I would not recommend renting a golf cart from Beach Planet on Dauphin Island.
When we picked up our golf cart, they had us inspect it before leaving. Like most customers, we assumed this was primarily to make sure the cart was safe to operate, not to document every tiny cosmetic imperfection. There were no safety issues, and we weren't given any checklist or documentation showing the cart's condition before we took possession.
When we returned the cart, they pointed out a small scratch and charged us an additional $110. We explained that we did not cause the damage and asked if they had any photos or records showing the cart was scratch-free before we rented it. Their response was simply, "No, we let y'all inspect it."
Expecting customers to identify and document every minor cosmetic blemish without providing a condition report, photos, or any record of the cart's pre-rental condition is not a fair business practice. If a company is going to charge customers for damage, they should also have a documented inspection process to establish the condition of the equipment before and after each rental.
Our experience left us feeling like the burden of proof was placed entirely on the customer. I would encourage anyone renting from Beach Planet to thoroughly photograph and video every inch of the golf cart before leaving, or consider renting from another company that has a more transparent and documented damage policy.
However, we had a fun time with the golf cart. read more