End of lease car damage: what to fix before the car goes back
Which scratches, scuffs and dents are worth repairing before a PCP or lease return in Kent, and which you can leave.
Finance companies charge for damage that sits outside fair wear and tear. The recharge is almost always higher than a specialist cosmetic repair, because they are pricing replacement panels and main-dealer labour, not a localised blend in a small workshop. The useful question is not 'does it look bad' – it is 'will they bill me more than this quote'.
Usually worth doing before handover
Bumper scuffs that have gone through the colour, door dings you can see from a couple of metres, kerbed plastic trim, and scratches that catch a fingernail. Those are the items that show up on a collection inspection and attract a recharge.
Alloy scuffs are a different trade. We do not pretend otherwise. Bodywork, paint and PDR we can put right before the car goes back; wheels need a specialist.
Often not worth a painted repair
Hairline clear-coat marks that only show in direct sun, and very small stone chips on the leading edge of a bonnet, are frequently treated as fair wear on a three-year car. A photo still helps – we would rather tell you to leave something than take a job that will not change the inspection.
If several small items add up, one visit is cheaper than a list of individual recharges. Setup happens once.
Timing
Do not leave it until the week the collection truck is booked. A typical cosmetic repair with us is one to three working days, but the diary fills. Send photos a few weeks out and we can tell you what is worth doing and when we can have the car ready.
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