🌿 What to Do If You Scratch Your Rental Car in Okinawa

A Simple and Calm Guide for First‑Time Travelers (Ver.8)

Scratching a rental car can be scary. Your heart may beat fast.

Do not panic. Most cases are simple to handle.

Small car scratches happen every day in Okinawa.

Take a deep breath. Follow the steps below. Most situations can be resolved smoothly.

🌿 Conclusion: Follow These 3 Steps

Stop → Call the Police (110) → Call the Rental Company This is the basic order for most situations.

If the scratch is very small and no one else is involved, you can call the rental company first.

If you joined the insurance plan, most repair costs are usually covered. But NOC (Non‑Operation Charge) may still apply.

🌿 Common Places Where Travelers Scratch Cars in Okinawa

Many visitors scratch their cars in these places:

• Parking lot pillars
• Curbs
• Hotel parking walls
• Convenience store poles
• Narrow seaside roads
• Busy tourist parking lots
• Large parking lots you enter for the first time

You are not alone. This happens to many travelers.

🌿 Quiet Okinawa Rule

If unsure → Call the police → Then call the rental company

In Japan, rental car insurance often needs a police report. Without a police report, insurance may not work.

Rental companies have different rules:

• “Call the police first.”
• “Call us first.”
• “We will decide after hearing the situation.”

So the safest rule is:

If unsure, call the police (110). Then call your rental car company.

■ These are also “other people’s property”

• Guardrails
• Parking poles
• Hotel walls
• Store fences

If you hit these, it is a property damage accident. This means you damaged something that belongs to someone else.

Driving away without calling anyone can be treated as a hit‑and‑run. Always report it.

■ 110 vs 119

• 110 = Police (accidents and property damage)
• 119 = Ambulance / Fire

Check the number calmly.

🌿 What to Do Right After You Scratch the Car

1. Stop in a safe place

Move to the side of the road or a parking area.

2. Take photos

• Close‑up of the scratch
• Full view of the car
• The area around the car
• The object you hit (wall, pole, guardrail)

3. Call the police (110) if unsure → Then call the rental company

Follow their instructions.

🌿 Do Not Worry About Language

In Japan, the police and many rental car companies may offer English support or interpreter services.

If no English speaker is available, they may still be able to help using simple English, translation tools, or interpreter services.

Even if you do not speak Japanese, stay calm and make the call.

🌿 What to Tell the Rental Car Company

Tell them:

• Your name
• License plate number (if you know it)
• Your location
• What the scratch looks like
• Whether the car can still move

This is enough.

🌿 How Much Will It Cost?

● If you joined the insurance plan

• Repair cost: usually covered
• But NOC (Non‑Operation Charge) may apply

■ What is NOC?

NOC is a “loss of use fee” when the car cannot be rented during repair.

Typical amounts:

• Car can still move: about 20,000 yen
• Car cannot move: about 50,000 yen

● If you did NOT join insurance

• Small scratch: 10,000–30,000 yen
• Bumper replacement: 50,000–100,000 yen

🌿 What You Should NOT Do

• Do not hide the damage
• Do not return the car without saying anything
• Do not try to repair it yourself
• Do not make a private deal with the other person
• Do not skip calling the police (insurance may not work)

🌿 Do Not Hide the Scratch Until Return Day

Many travelers think, “Maybe they will not notice.” But hiding the damage makes the problem bigger.

■ Bad example

• You scratch the car
• You say nothing
• Staff finds it at return
• Insurance may not work → high cost

■ Good example

• You scratch the car
• You take photos
• You call the police (if unsure)
• You call the rental company
• You follow their instructions
• Return is smooth

🌿 What Happens When You Return the Car

• Staff checks the scratch
• They make a simple report (5–10 minutes)
• They check your insurance
• You pay NOC if needed
• You go to the airport shuttle

Staff deal with situations like this every day. They will not blame you. The process is calm and simple.

🌿 How to Avoid Scratches (Quiet Okinawa Style)

• Avoid narrow roads
• Choose wide parking spaces
• Park forward instead of backing in
• Drive less at night
• Watch for poles near the beach
• Stay calm in busy tourist parking lots
• Be careful with hotel parking pillars

🌿 Many Travelers Experience This

Scratching a rental car is not rare. It happens to many visitors.

What matters is:

• Do not hide it
• Do not panic
• Contact the right people quickly

Most rental car companies deal with situations like this every day. The sooner you report it, the easier the process becomes.

Quiet Okinawa wants you to know: You can continue your trip calmly, even after a small accident.

🌿 Summary

Do not panic Steps: Stop → Call the Police (if unsure) → Call the Rental Company Insurance covers most repair costs NOC may still apply Do not hide the damage

I hope your Okinawa trip stays calm, safe, and enjoyable.

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• 🌴 Okinawa Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors