Returning a leased car: check the bodywork before you hand it back

Leasing (renting) is very popular with businesses and the self-employed, and increasingly with private drivers. You pay a monthly fee and, at the end of the contract, you hand the car back. What many people overlook is that, at that return, the leasing company inspects the vehicle and may charge for any damage it considers beyond normal wear and tear.

Normal wear and damage: where the line is

Each leasing company has its own criteria, usually set out in the contract or in a return guide. So the first step is to read them carefully. Generally, a car with several years of use is expected to have small everyday marks, but the following are often treated as damage:

• Visible dents in doors, wings or tailgate.
• Scratches that go through the clear coat into the colour or the metal.
• Broken, cracked or chipped bumpers.
• Chipped or cracked glass, and broken headlamps or rear lights.
• Damaged door mirrors and loose or missing trims.
• Poor-quality repairs with obvious colour differences.

Why check the car in good time

If you wait until the last day, there is no room for manoeuvre: whatever they find at the inspection will be valued by their criteria. If you check the car a few weeks beforehand, you can calmly decide what to do about each item. Some damage is worth repairing before returning the car; some may not be. What matters is that the decision is yours and an informed one.

A pre-return check, step by step

1. Wash the car and look at it in good daylight. Dirt hides scratches and dents.
2. Go round the car panel by panel: front, left side, rear, right side and roof. Crouch down to see the lower edges of the bumpers and the sills.
3. Take photos of each item of damage, with something for scale.
4. Check glass, headlamps and mirrors.
5. Compare with the handover report from the start of the contract, if you have it, to see what was already there.

What can be fixed before the return

Many typical end-of-contract marks can be fixed without major work: polishing out surface scratches, recovering small dents with paintless dent repair when the paint is intact, repairing plastics rather than replacing them, or restoring cloudy headlamps. For bigger damage, the sensible thing is to price the repair and compare it with what handing the car back as it is might cost.

If you do repair, though, make sure it is done well. A repair with a poor colour match or sanding marks may end up being treated as damage in its own right. On a leased car, accurate colour matching matters especially, so the repaired panel cannot be told apart from the rest.

Check your contract and insurance too

Some leasing contracts allow repairs at workshops within their network or require you to notify them before repairing. Others include some damage cover through the associated insurance. Before touching anything, check what yours says or ask the leasing company. We can help you understand the condition of the car, but the contract terms are set by the company.

If your leasing contract is about to end, bring the car in and we will go over it with you before you return it. There is more information on our businesses and fleets page, and you can ask for a free, no-obligation quote for any damage you decide to repair.