What Damage Is Unacceptable When Returning a PCP or Lease Car? (And How to Avoid Charges)
Not every scratch, dent or scuff will result in a charge when you hand your car back. Finance and leasing companies allow for a degree of fair wear and tear, but damage beyond their permitted limits may result in additional charges. Many UK leasing companies follow the BVRLA (British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association) Fair Wear and Tear standard, although some finance providers apply their own criteria.
The difficulty is that those limits can be surprisingly strict. A mark that looks minor to you, the sort you stopped noticing months ago, may fall outside the return standards set by your finance provider. And you often won’t find out until the inspection report lands with a price attached.
Here are the areas worth checking before you hand the keys back.
Scratches and Scuffs
As a general guide, scratches or scuffs longer than approximately 25mm may fall outside some vehicle-return standards. Damage is far more likely to be rejected if the scratch has gone through the paintwork and exposed the primer or bare metal.
Pay particular attention to:
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Scratches on doors, wings and bumpers
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Scuffs around bumper corners and parking contact points
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Scratches that cannot be removed by polishing
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Any damage where the paint has been broken through to the underlying surface
A scratch can look insignificant and still need a proper paint repair to restore the finish. Where the damage is localised, a SMART repair may cost considerably less than a more extensive bodyshop repair, depending on the damage and the repair method required.
Dents in Body Panels
Dents are another common source of unexpected handback charges.
A dent of any size may be unacceptable if the paintwork is cracked or broken. For shallow dents where the paint is intact, some providers use size limits in the region of 15mm to 25mm, although the exact threshold depends on their guidelines.
Check the doors, wings, bonnet and rear quarter panels carefully, particularly for small car park dents and damage along prominent body lines. These are easy to miss in poor light and very easy for an inspector to find.
Where the paint is undamaged, Paintless Dent Removal (PDR) may be possible. If the paint has cracked or chipped, a conventional paint repair may also be needed.
Scuffed or Kerbed Alloy Wheels
Alloy wheels are another common reason for a handback charge. Kerbing, scuffing and gouges around the wheel edges can fall outside permitted limits, and some providers apply particularly strict standards.
Inspect all four wheels, paying close attention to the outer rims where kerb contact is most likely. Don’t assume a small mark will be waved through. If you’re unsure, check your provider’s wheel-damage criteria and get a quotation.
Why Checking Beforehand Can Save You Money
Once the inspector has recorded the damage, you’re dealing with the finance company’s assessment and pricing, rather than choosing your own repairer beforehand.
Depending on the provider’s assessment and charging process, the cost may reflect its repair network’s labour rates, more extensive repair methods or additional fees where applicable. Damage may also be itemised, meaning several small marks can quickly add up to a surprisingly expensive invoice.
The measurements above are useful indicators, but they are not universal rules. The limits that apply depend on your finance or leasing company and its return standards. Before paying for any work, check your agreement’s return guidelines. If the damage appears to exceed the permitted limits, get a quotation from a repair specialist before handback. It can often work out cheaper than accepting the resulting charge, and the trick is knowing what actually needs repairing before you spend a penny.
It’s also important to ensure that any repair is completed to a good standard. A poor-quality repair may itself be questioned during the inspection, potentially leaving you with another problem to resolve.
Bring Your Car to Bumps and Scrapes First
At Bumps and Scrapes Auto Body Repair, we specialise in scratches, bumper scuffs and minor dents. If your PCP or lease car is approaching its return date, we can assess the damage, explain your repair options and give you an honest quotation.
We’ll tell you what’s worth fixing and what may be acceptable as fair wear and tear, so you can make an informed decision before your vehicle goes back.
You don’t need to spend money repairing every little mark. But if damage is likely to attract a charge, it’s worth knowing what it would cost to put right before you hand the keys back.
Ready for a quick assessment? Pop by our workshop in Allostock, just a short drive from Holmes Chapel and Knutsford, or send us a quick photo of the damage via WhatsApp or email for an initial quote before you return your car. You choose the repairer, know the price in advance, and can make an informed decision before the handback inspection.