Fair Wear & Tear Guide
Under the terms of your agreement, your vehicle must be returned in a condition that meets the ‘fair wear and tear’ guidelines.
‘Fair wear and tear’ refers to the natural deterioration of your lease vehicle that happens through regular use over the course of the contract. This covers areas such as tyres, bumpers, windows, and the interior. Any wear and tear that falls within these guidelines will not incur a charge.
However, fair wear and tear does not extend to damage resulting from specific incidents or repeated occurrences, such as accidental impacts, improper loading of items, excessive force, negligence, or misuse.
The Fair Wear & Tear guidelines are set out by the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) and serve as the industry benchmark for acceptable wear and tear. We advise reviewing this guidance both at the beginning of your lease and again as it nears completion.
Each finance company (the ‘funder’) however, also produces its own set of fair wear and tear guidelines which we also recommend you read, as whilst these will be similar to and based on the BVRLA guidelines, there may be some slight nuances and it is these that you will need to comply with.
https://www.bvrla.co.uk/guidance/fair-wear-tear.html
You can obtain a copy of your finance company’s fair wear and tear guidelines either from your Webcars sales consultant or direct from your finance company.
Key Areas to Check
The majority of our customers return their vehicles without facing end-of-lease charges. However, when penalties do arise, they typically relate to common types of damage. To help avoid any unexpected costs, we suggest paying close attention to the following during your own vehicle inspection:
- Stains, burns, rips, or tears on the seats
- Scuffed or scratched paintwork
- Dents or chips on the body panels
- Damage to wheels and trims
- Scratches exceeding 25mm, considering the vehicle’s age and mileage
- Scratches under 25mm where the primer or bare metal is exposed
- Dents or damage caused by accidents
- Missing key sets
Vehicle Return Process
Upon returning your vehicle to the finance company, it will be inspected to assess whether it complies with the fair wear and tear standards. The assessor will evaluate the car’s condition and mileage, and you will be required to sign a returns form. A copy of this form will be provided for your records.
Should there be any damage that exceeds what is deemed reasonable, you may be required to pay a charge.
If you have exceeded the agreed mileage limit on your lease, an additional fee will apply based on the excess distance driven.
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LVC Central Ltd is a credit broker not a lender and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority -Reference number: 718938. We may receive a commission payment from the finance provider, one of our selected panel of funders. Terms and conditions are available on request. webcars is a trading style of LVC Central Ltd. Registered in England Number 3102865. Registered Office: 2 Cosgrove Road, Old Stratford, Milton Keynes MK19 6AF. BVRLA membership number: 2126