for damage during your rental, even hail or a hit-and-run you didn't cause. So not every surprise bill is bogus, which is exactly why documenting the car is so important.How to Protect Yourself Before You Drive OffThe single best defense is photos, and lots of them. Before you leave the lot, walk around the car and take detailed, timestamped pictures or video of every panel, plus the wheels, windshield, and roof. Do the same when you return it, ideally with an employee present. Ask for written confirmation that the car came back undamaged. Also note any existing scratches or dents on the rental agreement before you drive off. Those images and notes are what let you push back on a bad claim later.AdvertisementAdvertisementIf a bill does come, you don't have to just pay it. Dispute the charge in writing, attach your date-stamped photos, and ask the company to show exactly when and how the damage happened. You can also complain to the Better Business Bureau or dispute the charge with your credit card company. Both got results for the renters in these cases. It's worth weighing the optional damage protection the companies sell, too, or checking whether your own auto insurance or a credit card already includes rental coverage. None of it is glamorous. A few minutes of photos at the counter can save you a fight over a bill months later.If you want more stories like this, follow Guessing Headlights on Yahoo so you don't miss what's coming next.