Do you have a leased vehicle? Is your lease coming to an end? Worried about any end of lease charges? If you don't want to be caught by surprise with a costly bill when returning your leased vehicle, read on!
The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) suggests that you fully inspect your leased vehicle around 3 months before you are due to return it to the provider. Prior to returning your leased vehicle, you must take the time to get your vehicle in good condition for its inspection on the day of return. To ensure you don't get lumbered with any additional charges for damage greater than 'fair wear and tear', the BVRLA recommends you do the following:
- Make sure you check the vehicle in a good light so you don't miss any faults
- Make sure the vehicle is freshly washed and dried before assessing, also valet the inside of the vehicle and ensure there are not any tears, stains or odours inside
- Ask a friend to help you when assessing the vehicle for any faults - a second pair of eyes is always handy!
- Closely examine each panel of the vehicle, including the bonnet, doors, roof and general body of the vehicle for any damage
- Check windows, mirrors, lamps etc to ensure there are not any chips or cracks
- Assess the tyres, wheels, spokes etc for any scratches or general damage - don't forget to check the wear on the tread across each tyre to make sure this is even
- Ensure all audio equipment, accessories and controls are intact and working correctly
In addition to the above, it is recommended that you check your provider's terms and conditions in case there is any additional guidance not mentioned above.
We are sure you would agree that the above can be incredibly time consuming and some damage can often and quite easily be missed. It is therefore recommended for you to consult a professional to undertake the necessary checks and carry out any consequent repairs to avoid an unexpected costly bill when returning your leased vehicle to the provider.
