Last Updated on June 5, 2026 by Kristin
Have a need for speed? Renting a car with a powerful engine is tons of fun. After all, there’s no harm in revving the engine when it’s not your own car, right? It’s fun to redline your rental car, right?
Wrong. As tempting as it may be to take your rental car on a Formula 1 sprint, mistreating the vehicle can cost you serious time and money. A TikTok video where a woman is revving the engine in a rented Jeep has caused a stir online, opening a debate about whether this practice known as “redlining” can damage a car or is just good fun.
Redlining your rental car can damage the vehicle, and it can leave you with a big extra charge. Here’s why.
What is Redlining?
Redlining a car means accelerating to the vehicle’s maximum revolutions per minute (RPM). RPM represents the rotational speed of the engine’s crankshaft. The term “redlining” means pushing the car’s RPM to the level on the car’s tachometer outlined with a red line. This indicates the maximum level of rotations the crankshaft can withstand without causing damage to the engine.
Does Redlining Ruin Your Car?
While cars are typically built to limit RPMs to protect your engine, redlining can still ruin your car. One or two times may not render the car unusable, but repeated revving can severely impact the vehicle’s components.
Driving a car at its maximum RPM is especially risky when the engine is cold. This is because the oil doesn’t have enough time to circulate, and metal parts can be easily damaged when hitting each other.
Why You Shouldn’t Redline a Rental Car
Regardless of the risk level of redlining a rental car, the risk of doing it in a rental car is simply not worth it. With technology constantly improving, rental car companies are capable of not only tracking your location, but driving habits as well. While most brands track your GPS, it may be possible for the company to see data about acceleration, braking and speed as well.
Since redlining can do damage to your rental and the company may find out about it, it’s not worth spending time and money dealing with the possible risks. Keep your RPMs within an acceptable range and avoid being charged for damages or fines for misusing the vehicle.
How to Avoid Rental Damage Charges
Even after you return the rental car, the company may assess extra charges for damages or cleaning fees. These could be related to anything from excessive dirt in the car’s interior to engine damage to the car’s engine from redlining the engine.
To avoid damage charges, take these steps:
Drive mindfully: Drive your rental car as if it were your own. Avoid excessive braking, speeding or revving the engine unnecessarily.
Document everything: Take photos of your car’s interior and exterior before driving it off the lot. Snap a photo of the car’s fuel gauge as well. This will help ensure you don’t get charged for any unnecessary damage or fuel fees.
While it’s fun to drive a powerful rental car that’s different from the one you have at home, mistreating it by redlining the engine or excessive braking just isn’t worth the risk. Even if this doesn’t ruin the vehicle, you still may face extra fines or charges if the rental car company finds out you’ve been thrashing the car.
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