Will the rental car company make me pay for less than minimal damage to my rental vehicle?

I'm renting a 2019 Ford Flex and another car rolled into the back of my rental in a McDonald s drive through. The police inspected the car and said it's less than minimal damage. Me and the person who rolled into the back of my vehicle both have the same insurance company. Will the insurance company make the other person pay? There's 2 small scratches and a tiny cut to rear of the ford flex.

First did you get a copy of the police report and does it state the other driver was at fault? If so his insurance will have to pay. Regardless you as the renter will have to fix the damage at whatever cost it is for the rental company to put it back to how it was when you rented it. If you have nothing to prove it's his fault them your insurance or you will have to pay.

If YOU want the damage repaired then make a claim. You will not have the vehicle for several days for repairs (a rental?) but if the damage is super tiny it might not be worth it but it's entirly up to you.

Depends on who was listed at fault.

Some rental companies are proactive in working with insurance companies, and (assuming the insurance companies cooperate), they'll bill directly to them.

Other rental companies don't want to mess with them, and they'll bill directly for the damage. In that case, you'll have to either pay out of pocket and seek reimbursement from the insurance company, or convince the insurance company to pay the rental company directly.

In any case, there's nothing magical about the phrase "minimal damage". It just comes down to the cost of repair.

Take photos and call your insurance company now. You also need to call the car rental firm to ask them what they want you to do with the car.

In most of the USA (maybe all of the USA) the police will not issue a police report when an accident happens on private property (such as the drive up for a fast food restaurant) unless there are injuries or major damage. That is almost certainly what the police meant when they told you there was "less than minimal damage" and why they did not issue a report or write any tickets. That means your insurance company will understand why there's no police report.

That's why I always purchase the expensive rental car insurance at the counter. Someone "removed" the top of my rental Mustang and I turned it back in that way, no questions asked.

Presuming you can establish the other driver was at fault their insurance should cover it

Highly unlikely you, or even the insurance company will have to pay anything. What you describe is what a rental company would probably consider normal wear and tear on one of their rigs. I have rented many a car over decades and never been charged a dime if returned with "a parking lot ding" that was not there before.

You did the right thing to get a police report. If that shows the other person at fault, then you are covered further.

Of course - since insurance is involved and the lack of ethics that seems to abound these days - the rental car company might make a claim to the insurance - seek any settlement, but not get the car repaired. A.K.A. They see free money. It will be up to the insurance company to look out for such fraud.

"Minimal damage" is a Police phrase, not an insurance phrase. The Police aren't auto mechanics, body repair personnel.

Yes, the rental company CAN charge for the damage because the car was being driven by you. You would then file in Small Claims Court against the other driver and recover the amount of the damage.

Will they? I have no idea.

Regardless of what the police said you're still going to need a copy of the police report. Because when you go back to the rental car company they're going to notice the spot and they're going to want to charge you money and you're going to have to file an insurance claim against the other person's insurance company unless you just want to pay for the damaged rental companies are notorious for wanting $500. So I hope you got the other parties insurance information and some kind of documentation from the police because I'll guarantee you that most insurance companies won't let it slide even though it's probably something that they're detail man can take care of with a little bit of Wax. Himself.
If you can repair the little bit of damage before you take it back by all means fix it yourself and you can avoid the situation.