Returning a lease car

[Hairymonster]

I will be returning a lease car in about 5 month's time.

The car is in good condition, though has picked up a few scrapes and car door dings along the way.

Will I get crucified by the lease company for this? Does anyone know how they apply any penalties?

Is there a company that will examine a car and tell you what you will get hit by and rectify all the minor cosmetic stuff?

[joropug]

Hairymonster said:

I will be returning a lease car in about 5 month's time.

The car is in good condition, though has picked up a few scrapes and car door dings along the way.

Will I get crucified by the lease company for this? Does anyone know how they apply any penalties?

Is there a company that will examine a car and tell you what you will get hit by and rectify all the minor cosmetic stuff?

My car is 8.5 years old with no scrapes and dings, so I wouldn't say yours is good condition!

I would go over each area with scrapes and attempt a hand polish/t cut to see if you can reduce the number requiring paint. For the door dings, google PDR paintless dent removal, they have the tools and equipment to knock these back out.

I have never leased a car but understand they have guidelines and charge flat rates depending on the size of the damages - My friend had an a5 plastic sheet with holes and ruler marks on it supplied with the car when he ordered it.

[sjg]

VWFS have a standard set of charges for minor stuff.

Look up BVRLA fair wear and tear (BVRLA don’t give it out but the lease companies do) for what should be chargeable - small scratches, wheel dings etc won’t be.

I’ve found it pretty fair, where it has been enough to be charged it’s usually a lot less than I could get it repaired for. I think the wheel charges are still considerably less than doing a diamond cut refurb out of your own pocket.

[Wacky Racer]

They usually go round it with a fine tooth comb, (about an hour) and pick up on every tiny scratch (In my experience). They don't want confrontation with you so will appear easy going because they just want to get away ASAP, until they bill you a week later

Take your own photographs and sometimes you can dispute things and they will knock a bit off.

Make sure it is as clean as possible inside and out.

[MonkeyBusiness]

It will depend on the company.

There will be a fair wear and tear clause - you won't be expected to return the car in showroom condition.
However scuffed wheels, dints, deep scratches, etc, will attract a charge.

I've only had two leased cars and both have been returned with no problems. I have valeted, polished, etc the day before.

Something rings a bell that certain manufacturers (if that's who you leased from) are very keen - Mercedes apparently is one.

[Volvolover]

joropug said:

I would go over each area with scrapes and attempt a hand polish/t cut

I have never leased a car

It shows


I wouldn't start trying that kind of stuff as they check the paint thickness and for re-painted panels etc

[joropug]

Volvolover said:

It shows


I wouldn't start trying that kind of stuff as they check the paint thickness and for re-painted panels etc

I'm pretty sure losing a micron or two from a hand polish will be just fine...PDR is just that, pointless dent removal. Neither of my. suggestions would be negative choices unless the cost of doing so is more than the lease company would charge.

[MonkeyBusiness]

Volvolover said:

I wouldn't start trying that kind of stuff as they check the paint thickness and for re-painted panels etc

None of that happened to me and I've had the front bumper repainted.

Do they really get a paint thickness device out? That sounds very harsh.
Its not as if the customer checks the paint thickness on delivery.

[Wacky Racer]

MonkeyBusiness said:

Do they really get a paint thickness device out? That sounds very harsh.

Yes. Mazda/Santanda

[MonkeyBusiness]

Wacky Racer said:

Yes. Mazda/Santanda

My mother had trouble returning a mint (and I mean mint) Mazda.
She simply told them to get lost or provide an external report and never heard a thing back.

[Evil.soup]

I do understand the attraction to a lease deal, as you do get the use of a lot more car for your money. However, when I read things like this, I do wonder if it is really worth it.

Do you live your lives in perpetual worry that you may get a ding, scratch or catch a wheel? The OP still has 5 months left on the lease and already they are sweating about handing it back and trying to convince the lease company not to charge them more. Add the concern many have over excess miles covered above the lease agreement and there is another reason to stay awake at night.

I have only once had a brand new car and saved up so I could buy it rather than get into a lease deal. I don't lose sleep over putting miles on it, and if I curb it, I don't worry that I am going to get fleeced by someone for doing it. My car is now 16 years old and only has a couple of very minor marks, most people wouldn't even notice, but I can fix them if I want without being forced to do so.

I like the idea, but in practice, it sounds like major hassle!

[PHZero]

Volvolover said:

joropug said:

I would go over each area with scrapes and attempt a hand polish/t cut

I have never leased a car

It shows


I wouldn't start trying that kind of stuff as they check the paint thickness and for re-painted panels etc

I've returned a couple of lease cars in recent years. With T-cut and polish, a touch up pen and lots of elbow grease I have managed to hide a multitude of scratches and paint chips and subsequently avoided any charges.

[Wacky Racer]

Evil.soup said:

I do understand the attraction to a lease deal, as you do get the use of a lot more car for your money. However, when I read things like this, I do wonder if it is really worth it.

I like the idea, but in practice, it sounds like major hassle!

The Lease v Buy debate has been done to death on here.

It is not unreasonable for them to be handed the car back in nice condition (Fair wear and tear excepted)...otherwise you can imagine the state some cars would be in,

[Evil.soup]

Wacky Racer said:

Evil.soup said:

I do understand the attraction to a lease deal, as you do get the use of a lot more car for your money. However, when I read things like this, I do wonder if it is really worth it.

I like the idea, but in practice, it sounds like major hassle!

The Lease v Buy debate has been done to death on here.

It is not unreasonable for them to be handed the car back in nice condition (Fair wear and tear excepted)...otherwise you can imagine the state some cars would be in,

I certainly agree with the fair use policy and cars should be handed back in a good condition, at the end of the day, the car doesn't belong to the person leasing it, it's simply a hire car and the owner is within their right to expect it returned in good condition.

Like I said, I understand the attraction, it just seems to be a bit of a head ache.

[Fusss]

I had a massive scratch on the bonnet due to an unfortunate incident at the tip..... Managed to T-Cut it out pretty well, never picked up on inspection.

[ajguk]

Mine's going back on Tuesday and apparently I have to supply a quarter of a tank of petrol with it. Bit cheeky I thought, I can't remember but I'd be shocked if it had come with one!

[Canon_Fodder]

Fusss said:

I had a massive scratch on the bonnet due to an unfortunate incident at the tip..... Managed to T-Cut it out pretty well, never picked up on inspection.

I had a black Renault a few years ago which someone keyed and I just painted it over the deep scratch with some black paint from halfords and the guys didn't spot it. Try to arrange collection when it's peeing down

Then the last one I handed back - a DS3 - had a tiny little mark on one alloy. The guy put down a £65 charge on his report but also just told me to hit the 'disagree' button on his tablet thing and I'd probably hear no more about it. He was right.

Leasing cars does tend to be more suited to those who - for whatever reason - manage to avoid acquiring lots of little scratches & dings. Being able to park with smacking the wheel into the kerb is also quite handy.

[Hairymonster]

Thanks to those that answered my original question.

For the others, I don't really need your opinions on whether a lease car is a good idea or not - for me it works.

Likewise, if you're here to tell me about your own privately-owned car that you've had for many years, that's not really what I was after.

If you have any experiences of returning lease cars and the condition thereof, I'd be keen to hear from you.

Thanks - HM

[Canon_Fodder]

Hairymonster said:

I will be returning a lease car in about 5 month's time.

The car is in good condition, though has picked up a few scrapes and car door dings along the way.

Will I get crucified by the lease company for this?

You probably will be the subject of an attempted crucifixion OP

The inspectors eyes will light up with delight when he sees all those imperfections. As soon as they sniff one that looks a bit tatty they're all over it like a rash.

Expect every little blemish to be flagged up and for the lease Co. to then bill you for several hundred pounds.

[Stuart70]

Given current used car prices, I would imagine they will be keen to have the car back into stock to sell.
I suspect they are less worried at present about chiselling a few extra quid out of the punters, given margins available.

Certainly my experience of returning my daily hack Golf R during COVID times.