Facing abusive leasing return fees, a digital solution promises to restore transparency through AI inspection.
UFC-Que Choisir recently warned consumers about automotive leasing contracts, particularly Long-Term Rental (LLD) and Lease with Purchase Option (LOA), pointing out “deceptive” practices. At the heart of the disputes are the return fees, which are often opaque or excessive, turning contract endings into financial surprises. In this context, technological solutions are emerging to objectively assess the vehicle’s condition and protect users.
A technological response to disputes
In response to what the consumer association calls abuses, the French startup WeProov offers an approach based on documentation and transparency. Used by major rental companies like Rent a Car, Hertz, or Europcar, this solution aims to enhance the accuracy of initial and final contract assessments. The goal is to shift from subjective evaluations, a source of conflicts, to precise and shared documentation of the vehicle’s condition.
The company has developed a mobile digital inspection app, accessible on smartphones or tablets, allowing users to conduct, document, and share a comprehensive report within minutes. The objective is to restore balance and trust between the lessor and the client, relying on tangible evidence.
An AI-guided inspection process
The WeProov app structures inspections around a guided and standardized process to ensure completeness and coherence of information. Users are guided to take a series of vehicle photos according to a defined protocol, enter details like mileage, and complete a checklist that can be customized based on the context (lease return, short-term rental, used car sale).
During this process, each damage can be flagged and annotated directly on photos, forming a standardized and easily interpretable file. Reliability is enhanced by AI tools that check photo quality, verify data consistency, and assist users in identifying and categorizing damages (scratches, dents, etc.).
The condition report: an objective proof
Following the inspection, a detailed report is automatically generated. To ensure its integrity and make it indisputable, this document is timestamped, geolocated, and digitally secured. It is instantly shared with all stakeholders (client, lessor, insurer) as a link or PDF file, ensuring complete transparency.
“With WeProov, the issue of disputing fees is no longer based solely on subjective assessments. The process becomes objective, relying on verifiable and binding elements,” explains Alexandre Meyer, CEO of WeProov.
Towards standardizing industry practices
For the company, the goal is to establish a new standard for the entire automotive ecosystem, from fleet managers to insurers and rental companies. By automating and standardizing inspection procedures, technology can significantly reduce sources of disputes.
“The digitalization of inspections, with standardized, timestamped, and geolocated reports, is essential to reduce disputes and restore trust between parties. Today, the question is no longer whether there will be return fees, but if they are justified, understood, and controlled. Technology finally brings this transparency,” concludes Alexandre Meyer.
A French pioneer in digital automotive inspection for over 10 years, WeProov (https://www.weproov.com/) develops AI-based solutions for more than 1,000 clients, including Carrefour, Porsche, or L’Olivier Assurances. Its products, like WeProov Fleet for fleets or WeProov Claim for claims management, are available in 13 languages and earned the company the “Road Safety Innovation Prize” in 2021.
