Lease Returns
Lease return repairs
Newbridge Accident Repair Centre inspects and repairs lease cars before they go back, at our sites in Basildon, Dartford and Sydenham. We check the car against your lease company's terms, tell you what's likely to be charged, and fix the damage that's worth fixing before the inspection.
As a guide, the BVRLA's fair wear and tear standard accepts surface scratches up to 25mm where the primer isn't showing, dents of 15mm or less with no more than two per panel and the paint unbroken, and up to 50mm of scuffing around an alloy rim. Your lease company's own terms come first, so check them, and book in a month before collection if you can.
De-fleet packages
Returning several company vehicles at once, including taxis and dual-control learner cars? We remove signage, carry out the repairs and schedule vehicles in and out to keep downtime low, working weekends where it helps to get them back on the road by Monday. De-fleet packages run at all three sites.
Questions
01Is it cheaper to repair damage before returning a lease car?
Often, but not always. A scuffed bumper corner or a kerbed alloy can cost less to repair than the lease company would charge for it, but some charges come in lower than the repair. When we inspect the car, we'll tell you which marks are worth fixing and which to leave, and you decide what we do.
02What does fair wear and tear allow on alloy wheels?
Scuffs up to 50mm in total around the rim, under the BVRLA guide. Anything beyond that is likely to be charged, and a cracked or buckled wheel needs assessing and may need replacing. We refurbish painted and diamond cut wheels before handback and will tell you if one is past repair.
03Do dents on the roof count as fair wear and tear?
No. The BVRLA guide doesn't accept any dent on the roof or on a swage line, the crease that runs along the side of the car, whatever its size. Elsewhere, dents of 15mm or less are generally accepted if there are no more than two per panel and the paint isn't broken.
04How far ahead should I book a lease return inspection?
At least a month before your collection date is a sensible target. That gives time to book the work in and get parts, with a few days spare before the car goes. If the lease company is collecting sooner, still call and give us the date, because small jobs can sometimes be fitted in at short notice.
05What if my lease car was damaged in an accident?
Then it may be an insurance claim rather than a wear and tear repair. If another driver was to blame, call us before your insurer and we can claim against their insurer instead of your policy. Your lease company may need to know about the accident as well, so check what your agreement says.