Returning a Lease - Managing My Expectations
Discussion
I've recently bought an approved used car from a main dealer. 4 years old and just 4k miles on the clock. The paintwork isn't completely perfect. One alloy has kerbing and there are a couple of small light scratches that I could spot easily on a quick walk round. When I mentioned this the dealers response was that it was a 4 year old used car and if I wanted perfection I could buy a new one.
If you have leased a car for 4 years then you've paid a lot of money for the privilege. I think expecting a car to come back with zero imperfections is unreasonable. I very much doubt those things will actually get repaired before the car is moved on.
If you have leased a car for 4 years then you've paid a lot of money for the privilege. I think expecting a car to come back with zero imperfections is unreasonable. I very much doubt those things will actually get repaired before the car is moved on.
ChrisH72 said:
If you have leased a car for 4 years then you've paid a lot of money for the privilege. I think expecting a car to come back with zero imperfections is unreasonable. I very much doubt those things will actually get repaired before the car is moved on.
No lease company expects a perfect car back but they do expect you to take reasonable care over their vehicle. Which is why they all give you a document up front that details exactly what standards the returning vehicle will be assessed to and how much any damage will be charged at. The charges are never for repair. They’re dilapidation charges that reflect the loss of value caused by the damage.
I don't understand why people don't clean the car before handover.
On my leasys car I cleaned it thoroughly inside and out. Again it makes an impression that you care(d).
I never wash a car usually. My latest lease car has gone 3 months without being washed. It's a car. Not a classic car. It'll get washed when it's serviced or if someone says it looks too bad.
It also gave me the chance to go round with T-Cut methodically and to spot anything before someone else did.
I touched in a couple of chips (allowed under bvrla).
The paperwork said inspection would take an hour but the chap was there for 10mins before he knocked on my door. It was gone, zero complaints.
Edit - what I think is bizarre is when they ask you to confirm that it starts and runs. That all the gears work.
WHAT DO PEOPLE DO TO THE CARS IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME?!!
On my leasys car I cleaned it thoroughly inside and out. Again it makes an impression that you care(d).
I never wash a car usually. My latest lease car has gone 3 months without being washed. It's a car. Not a classic car. It'll get washed when it's serviced or if someone says it looks too bad.
It also gave me the chance to go round with T-Cut methodically and to spot anything before someone else did.
I touched in a couple of chips (allowed under bvrla).
The paperwork said inspection would take an hour but the chap was there for 10mins before he knocked on my door. It was gone, zero complaints.
Edit - what I think is bizarre is when they ask you to confirm that it starts and runs. That all the gears work.
WHAT DO PEOPLE DO TO THE CARS IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME?!!
Edited by Hugo Stiglitz on Wednesday 19th June 08:40
We've just returned our Tucson after just under 3 years and 50k miles, I was expecting to get quite a sting on return but was pleasantly surprised at how reasonable the chap and required standards were. I'd had the car valeted to get it as clean and easy to review as possible, regardless of whether this makes it easier to see any damages, it also just feels like the 'right' thing to do when returning the vehicle.
Damages and charges:
- All four wheels scuffed, the Mrs likes to touch the curb each time she parks the family bus. No charge, all were considered within tolerance (Miracle!)
- Small dent inside the rear door shut, this was from the seatbelt buckle being here when someone shut the door. Small paint chip that had a little rust on it by the time we noticed (Maybe a 3x5mm spot of damage overall). Charged £100
- Mileage was over by 8k and the charge was 7.9ppm (Anticipated this and it was cheaper than the higher mileage deals)
- Deep gauge in the black plastic on the boot, just under where the tailgate ends and the bumper starts. No idea where this came from, genuinely looked like a stanley knife had been pulled across it (Maybe 3 inches long, 2mm deep). Again charged a generic £100.
- Numerous deep stone chips and small scratches on the left side from bushes going down narrow lanes and getting out of the way of tractors. No charge, considered within tolerance.
So 50k miles cost me £200 in damages, which is amazing when the main driver treats the family car like she's driving a shed.
Damages and charges:
- All four wheels scuffed, the Mrs likes to touch the curb each time she parks the family bus. No charge, all were considered within tolerance (Miracle!)
- Small dent inside the rear door shut, this was from the seatbelt buckle being here when someone shut the door. Small paint chip that had a little rust on it by the time we noticed (Maybe a 3x5mm spot of damage overall). Charged £100
- Mileage was over by 8k and the charge was 7.9ppm (Anticipated this and it was cheaper than the higher mileage deals)
- Deep gauge in the black plastic on the boot, just under where the tailgate ends and the bumper starts. No idea where this came from, genuinely looked like a stanley knife had been pulled across it (Maybe 3 inches long, 2mm deep). Again charged a generic £100.
- Numerous deep stone chips and small scratches on the left side from bushes going down narrow lanes and getting out of the way of tractors. No charge, considered within tolerance.
So 50k miles cost me £200 in damages, which is amazing when the main driver treats the family car like she's driving a shed.
mason19 said:
mason19 said:
What is the best option for a big dent over the rear wing, fixing it before inspection or just taking the charge?
Nobody have any advice?Or know how much a charge from mannheim would be for a large dent?
i spent over £700 getting my pug drivers door repaired and resprayed before sending it back. big mistake as guildlines have it far cheaper now.
Got "car parked" in my iD3 and left horrible scrapes in bumper. Cleaned, pointed out and not charged a penny as each separate scratch wasn't over the limit; even though there was about 15 of them. weird.
Got "car parked" in my iD3 and left horrible scrapes in bumper. Cleaned, pointed out and not charged a penny as each separate scratch wasn't over the limit; even though there was about 15 of them. weird.
CheesecakeRunner said:
What does their return guide say? You should have been given one. For example, my car with Arval would have these charges for that damage. So I’d weigh that again having it repaired. Also bear in mind they will also have a definition of an “acceptable repair”, and if you don’t meet it, they’ll charge you as if it hadn’t been repaired.
Funded by Santander so they only sent the BVRLA guidelines and advised it will be Mannheim who do the collection…Looking at the above I’m not sure whether it comes under large dent or excessive damage
Don’t rely on my prices. I posted them as an example of what you should have. Those are for my company car lease, so likely have been negotiated. But excessive damage on my chart is for the type of damage that would require a new panel. Major dents, torn metal etc. Crash damage.
Who did you actually lease from? They are the people who should have given you this. I’m assuming Santander just provided the financing. Mannheim are just the remarketer who collect it and auction it on behalf of the owner. BCA collect ours.
Who did you actually lease from? They are the people who should have given you this. I’m assuming Santander just provided the financing. Mannheim are just the remarketer who collect it and auction it on behalf of the owner. BCA collect ours.
Edited by CheesecakeRunner on Thursday 27th June 18:18
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