How to use Ringside

Ringside walks you through photographing a rental car at pickup and again at return, so nothing gets forgotten and everything is in one place. A full pickup check takes about five minutes. This guide follows the app screen by screen.

Before you start

You need: an iPhone with iOS 17 or later, and about five minutes before you drive off.
Light: daylight or a bright garage works best. Wipe the camera lens first.
Permissions: the app asks for the camera and microphone (to film the car, with your narration) and location (to stamp where each file was taken). It still works if you turn location off.
Price: your first rental check is free. Unlimited rentals are a one-time purchase, with no subscription.

1. Start a pickup

Open Ringside and tap Start pickup check (or + at the top right).
Tap Fill in from a photo and photograph the license plate, then the rental agreement. You can also choose a screenshot of your booking. The app reads the plate, agreement number, company, branch email and return time where it can find them. The text is read on your iPhone and the photo isn't kept.
Check each field and fix anything it read wrong. If other possible matches were found, they appear as buttons under the field.
Turn on Remind me before I return it and set the return time, so you get a reminder to do the return check before handing over the keys.
Tap Start.

2. Film the guided walk-around

Tap Start guided walk-around.
Stand about two metres from the middle of one side of the car, point the crosshair at the car and tap Set car. An oval ring appears on the ground around the car, about a step out.
Tap the red record button and walk slowly around the car, filming the panel in front of you. Each section of the ring turns green once that part of the car is filmed.
Follow the hints on screen: Move closer to the car or Step back a little.
When every side is green, crouch at each corner for the bumpers, rims and tires. The low shots counter fills in as you go.
Tap the record button again to finish. If some sides are missing, the app warns you, so you can keep filming.

If the ring isn't around the car, tap Re-aim before you start recording. Talk as you film ("scratch on the rear bumper"): your narration is recorded with the video.

The app also saves the sharpest still frame from each side of the car automatically. They appear under Sharpest frame from each side.

3. Work through the checklist

Each row opens the camera. A row is ticked once it has enough photos.

Wheels & tires: all four rims and tires, close up (4 photos).
Windshield & glass: windshield, rear and side windows, for chips and cracks.
Lights & mirrors: both headlights, both taillights and both mirrors (6 photos).
Interior video: seats, carpets, headliner, dashboard warning lights, trunk and spare.
Odometer: the mileage on the dashboard.
Fuel / charge level: the fuel gauge or battery percentage.
Rental damage sheet: the agent's damage form, if you got one.

The walk-around video, odometer and fuel are required. The rest are recommended so nothing gets missed.

4. Photograph and circle any damage

Under Existing damage, tap Add damage close-up for every scratch, dent or chip, even small ones.
To point out exactly where the damage is, open the photo and tap Circle damage. Drag across the damage to draw a circle. Tap a circle to select and remove it, or tap Undo.
Show the agent anything you find and ask them to add it to the damage sheet, then photograph the sheet.

Your circles are saved next to the photo and shown in your PDF report, labelled as added by you. The photo file itself is never changed, so its fingerprint still matches.

5. Check the spot suggestions

After the walk-around, the app looks through the video for small marks that stay put while reflections move, and may list a few Check this spot suggestions.

Tap a suggestion to see the video frame with numbered boxes: orange for possible marks, blue for possible dents.
Go to that part of the car and look closely, from a few angles.
Choose what you found:
- I see damage: take a close-up opens the camera for a damage photo.
- Circle the damage on this frame lets you draw your own circles on that video frame and save it as a damage photo. Your circles replace the automatic boxes.
- I checked, no damage here if it was a reflection, dirt or a decal.

Suggestions are automatic hints from transparent math on your phone, not a damage assessment. They can flag reflections and dirt, and they can miss real damage. Always look at the car yourself.

6. Send the pickup report before you leave

Tap Send pickup report.
Send it to the branch email, or to yourself for a copy outside the app.

The email has a short summary, the photos as attachments and a PDF report. The PDF lists every file with the time, location and its SHA-256 fingerprint (a code that changes if a file is edited). Videos are too large to email, so they stay on your iPhone, ready if anyone asks.

7. At return

Open the rental and tap Start return check.
Film the walk-around again where you parked, and work through the same checklist.
Optional extras for the return: Where you parked (with the bay number or lot sign), Keys handed in (the drop box or the agent's hand) and Fuel or charging receipt. These are especially useful for after-hours drop-offs.
Tap Send return report to email the return record.
Tap Mark as returned. The rental moves to Past rentals.

To see the two checks next to each other, tap Compare pickup and return. Each side of the car and each checklist photo from pickup appears next to the same one from return. If the sides don't line up (for example, you started on a different side), use the shift arrows or Walked the other way round at return.

8. After the rental

Card statement reminders: 30 and 60 days after you mark the car as returned, the app reminds you to check your card statement. Damage charges can arrive weeks later. You can turn reminders off in Settings.
Keep your photos for at least a year. To keep a copy outside the app, open the rental, tap the export button and choose Export rental (.zip).
Free up space: Settings → Storage can remove old walk-around videos while keeping the photos, reports and every fingerprint.
Check a file: open any photo or video and tap Verify file is unchanged to recompute its fingerprint.

If a damage bill arrives

Open the rental and tap Damage claim, then Open dispute file.
Log every call, email and letter, with screenshots and the people you spoke to.
Work through the checklist of common next steps, and use your pickup and return reports and the comparison.
Tap the export button to send everything in one file.

This is general information only. Ringside makes no claims or guarantees about how a dispute turns out, and isn't legal or insurance advice.

Quick checklist

At pickup

Guided walk-around, every side green, low shots at the corners
Wheels, glass, lights and mirrors, interior video
Odometer and fuel
A close-up of every scratch, dent or chip, circled
Damage sheet photographed
Pickup report sent before you drive off

At return

Walk-around and the same checklist where you parked
Parking spot, keys and fuel receipt (optional)
Return report sent, and a check-in receipt from the agent if you can get one
Rental marked as returned

Tips for good photos

Go slowly during the walk-around. Fast walking makes blurry frames.
Mind the light. Avoid filming straight into the sun. At night, use a well-lit spot or a garage.
Rain and dirt hide damage. Note it out loud while filming if the car is wet or dirty.
Use the reflections. Dents are easiest to see by watching a straight reflection (a pole or roof line) slide across a panel as you move.
Get the agent involved at pickup: point out what you found and get it on the damage sheet.

Questions? Email customerservice@fettink.com or see Support.

Ringside organizes your photos and videos and reminds you of each step, so nothing gets forgotten. It makes no claims or guarantees about how any damage dispute turns out, and isn't legal or insurance advice.