Usually accepted as normal
Fine wash marks, small stone chips at the front, light signs of use in the interior, normal tyre wear within the permitted range.
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Three years went well, and then the account arrives: several thousand euros for scratches, stone chips and tread depth. Anyone who prepares for the return stands considerably better in that discussion.
A leased vehicle is there to be used – and use leaves traces. What matters is the distinction between wear in accordance with the contract, which the leasing instalments already cover, and excessive wear, which the lessee has to pay for.
The benchmark in practice is the return standard set out in the joint recommendation of vehicle manufacturers, leasing companies and industry associations. For each component it describes what still counts as normal and what does not.
The problem: the assessment is as a rule carried out by an inspector instructed by the lessor. That assessment is not neutral – and rarely in your favour.
Fine wash marks, small stone chips at the front, light signs of use in the interior, normal tyre wear within the permitted range.
Dents with paint damage, scratches through to the metal, cracked plastic, burn holes, damaged wheel rims, tread depth below the limit.
Repainting entire panels for a single scratch, new part prices instead of repair, incidental costs charged twice.
The most effective step is your own report before the return. It documents the condition at a point when the vehicle is still in your hands.
If an additional demand follows, it can then be compared item by item. What your own report assessed as contractual wear is considerably harder to charge as damage. Often simply mentioning that a report exists is enough for the demand to shrink.
If the lessor offers you the chance to buy the vehicle, the price asked is not automatically fair. The residual value calculated in the lease contract often has little to do with the actual market value after three years.
An independent valuation shows whether taking it over adds up – and gives you the arguments to discuss the price. On sought-after models the market value sometimes lies well above the residual value; then buying it is a good deal.
In both cases the same holds: knowing the figures changes how you negotiate.
A report before the return date costs a fraction of what an excessive demand costs.
Head office in Schramberg-Sulgen, branch office in Rottweil. For the damage inspection we come to you in any case – on site, at the workshop or at your home.
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