Handing back a lease car

[claret2018]

I am due to hand back my current car to Arval next month and wondered if anyone had any experience of the process, particularly regarding wear and tear.

There’s a dent in the bumper which I am having fixed, as well as a small dent above the wheel arch. The body shop will also touch up any scratches etc.

I’m hoping it will go back without any issues as it’s fine really, the only thing I may have an issue with is I put cheap tyres on the front earlier this year as I knew it was going back! Hopefully though this will be fine.

Cheers!

[claretblue]

I've no experience of this procedure but I would imagine that the 'terms and conditions' will require the vehicle to be returned with any replacement parts (incl tyres) being 'like for like' and they would then probably charge you for the correct replacement...check the terms before you return it!

...and good luck!

[CaptainKirk]

I have a lot of experience with this (with different lease Companies) and there is always a bill to pay, unfortunately.

[deanothedino]

the only thing I may have an issue with is I put cheap tyres on the front earlier this year as I knew it was going back!

Never understood why people cheap out on the most important replacement part.

[hampsteadclaret]

Get it in the car wash..and valeted.

Admit nothing.

Mileage?

[theroyaldyche]

Youl be covered by fair wear and tear

[NickBFC]

Only ever leased one car, also through Arval. I did look after it but no issues or penalties on hand over.

[Jakubclaret]

I have a lot of experience with this (with different lease Companies) and there is always a bill to pay, unfortunately.

Agree, even if you left it in a garage untouched, by hook or crook they'd find something to sting you with.

[Right_winger]

Never leased a car in my life would rather own it.

[Jakubclaret]

Never leased a car in my life would rather own it.

I'm same, I think there's more advantages overall to owning your own motor.

[Burnley1989]

I'm same, I think there's more advantages overall to owning your own motor.

Disagree, I’ve done both and with my last car I actually made money buying & selling it at the end of the lease.

Personal preference but like to change my car every 3 years.

[Jakubclaret]

Disagree, I’ve done both and with my last car I actually made money buying & selling it at the end of the lease.

Personal preference but like to change my car every 3 years.

True, I run them into the ground usually.

[piston broke]

Not a lease deal but my youngest has just exchanged on one of them PPwhatever deals after 3 years and they asked her why she hadn't been in to get the scratches sorted as it was their problem. They do own the car.
Might be worth a phone call to check your responsibilities.

[775claret]

I handed a BMW back to Arval in June, and had no problems. There was a scratch on one of the alloys that the inspector spotted but didn't put in his report as he said the rest of the car was excellent.

I've had leased cars for many years, either as company cars or private, and have noticed in recent years that they are far more strict on their inspections.

[Goodclaret]

I handed my first ever lease car back in July and was concerned, as I'd heard some dodgy stories, that I would get hammered. However, no problems at all. I'd looked after it as well as poss but I spent a few hours touching up scratches, polishing and valeting before I handed it back. The inspection took about 45 mins and there were a couple of comments made (scratch to an alloy, missing radio manual!!??) but I heard nothing back. I have another now for 3 years so I'm hoping for a similar experience.

[warksclaret]

I have handed back 8 lease cars and never been charged

Sort out the obvious dents, return it immaculate inside and outside (shows you care) and admit nothing. No need to worry about tyres as long as they are legal. Watch your mileage is within the agreement -they charge so many pence per exceeded miles

[Darthlaw]

Had 3 lease cars through work and 2 between me and the wife. Never had a bill (other than excess mileage) for any of them. That included me sending her mini back with regular tyres instead of run flats.

Look after them and youll be fine.

[Dark Cloud]

Just 3 weeks ago I handed back my PCP car which was something I'd not done before. A guy from the finance company/manufacturer turned up (by appointment) at my house to appraise the car and then drive it away. I was charged for the excess mileage, which I expected as it was over the agreed amount, but he pointed out 2 small scratches and a scuff on the bodywork which he charged for, plus I had not had it serviced most recently due to me intending to hand it back, so I was charged for that too. Altogether they added £375 to the mileage charges. Everything else he accepted as fair "wear and tear" on a 3 year old car which in fairness was in very good nick inside and out.

[Jakubclaret]

Had 3 lease cars through work and 2 between me and the wife. Never had a bill (other than excess mileage) for any of them. That included me sending her mini back with regular tyres instead of run flats.

Look after them and youll be fine.

As a general rule that’s good advice, but you’ll always get road chippings & clumsy people with the doors & shopping trolleys however careful.

[Blackrod]

A word of advice. If you have a dent through no fault of your own ie a shopper or someone with a carry cot opening their door into yours make sure the repairer will repair it to the standard of the lease company. If not you will be charged twice. Unless you are doing under 10,000 miles a year, are confident of gettting no dents which you have no control of or are a young driver wanting a car you couldn't otherwise afford I would avoid a lease.

[claret2018]

Thanks all. I'm pretty happy it will be ok once the work has been done.

In the grand scheme of things the lease was a very good deal so not too bothered about a small charge.

[Rick_Muller]

I had a thread on here (cant find it now) where I was charged over £1500 from Honda Lease (LEX) for damage to the car. After many e-mails and evidence collection they withdrew their request for the charges as I could demonstrate wear and tear was normal for 100k miles and the majority of the cost was for a new driver seat because there was 2" of fraying on the seam of the fabric - this was an issue I raised with them at 40k miles but they insisted that it was wear and tear at the time and would not repair under warranty (I had the e-mail chain for this). The other "damage" they reported to me was caused after collection by BCA (they had found a dent in the door that was not there when I handed the car back) - I could prove this because of the photos I had taken before collection.

I would ensure that you get the car cleaned professionally, and then park up somewhere bright and with good lighting to take plenty of photos of the exterior from all angles. there will be a damage standard that their inspectors will work to - for mine it was dents less than 5mm and no more than 2 per panel would be acceptable. Scratches less than 15mm (I think). So get the inspection standard from Arval and do an "honest" check yourself.

Dont worry too much about the tyres - I had full maintenance on my Honda and they insisted on putting cheap tyres on instead of the decent ones - I argued that I had already paid for them in my contract - I had problems every time I went in for tyres.

good luck

[Sutton-Claret]

I had a bad experience a couple of years ago when handing back an Audi.

He had me laying down on the pavement to look at a scratch under the bumper which was only visible when the sun caught it at a certain angle.
I had a set of 4 'all weather' tyres on - he was going to charge me for 4 tyres because he said they were snow tyres and it was June. I had to point out the 'all weather' text on the side of the tyre and had to speak to his superior before he left.

A mate was charged for 2 tyres when handing his Merc back because the rear 2 were a different brand to the front.

[Stayingup]

I am due to hand back my current car to Arval next month and wondered if anyone had any experience of the process, particularly regarding wear and tear.

There’s a dent in the bumper which I am having fixed, as well as a small dent above the wheel arch. The body shop will also touch up any scratches etc.

I’m hoping it will go back without any issues as it’s fine really, the only thing I may have an issue with is I put cheap tyres on the front earlier this year as I knew it was going back! Hopefully though this will be fine.

Cheers!

It should say on your contract what is required. It does on mine

[IanMcL]

A lease car is no use to a southern based season ticket holder!

[The Enclosure]

Merc are very specific on what size of dent or scratch is acceptable due to fair wear and tear.
You do have to be pretty careful and get any scratches over the size of a ten pence piece repaired or they will do it and charge you.Same with kerbed alloys.