Drive too little? That’s a fee. Live in the Bronx? Enjoy your surcharge. Bring the car back undamaged? More and more, that may be a fee too.

Car renters beware: You may be charged for vehicle damage that you didn’t cause, or that doesn’t exist. It may not be a matter of official policy, but it’s your word against theirs.

Laurie Berger reports that more and more travelers are finding repair charges on their credit card bills — often weeks or months after they’ve returned the car. The article focuses on rentals in Europe, though I’m sure the problem isn’t confined to there.

Particularly galling is the accusation that some rental agencies offer bonuses to their employees who charge customers for vehicle damage. (The accused, National/Alamo parent company Vanguard Car Rental, denies that such bonuses exist.)

Most of Berger’s advice is sound, though the takeaway is overly alarmist: “Rent at your own risk.” Come on. Are we supposed to cower in fear of the almighty power of Hertz? How about some more practical suggestions?

To avoid charges, customers should SLOWLY inspect the car before returning it, should have a rental representative sign off on the car’s condition upon return, and should bring a camera and — wow — a magnifying lens with them to document matters. A magnifying lens!?! (You don’t pack light, do you, Laurie?…)

One big omission, and perhaps the easiest solution of all: The article skips any reference to the insurance coverage benefit that many credit cards provide. For example, when renting abroad, most gold, platinum, or Signature Visa cards will provide primary collision and loss coverage, so if the rental agency says you scratched a bumper, it’s the credit card’s problem, not yours. If your card doesn’t have such a benefit, call your credit card issuer (or the competition) and get a card that does.

The credit card coverage offers enormous peace of mind. That doesn’t mean you should drive like a maniac (then again, you ARE covered…). You should still be diligent about checking the car for scratches and dents, before and after the rental. Even if the credit card issuer is on the hook for the bill, you’d still have the hassle of dealing with the charge to your account, the phone calls to customer service, etc. And besides, if it really IS a fraudulent charge on your card, then the rental company shouldn’t be allowed to get away with it.

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