What to do if you damage a car, boat or jet

What counts as guest damage, what to do straight away, and how to protect yourself with photos before and after a trip.

2 min readUpdated 2 November 2026For guests

Accidents happen. A spilled drink, a scuffed seat, a cracked fitting. If you or someone in your group damages a vehicle, vessel or aircraft interior during a trip, the fastest route to a fair outcome is to say so straight away.

What counts as guest damage

Damage caused by a guest or their party, beyond normal use, for example:

  • Stains, burns or tears to seats, carpets or upholstery.
  • Broken fittings, screens, trim, tables or fixtures.
  • Damage to equipment on board a vessel or aircraft.
  • Heavy soiling that needs specialist cleaning.

Normal wear and tear is not guest damage. Neither is damage from a road accident or incident caused by the operator's chauffeur, captain or crew.

If it happens

  1. Make sure everyone is safe. If anyone is hurt, call 112 first.
  2. Tell your chauffeur, captain or crew at the time.
  3. Take clear photos of the damage and the surrounding area.
  4. Send a short message to your operator in the trip chat so there is a record.
  5. If you disagree with anything said at the time, note it in the chat.

Things to check before you set off

  • Look over the interior when you board.
  • If you see existing damage, photograph it and message your operator before the trip starts.

This protects you if a claim is raised later.

What happens next

If the operator believes damage was caused during your trip, they must report it in the app within 72 hours of the trip ending, with evidence. You are told and have at least 7 days to respond. See How damage claims are assessed.

Your responsibilities for the vehicle, vessel or aircraft are set out in the Guest Terms. The full rules are in Dispute Resolution.

Need more help?

Open Profile > Help and tap Still need help?, then Chat in the app. An automated AI assistant answers first. Tap Talk to a person to reach our team. Or email support@pickupcharter.com with your booking reference. In an emergency, call 112. All the ways to reach us.

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