The Risk Meter
A simple guide to how much you can trust the person on the other side of a rental.
What the risk meter is
The risk meter is a system-generated score, shown as a ten-bar battery that fills from red (higher risk) to green (safer). It gives you a quick sense of how risky it might be to work with a particular member — whether you're lending your tool to a borrower, or hiring a tool from an owner.
When someone first joins, everyone starts with a rather low rating — this is completely normal and not a sign that a person is untrustworthy. The score naturally improves over time as members complete rentals, get verified, add contact details, and keep their account in good standing.
How it's calculated
The ten-bar score starts from a baseline of one bar and is built up from these factors, capped at ten:
- Completed rentalsup to +4
Successful, completed rentals build the most trust.
- Admin verified+2
Identity confirmed by the Rent Rocket team — awarded automatically once a member has kept a listing live for 30 days if the team hasn't verified them sooner.
- CVS verified+2
Community-verified status.
- Account age (6+ days)+1
Accounts automatically earn this after 6 days — established accounts are lower risk than brand-new ones.
- Phone on file+1
A contactable member is easier to reach and hold accountable.
If you list tools (owner)
Your own risk meter appears on your profile page. Borrowers who open your public member profile can see it before requesting your tool, so a stronger score helps you attract more rentals.
If you hire tools (borrower)
On every listing page you'll see the owner's risk meter next to their name, and you can open their member profile for the full breakdown — so you can judge how safe it is to hire from them before you book.
Important disclaimer
The risk meter is a guidance tool only. Rent Rocket does not guarantee the safety, honesty, or reliability of any member, and a high score is not a promise that a rental will go well. It is designed to help ease rentals and business between members by giving you extra context — not to replace your own judgement.
Always take sensible precautions: communicate through Rent Rocket, use the handover photo checks, keep deposits within the platform, and trust your instincts. You remain responsible for your own decisions about who you rent to or from.