At the end of the contract your vehicle will be returned to the leasing company and assessed to determine whether the vehicle meets the agreed returned condition.
Fair wear and tear occurs when normal usage causes deterioration to a vehicle. It is not to be confused with damage which occurs as a result of a specific event or series of events such as impact, inappropriate stowing of items, harsh-treatment, negligent acts or omissions.
End-of lease charges occur when the vehicle, its equipment or accessories are not used, maintained or looked after as originally agreed at the start of the lease. The charges compensate the leasing company for the cost of rectifying damage or missing items such as keys or service history.
They can still be applied at the end of lease in cases where the leasing company decides for commercial reasons not to repair damage, replace missing equipment, etc, before the vehicle is sold.
Customers are not charged at end of lease for any refurbishment that arises from normal wear and tear.
Customers can arrange to repair any damage that's outside the agreed returned standard before returning the vehicle, provided the repairs are carried out to a professional standard by a reputable repairer who can provide a full transferable warranty on the work.
Before your vehicle is due back to the leasing company consider the following:
Understand the standard - You should request a copy of the BVRLA industry standard from your leasing company. Alternatively you can order a hard copy direct for a small charge (download order form here).
Appraising your vehicle - This will identify any damage that does not constitute fair wear and tear and requires repair. Use the BVRLA Fair Wear and Tear Guide and these key tips when appraising your vehicle:
Gain an understanding of the collection procedures - You must be advised what to expect when the vehicle is collected. Some leasing companies may arrange a full vehicle inspection and condition report when the vehicle is collected. Other leasing companies will collect the vehicle and complete the full inspection later at the leasing company's nominated site. It is recommended that you are present when the vehicle is collected.
At collection, you and the representative from the leasing company must check and agree on the vehicle's condition. All readily apparent damage to the vehicle will be noted on the vehicle collection sheet and both parties should sign the documentation or hand-held device.
In the event of a dispute about the condition or damage to the vehicle, customers have the right to pay for an examination of the evidence by an independent qualified engineer, eg an engineer who is unrelated to the original inspection and agreed by both parties. The engineer's decision will be binding on both the customer and the BVRLA member. If the engineer finds in the customer's favour, the BVRLA member will refund the reasonable cost of the examination to the customer.
On occasion, disagreements will arise between customers and BVRLA members which cannot be settled directly. Unresolved disputes can be referred to the Association by the customer and/or the member involved. More information on the BVRLA's conciliation service is available here.
For more information, call us on 01494 434747 or email info@bvrla.co.uk.