fixed tests

backend/tests/unit/routes/rentals.test.js

@@ -268,6 +268,14 @@ describe('Rentals Routes', () => {
   });
 
   describe('POST /', () => {
+    // Helper to generate future dates for testing
+    const getFutureDate = (daysFromNow, hours = 10) => {
+      const date = new Date();
+      date.setDate(date.getDate() + daysFromNow);
+      date.setHours(hours, 0, 0, 0);
+      return date.toISOString();
+    };
+
     const mockItem = {
       id: 1,
       name: 'Test Item',
@@ -295,10 +303,11 @@ describe('Rentals Routes', () => {
       renter: { id: 1, username: 'renter1', firstName: 'Alice', lastName: 'Johnson' },
     };
 
+    // Use dynamic future dates to avoid "Start date cannot be in the past" errors
     const rentalData = {
       itemId: 1,
-      startDateTime: '2024-01-15T10:00:00.000Z',
-      endDateTime: '2024-01-15T18:00:00.000Z',
+      startDateTime: getFutureDate(7, 10),  // 7 days from now at 10:00
+      endDateTime: getFutureDate(7, 18),     // 7 days from now at 18:00
       deliveryMethod: 'pickup',
       deliveryAddress: null,
       stripePaymentMethodId: 'pm_test123',
@@ -328,7 +337,7 @@ describe('Rentals Routes', () => {
 
       const dailyRentalData = {
         ...rentalData,
-        endDateTime: '2024-01-17T18:00:00.000Z', // 3 days
+        endDateTime: getFutureDate(10, 18), // 3 days from start (7 + 3 = 10 days from now)
       };
 
       const response = await request(app)