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Damage charges when returning your vehicle
The difference between damage and fair wear and tear
When your lease ends and you give back your vehicle, you won’t be charged for fair wear and tear. But we may charge you for any damage.
This information will help you identify the difference between the two, and let you get your vehicle ready to give back.
What is vehicle damage and fair wear and tear?
Damage
We may charge you for damage.
Damage usually happens on:
- Doors
- Wheels and tyres
- Bumpers and panels
Check for damage before you give the vehicle back to us.
Then you can decide if you want to get the damage fixed yourself, or wait for our formal inspection. We'd then invoice you for the repair costs.
Fair wear and tear
We won't charge you for fair wear and tear.
This where normal day-to-day use causes your vehicle to deteriorate.
We'll check:
- The vehicle's been serviced and maintained in line with the manufacturer guidelines
- Appearance and condition of the paintwork
- Chips, scratches and dents aren't above the acceptable size and number
Other things we charge for
We may also charge for:
- Lost spare keys
- Missing service history
- Lost locking wheel nut
- Missing charging cable, if supplied
- Damage to the inside of the vehicle
We charge for these things and for the missing service history because it can lower the value of the vehicle.
Understand if there are damage costs for your vehicle
When you hand your car back at the end of your lease, we won’t charge you for fair wear and tear – but we could charge you for damage.
Use our guide to understand typical costs of damage for both cars and commercial vehicles.
Lex damage guide (PDF, 686KB)
PDF opens in a new window
Give yourself plenty of time to cost up different repair options before the end of your contract.
Get it fixed, or give your vehicle back to us and we'll invoice you for the damage.
Video: Getting ready to give your vehicle back
This short video gives an overview of fair wear and tear. It also explores different types of damage.
There are some tips for getting your vehicle ready to return at the end of your contract.
Common questions about fair wear and tear and damage
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Yes they do. We've got specific information on pages 8 and 14 of our damage guide.
Go to damage guide (PDF, 686KB)
You can also get specific guidance on vans from the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) fair wear and tear guide.
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We'll send you an invoice for any damage usually within 10 days after your vehicle's been collected.
We'll take payment by direct debit.
If you don’t pay by direct debit, payment is due immediately.
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You can read more about damage in our damage guide.
Go to the damage guide (PDF, 686KB)
You can also view the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) guide.
View BVRLA fair wear and tear guide
Want to know what happens at the end of your contract?
Everything you need to know about what happens at the end of your contract is in one place. Go to our end of contract page for the detail.