Guest Check-In: How To
Check-in happens entirely in the app: a quick photo walkthrough of the car before you drive off, so there's a timestamped record of its condition before your trip starts.
When you can check in
You can open your trip and start check-in at the scheduled start time, or up to 1 hour early if you and your host are both ready sooner. You won't be able to start before that window opens.
Step 1: Open the trip
From your Trips tab, tap the upcoming trip and select Check In. This launches the photo wizard.
Step 2: Run the photo wizard
Take the following photos directly in-app (not from your camera roll — they have to be captured live):
1. Four exterior angles — front, back, driver's side, passenger's side.
2. Interior — front seats and back seats.
3. Odometer — a clear shot of the mileage reading.
4. Fuel or charge gauge — showing the current level.
Every photo is timestamped and geotagged automatically, then uploaded to Carvia's storage. Once uploaded, they're locked — nobody, including Carvia, can edit or delete them. This is what makes them reliable evidence later.
Step 3: Confirm your ID
You'll see a quick confirmation screen showing the license and identity you verified at signup. Confirm it matches the driver present for pickup.
Step 4: Review the trip rules
The host's trip rules (mileage allowance, fuel/charge policy, any restrictions) are shown one more time before you confirm. Read them — this is your last checkpoint before the trip starts.
Step 5: Host does their side
If you're picking up in person, your host runs the same photo wizard from their end while you're both there. If it's a lockbox or remote pickup, your host doesn't need to be present — they'll have pre-trip photos already on file, dated within the last 7 days, so the car's starting condition is still documented.
Step 6: Confirm handoff
Once both sides are done (or, for lockbox, once your photos are in), confirm handoff in-app. The trip status flips to Active, and the odometer and fuel/charge readings from your photos become the official starting baseline for the trip.
Why this matters
Your check-in photos are your protection. If a damage claim ever comes up after your trip, Carvia checks it against your own pickup photos first: if the damage is already visible in them, the claim against you is automatically rejected. That's the core rule behind our claims process — the burden is on new evidence, not on you to prove a negative. Thorough photos now save you a dispute later.
Take your time on this step. Get close-up shots of any existing scratches, dents, or interior wear, even small ones. A blurry or rushed photo wizard is the single easiest way to lose leverage in a dispute you didn't cause.
If something looks wrong before you drive off
If the car doesn't match its listing, has damage that makes it unsafe to drive, or the host isn't reachable for an in-person handoff, don't confirm handoff yet — message your host in-app first. See Messaging Your Host for how to handle that conversation. If it can't be resolved on the spot, contact Carvia support before you confirm handoff so we can help sort it out.
What's next
Once your trip is Active, you're covered by the protection plan you chose at booking — see Choosing a Protection Plan (Guest). When it's time to return the car, the same process runs in reverse: Guest Check-Out: How To.