Before the first pickup: the vehicle is your responsibility

Collect the vehicle early

If a tour starts tomorrow and I am collecting a vehicle I have never driven, I want it the day before.
Some drivers collect the keys, take the car home, and leave the rest until morning. I don't.

Before starting the engine I inspect its papers: la carte grise, l'assurance, la visite technique, l'agrément, and the homologation paperwork for tinted glass where applicable.
I check my driving documents as well.
I inspect the fire extinguisher, its gauge and expiry, and open the first-aid box rather than assuming everything inside is still usable.
This is my own working routine, not a substitute for checking the current rules for the exact vehicle.

I then inspect the vehicle with the person giving it to me.
Scratches, a faulty door, a damaged seat: we point them out now.
I make a 360-degree video, identify existing damage, and send it to the person responsible via WhatsApp.
I do the same when returning the car.
That way both sides can see what was handed over and what came back.

Then come the tyres, spare tyre, jack and tools, oil, seat belts and the service record.
One detail beginners overlook is the next vidange: I compare the kilometres remaining until service with the kilometres of the tour ahead.
Learning the dashboard, air-conditioning, music and phone charging before meeting passengers is also part of preparation.
If the car isn't clean, I wash it.
A dusty vehicle after a week on the road is understandable; starting day one with a dirty vehicle is not.
Finally I prepare the manifest as far as I can, leaving the traveler signature for pickup.
The point is to arrive ready, not to figure out the vehicle in front of the clients.

Tips from real experience on the road, not official training or certification. Always check current rules and safety guidance. Terms