Rental and company cars add an extra layer to a trunk lockout that a privately owned car does not usually involve: the person calling is often not the vehicle's registered owner, and the key in hand may or may not be the full key set. Being prepared with the right information and documents before calling makes the whole process quicker and avoids delays once our technician arrives.
Why Authorisation Matters More With Rental and Company Vehicles
Because rental and company cars are used by people who are not the registered owner, our technician takes verifying authorisation seriously before carrying out any work on the trunk or any other part of the vehicle. This protects the vehicle owner, the rental company, and the driver, and it is a standard part of any vehicle access request, not something specific to trunk lockouts.
What to Have Ready if You Are Driving a Rental Car
- Your rental agreement, which confirms you as the authorised driver of the specific vehicle.
- A valid driving licence matching the name on the rental agreement.
- The rental company's contact details, in case our technician needs to confirm anything directly with them.
- Any documentation or notes about the key you were issued, including whether you were told it was a valet or limited-access key.
What to Have Ready if You Are Driving a Company or Fleet Vehicle
- Company identification confirming your employment or role.
- Contact details for the fleet manager or whoever is responsible for the vehicle, in case confirmation is needed.
- Any written authorisation, email, or internal system record confirming you are assigned to or permitted to use the vehicle.
- Details of the key you currently have, since company vehicles sometimes use limited-access keys for drivers who are not the primary user.
If You Cannot Reach the Owner or Manager Immediately
If the rental company or fleet manager cannot be reached straight away, our technician will assess what documentation and information is available and make a judgement about whether that is sufficient before proceeding. Having as much as possible ready in advance, even partial information, gives the visit the best chance of moving forward without delay.
Understanding What Key You Have Before the Visit
It is worth checking in advance whether the key you were issued is the full key or a valet or limited-access key, since this can explain a trunk that will not open without there being any fault at all. Our article on split key and valet key systems explains how to tell the difference and what your options are if you only have the limited key.
What Happens During the Visit
Once authorisation has been confirmed, our technician assesses the trunk release and lock mechanism fitted to the vehicle before choosing an approach, starting with the option least likely to cause damage. If the underlying issue turns out to be a key limitation rather than a fault, this will be explained clearly, along with what your options are for getting proper access going forward, such as contacting the rental company or fleet manager for the full key.
What Happens After Access Is Restored
Once the trunk is open, our technician will let you know what they found, whether that was a genuine fault, a limited key, or something else, so you have a clear picture of the situation. If a genuine fault is identified, it is worth passing this information on to the rental company or fleet manager, since it may need to be logged or addressed before the vehicle is issued to the next driver.
Reducing the Risk of This Happening Again on a Future Rental
If you rent or use company vehicles regularly, it is worth making a habit of confirming trunk access as part of your normal vehicle check when picking up a car, alongside the usual checks for existing damage or fuel level. A quick test of the trunk release at the start of a rental period, rather than discovering an issue when you actually need it, can save an unnecessary callout later on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the rental company be involved in the visit?
Not necessarily. Our technician can often assess and resolve the situation directly, but having the rental company's contact details ready is useful if further confirmation is needed.
What if I am not listed as an authorised driver on the rental agreement?
This is something our technician will need to consider carefully, and may involve contacting the rental company directly to confirm your situation before proceeding.
Does this process take longer than a lockout on my own car?
It can take a little longer where authorisation needs to be confirmed with a third party such as a rental company or fleet manager, which is exactly why having the relevant documents ready in advance helps the visit move as quickly as possible.
Next Steps
For the full detail on our trunk lockout service, see our car trunk lockout service page. Our rental car lockout and company and fleet vehicle lockout pages cover the wider access questions for these vehicles beyond the trunk specifically. To arrange a visit, call +971 55 222 1098, message us on WhatsApp, or use our online booking.
