When you lease a vehicle it must be used, maintained and looked after according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
At the end of your lease, your car will be collected and the car will be checked over – both general condition a mileage will be checked.
End-of-lease charges only occur when the vehicle, its equipment or accessories are not used, maintained or looked after as originally agreed.
The BVRLA Fair Wear and Tear Guide is an industry-wide, accepted standard designed to protect you and help to reduce or eliminate de-hire charges at the end of a vehicle contract. If you wish to see a copy please get in touch and we will point you in the right direction.
We advise you to check out the guide at least eight weeks before the end of your lease to give you time to prepare your vehicle for collection.
End of lease charges are most commonly for:
- stains, rips, tears or burns on seats
- scratched or scuffed paintwork
- chips and dents on the bodywork
- damage to wheels and trims
What’s considered fair wear and tear on a leased vehicle?
Fair wear and tear occurs when normal usage causes deterioration to a vehicle. This is not to be confused with damage, which occurs as a result of a specific event or series of events such as impact, inappropriate stowing of items, harsh-treatment, negligent acts or omissions.
Always check your car when it’s clean - Give your car a good clean first before conducting the checks so that you can clearly see any damage. You will incur penalty charges for returning a car with excessive dirt, stains or odours. Consider having a professional car valet, especially if you haven’t invested much time in cleaning it over the lease period.
Check in good weather - When checking your car make sure the weather is good. The car should be dry and assessed in good daylight. If the car has raindrops on it, finding paint imperfections and dents will be difficult.
What to check? - Have a good walk around the vehicle, closely checking the panels, roof, bonnet and doors for dents and scratches. Check the tyres, trims and alloys for damage.
Be objective - Be sensible in your evaluation and take the opportunity to put right what could cost you more at lease-return. Use the BVRLA guide and maybe get a friend to give a second opinion to help you be objective.
Rectify damage properly - Any damage on your car that exceeds fair wear and tear should be rectified by a professional.
Any questions at all don't hesitate to speak to your Account Manager.
