When your leasing contract with Flexed is due to end, your lease car or van will be inspected for damage and the mileage checked.
An inspector will carry out a full check of the vehicle and make a note of any damage that may not be covered under the BVRLA Fair Wear and Tear guide. If any damage is found, you will be responsible for covering the cost for repairs.
Also, if you exceed your agreed mileage allowance, extra charges will have to be paid by yourself once your contract comes to an end – a small fixed fee will be charged for every mile over you have covered.
Of course, you’ll want to make sure you do everything possible to avoid having to pay any extra charges at the end of your lease term, so here’s a handy guide from Flexed to help you understand just what the inspector will be looking for.
The following are some of the most common damage issues that lead to customers having to pay end of lease charges:
- Dents or chips to the bodywork
- Scratches and scuffs to the paintwork
- Holes, tears or burns to the seating
- Interior damage
- Wheel and trim damage
- Chips to the windscreen
- Documents or extra keys missing
- Damage caused to a van from the removal of decals
- Damage caused to a van loading area not classed as acceptable
- Damage caused to a van from the removal of roof fittings
A full description of what is and isn’t classed as acceptable damage according to the BVRLA Fair Wear & Tear guide will be provided at the start of your leasing journey with Flexed.
Looking after your lease car or van from the start could help you avoid having to pay extra charges at the end of your lease term.
You will be liable to pay for any excess damage that isn’t covered under the Fair Wear and Tear guide – this will be due for payment at the end of your lease term.
Further charges that could happen at the end of your contract when your lease car or van is due to be returned are excess mileage charges as a result of exceeding your agreed mileage allowance that you signed up for.
It is therefore vitally important that you keep within your agreed mileage to avoid extra charges at the end of your lease term, as every mile over you cover will have to be paid for.
To avoid having to pay extra charges at the end of your lease term, either because of damage to your lease vehicle or because you’ve gone over your agreed mileage allowance, we advise all customer’s stay within their agreed mileage or if you know this might be an issue, you could ask if it’s possible to change your mileage allowance to better suit your needs (please note, this will have an affect on your monthly lease payments).
We recommend you carry out a full inspection of your lease car or van well in advance of the end of your lease term, so that any damage not covered under the Fair Wear & Tear guide can be rectified by yourself.
How to Avoid Charges
Looking after your lease car or van from the start of your lease contract is the best way of avoiding having to deal with any issues that could arise.
Maybe once a month, you could inspect your lease car or van for any noticeable damage such as dents or scratches. Inspect the wheels & trims and check the glass and lighting for any signs of damage.
Try and keep the interior clean and tidy, possibly making sure it’s valeted regularly and look for any stains or tears to the seating.
Clean and polish the exterior on a regular basis so that the car or van you lease stays looking good and keep all documentation/handbooks safely in the glovebox.
Keep the second key in a safe place and remember to return it at the end of your lease term. Don’t forget to remove any other personal keys from your keyring before handing them over and remove all personal items from the vehicle.
With Flexed, vehicle maintenance is included as part of your lease contract, so if any damage is noticed by yourself, it is advisable to inform us so that any issues can be dealt with during a maintenance check.
Our vehicle maintenance includes servicing, tyres and general fair wear & tear cover.
Please click here to find out more about our car leasing services and fantastic offers for both Business and Personal customers, or give us a call on 0800 311 8290.
Drop us a quick email to talk@flexed.co.uk or chat with a member of our team NOW using our online ‘We Are Here!’ service – we’ll gladly answer any leasing questions you may have.
