Leasing a vehicle is a great way to drive a dependable, new vehicle without being locked into a long-term loan to purchase.

is a great way to be able to start with a fresh car every few years, but over time your leased car will get dents, scratches, stains, and more. Do you know when these damages go from normal to excessive use? Or, what happens if you get in an accident and the damage is excessive?

Normal vs Excessive Wear and Tear

While every lease agreement is different, there are some commonalities regarding normal and excessive use. Normal wear includes minor paint scratches and rock chips, a few small door dings, and a tire tread worn to no less than 1/8 inch. Excess wear is defined as abuse, neglect, poor maintenance, damage, physical alteration, and use of inferior parts and materials for repair. All the items mentioned are checked during your vehicle’s return inspection.

If your lease inspection determines your car has above and beyond normal wear and tear, you will be given a bill for the cost to repair said items. Having the dealer make the repairs may cost more than if you have an independent body shop repair things before the lease inspection. It pays to shop around before your lease inspection for estimates to repair damages that could be deemed beyond normal.

Don’t Wait

Some repairs take longer than others especially if you have a foreign car lease. Items coming into the country traditionally take a bit of time, but this wait is extended with the COVID-19 pandemic. Be sure to schedule your repairs several weeks before it’s time to turn in your leased vehicle.

When you’re ready, give Superior Collision a call for an estimate on your repairs.