Normal Lease Return Process

Normally the lease company will arrange to come and collect the car from your home or your place of work, but you may have to drop the car off at a dealership where you may be collecting a new car. It is possible that the car will be inspected right there and then by somebody with a hand-held computer, they can take credit card payments and can charge you on-the-spot for any excess wear and tear penalties.

But it's far more probable that they will do a pre-inspection... that is, the person who is taking delivery will take a look around the car and note any areas of damage which they think are beyond acceptable wear and tear. This is not the Fair Wear and Tear inspection proper, it is just to note any damage that was there before the exchange. You will be asked to sign that you agree. In theory, when the proper inspection is done you cannot be charged for any damage which is not noted on this pre-inspection because it could have occured after the lease company took delivery of the car... but in practice, they will note down any bad weather conditions or if the car is dirty, as these hinder the inspection and mean that the person who collected or took delivery of the car could have missed something.

The inspection will later be carried out, usually by a BVRLA trained inspector (although some lease companies train their own instructors to their own rules of engagement), you will then be sent a bill, some companies will also send you photographic evidence of anything they have found.