When you take on a car lease, you’re taking on a long-term rental. You don’t own the vehicle you’re driving, which remains the property of the company that provided it to you throughout.
With that in mind, you need to be extra careful to keep the car in good condition while you’re using it. Not that you’d be happily side-swiping other cars and clipping lampposts if you owned it, of course; more that if you cause any notable damage to your lease vehicle, you’ll be on the hook for fixing it when it’s returned to your provider.
To figure out what damage you should and shouldn’t be responsible for come return time, leasing companies use the concept of ‘fair wear and tear’. It’s a phrase you’ll hear used regularly in car leasing parlance. Basically, keep the car in reasonable condition while you have it, and you should be fine.
But what’s considered ‘fair’ wear and tear when you’ve run a car for a few years? The good news is this is pretty clearly defined in your leasing agreement and the BVRLA’s Fair Wear & Tear guidelines. Here’s everything you need to know on car leasing wear and tear.

What is fair wear and tear on a lease car?
The concept of fair wear and tear is something we go into in a fair bit of detail in our guide to what happens at the end of a car lease. In there, we mention the two places you’re going to find everything you need to know about fair wear and tear.
The first is your leasing agreement. The second is the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association’s (BVRLA) Fair Wear & Tear Guide. In most cases, your leasing provider’s wear and tear guidelines will be either exactly the same as, or heavily based on, the BVRLA standard.
Understanding BVRLA guidelines
The BVRLA states that “the aim of the BVRLA Fair Wear & Tear Guide is, firstly, to provide information to drivers about looking after a leased or financed vehicle so that end-of-contract charges can be avoided and, secondly, to provide an industry-wide, accepted standard that defines fair wear and tear on vehicles when they are returned at the end of a lease or finance agreement.”
Essentially, it’s the bible for fair wear and tear that most leasing companies either stick to or go by, which is critical for setting expectations.
How does the BVRLA define fair wear and tear versus damage?
According to the BVRLA, fair wear and tear “occurs when normal usage causes deterioration to a vehicle”, while damage “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.”
What is acceptable wear and tear on a lease car?
Here’s what’s considered fair wear and tear by the BVRLA. This is the stuff you won’t have to pay for (unless your leasing agreement states otherwise):
- Minor scratches/marks/scuffs to the bodywork (smaller than 25mm).
- Minor dents (smaller than 15mm).
- Natural discolouration of the paint due to weather.
- Tyre wear within the legal limit (1.6mm).
- Minor wheel scuffs.
- Minor wear to the upholstery, carpets and high-use areas of the interior, such as the steering wheel, gear stick, dashboard and door handles.
- Minor scratches on the glass and mirrors.
- Windscreen chips up to 10mm.
- ‘Routine’ wear to the mechanical components and the battery.
- Minor wear on any accessories provided with the vehicle.
What is considered damage?
Here’s what you’ll find in the BVRLA’s lease car damage guidelines. This is the stuff you want to avoid:
- Large scratches or chips to the bodywork (above 25mm).
- Major dents (larger than 15mm) or multiple dents on one bodywork panel.
- Damage to the bumper.
- Rust or corrosion that goes beyond minor chips.
- Tyre wear beyond the legal limit (1.6mm).
- Damage or major scuffs on the wheels.
- Torn, burnt or excessively dirty upholstery and significant wear to high-use areas of the interior.
- Broken or missing interior parts.
- Significant scratches on the glass and mirrors.
- Windscreen chips above 10mm.
- Issues with mechanical components as a result of neglected maintenance.
- Missing accessories that were provided with the car.
- Unsanctioned personal modifications.
How to prepare your vehicle for return and minimise wear and tear costs

If you want to avoid wear and tear charges at the end of your car lease, preparation is key. Follow these basics to have your lease vehicle arrive at collection day in the best possible shape.
Start early
Get ahead of any issues you find. It’s generally recommended that you inspect your vehicle 10-12 weeks before the end of your lease. That gives you enough time to act should you find any damage outside of fair wear and tear.
Don’t skimp on your inspection, either, because the leasing company won’t. Conduct a thorough process that reviews each part of the car, from every exterior panel to the key interior fittings and mechanical components.
Regular maintenance
Just as with looking after anything properly, the ‘little and often’ approach is always best when it comes to maintenance. Regular servicing and cleaning will help avoid wear and tear developing.
Set yourself a regular maintenance cycle based on key wear and tear areas (see common areas of concern below). If you don’t think this is something you can or want to stick to, consider getting a maintenance package included as part of your lease deal at the beginning.
Common areas of concern
Some areas of your vehicle are more likely to suffer from issues than others. By targeting common pain points with your maintenance schedule, you’ll eliminate the more significant wear and tear risks.
Here are some common problem areas and how to fix them:
Tyres
Concern: going below the legal tread depth of 1.6mm.
Solution: check tyre pressure and tread depth on a regular basis. Replace if necessary.
Exterior bodywork
Concern: larger dents (above 15mm) and scratches (above 25mm).
Solution: wash the car regularly and check for damage. Use professional repair services if necessary.
Windscreen
Concern: chips and cracks – particularly if they’re in the driver’s line of sight.
Solution: repair any chips as soon as they appear (the earlier, the better for preventing worsening damage and higher costs of repair).
Alloys
Concern: scuffs and kerb damage.
Solution: care when driving close to kerbs and parking. Use professional refurbishment services if necessary.
Mechanical components
Concern: issues arising from neglect of basic maintenance.
Solution: maintain regular service intervals and check/top up fluids (oil, coolant etc.) regularly.
Maintenance documentation
Maintaining a full-service history for the vehicle can be critical in avoiding end-of-lease charges. That’s because most lease agreements stipulate that the vehicle needs to be serviced as per the manufacturer’s recommended schedule. Furthermore, servicing the vehicle at an authorised dealer helps to preserve the manufacturer’s warranty.
If you have both of these areas documented, it’ll help your case when the inspection rolls around.
The inspection process at the end of the lease

Towards the end of your lease, your provider will contact you to arrange a pickup and inspection date. The inspection is key – this is what your lease provider will use to decide whether you owe any wear and tear charges.
It’s often arranged at the same time as pickup and carried out by the driver who has come to collect the vehicle. However, they can also be done a few weeks in advance of pickup, either by a company representative or a third-party inspector.
What happens during the inspection?
The inspection is a full review of the vehicle’s condition. It covers the following wear and tear areas:
- Exterior.
- Interior.
- Tyres.
- Mechanical function.
- Accessories.
Once the review is complete, the inspector will put together a report of the vehicle’s condition, detailing any areas of concern. You’ll receive a copy of this report, which you’ll need to agree to before final charges (if there are any) are calculated.
How to dispute penalties
If you want to contest any damage claim made on your report, you can. The dispute process usually follows this process:
- You’ll need to highlight your objections on the report to your leasing provider.
- A second inspection will be carried out by an independent party.
- The conclusions of the independent review are submitted. The conclusions in this report are considered final, meaning you can’t appeal again.
- If the independent review has judged in your favour, you’ll receive a full refund for the areas concerned.
This is the standard process for leasing providers that follow BVRLA guidelines. Make sure you check your leasing agreement before undertaking any dispute.
What happens if your vehicle exceeds fair wear and tear?
Damage costs
Car lease penalties for wear and tear are fairly straightforward in their execution. The cost of repairs will be added to your final invoice.
Costs will be calculated based on the severity of the issue. For example, replacing a damaged alloy will cost plenty more than refurbishing a lightly scuffed one. Likewise, big dents tend to cost more than large scratches, and so on.
Average end-of-lease charges in the UK for wear and tear sat at just shy of £315 in 2020, which shows the importance of maintaining your lease car as best you can.
Can you avoid these costs?
You certainly can – in fact, the majority of leasers do.
Avoiding end-of-lease penalties starts with regular maintenance that mitigates the risk of issues developing. If you do find damage, you have the option to repair it. Indeed, many drivers seek out their own repairs on the assumption that they’ll be able to do it for cheaper than their lease provider.
If you reach inspection day with problems still in tow, you can also try to negotiate with your provider on the charges requested, but perhaps don’t bank on this being a successful route.
Start your lease off right with Hippo
For more in-depth information, explore our helpful guides. If you’re interested in leasing a car through a business, discover how business car leasing works. We also break down the pros and cons of company car vs car allowance to help you decide. Confused about PCP vs leasing or PCP vs PCH? We’ve explained the differences. And for a closer look at how much it costs to lease a car, check out our breakdown. Now you’re clued in on all things wear and tear, can we help you find a lease?
We’ve got some great special offers on right now, with some high quality used car lease deals going, too.
Not sure what you’re after? Give us a call, and we’ll happily start at square one with you.