Fair Wear & Tear Guide - Cars

Fair wear and tear occurs when normal usage causes acceptable deterioration in the vehicle's condition at the end of a contract or finance agreement, funders will consider the age, mileage and whether the vehicle has been looked after sufficiently.

Fair wear and tear should not be confused with damage, which occurs as a result of a specific event or series of events, such as an impact, inappropriate stowing of items, harsh treatment, negligent acts or omissions.

It contains advice and guidance that customers can use throughout the period of the vehicle contract. For example, tips on looking after the vehicle, information customers should know at the start of the lease, tips on appraising the vehicle's condition at the end of the lease, and what to expect on the day the vehicle is returned. It also shows how to complain if things go wrong.

The guide also contains the BVRLA Fair Wear & Tear Standard, which defines the industry standard at return for every aspect of the vehicle's condition. 

Advice about looking after your leased vehicle can be obtained from a number of sources, including the vehicle's handbook and manufacturer websites. If you have chosen to include a maintenance and service contract, the leasing provider will take care of routine servicing and if included, worn tyre replacement. If you have included a fully maintained contract agreement, you will be provided with the relevant contact details to arrange your routine servicing. It is still your responsibility to make sure the vehicle is booked in for service and maintenance as per the manufacturers recommended schedule.

All electronic safety features and advanced driver assistance systems that help the driver, e.g. parking sensors, cruise control, lane departure and collision warnings, must be in working order. There must be no rust or corrosion on any part of the bodywork, trim of the vehicle, or on the alloy wheels. The vehicle must be roadworthy, and no warning lights should be illuminated. There must be sufficient fuel (fuel warning light must not be illuminated) or full charge in the battery, if an electric vehicle, to bring about the vehicle collection or return.

The vehicle must have been serviced and looked after according to the manufacturer's servicing and maintenance schedule. The service book, if originally supplied with the vehicle, must be present and date stamped by the authorised servicing agent as evidence that the services have taken place. If the service record is kept electronically, you must be able to provide evidence that the vehicle has been serviced and maintained according to the manufacturer's service and maintenance schedule.

Any repairs made to the vehicle before its return must be to a professional standard by repairers who can provide a full warranty on their work. Sustainable repair initiatives, such as green parts can be used providing they are (OEM) Original Equipment Manufacturer green parts and the repairer provides a full warranty on their work.

Unauthorised odometer changes and mileage blockers are not acceptable. Any odometer malfunctions must be reported to the leasing company prior to collection. The customer fully warrants that the mileage reading at the time of collection is correct.

All vehicle documentation must be intact and present in the vehicle when it is returned.

• The V5C Vehicle Registration Document (Only if applicable)
• MOT receipt and certificate (where appropriate) 
•  Handbook (if supplied)
• Service Record Book (when supplied)
• Any other user manuals supplied with the vehicle when new

The vehicle's exterior must be sufficiently clean, and allow enough space around the vehicle for a detailed inspection to be carried out. The inside of the vehicle should be valeted and clear of any rubbish. If the vehicle contained a smokers pack, the ashtrays must be emptied and the cigarette lighter present. A full set of keys, including the spares and locking wheel nut keys must be returned if originally supplied with the vehicle.

There must be no rust, corrosion or discolouration on any painted area, including painted bumpers, body mouldings and mirrors. Repaired chips, scratches and dents are acceptable providing the work is completed to a professional standard by repairers that can provide a full warranty for their work. Obvious evidence of poor repair, such as flaking paint, preparation marks, paint contamination, rippled finish or poorly matched paint, is not acceptable.

Chips: Chips of 3mm or less in diameter are acceptable providing they are not rusted. A maximum of four chips on any panel, six chips per door edge and eight chips on any forward facing panel is permitted.

Dents: Dents of 15mm or less in diameter are acceptable providing there are no more than two per panel and the paint surface is not broken. Chips within dents are not acceptable. dents on the roof or on the swage line of any panel are not acceptable.

Scratches: Surface scratches of 25mm or less where the primer or bare metal is not showing are acceptable provided they can be polished out. A maximum of four surface scratches on one panel is acceptable.

Unpainted Mouldings and Trim: Scuffs and scratches of 25mm or less are acceptable providing the moulding or trim is not broken, cracked or deformed.

Badges, Emblems and Labels: Badges, emblems, labels, logos, advertising livery and wrapping applied by the customer to the bodywork or glass should be removed prior to returning the vehicle. This must be done professionally as to not damage the vehicle. Any damage caused by the removal of such above is not acceptable. 

Soft & Hard Top Convertibles: Convertible roofs must be fully operational and free from damage, rips, or tears. The rear window must not be cracked or creased. Accessories like wind breaks that were originally supplied with the vehicle must be returned.

Tow Bars: Tow bars must only be fitted with approval from the leasing company. If fitted, a tow bar must be in good, rust free condition, with electrical connections that work correctly.

After Market Accessories: Any accessories fitted such as bonnet louvres, spoilers or body kits must only be fitted with approval from your finance company.

Panoramic Sunroofs: The roof must be fully functioning with no chips, cracks or holes. Surface scratches of 40mm or less are acceptable provided they can be polished out. Inner blinds must be returned in working order, if originally supplied.

Windows & Widescreens: These must be in a condition capable of passing an MOT. Light scratching is acceptable providing it does not interfere with the drivers line of sight and any heating elements and ADAS (automated driver assistance systems) still work properly. Damage in excess of 10mm in the drivers line of vision (a vertical strip 290mm wide centred on the steering wheel), or in excess of 40mm elsewhere in the area swept by the vehicle's wiper blades, is not acceptable. repaired damage is acceptable provided repairs are to a professional standard, repairs do not interfere with vision, and the work is warranted. Windscreen wipers must be present, secure and in good condition so that they can clear the windscreen and give the driver a clear view ahead. The washer reservoir must have sufficient liquid to clear the windscreen. Tinting of windows must only be carried out with the approval of the leasing company, excessive tinting is not acceptable. 

Door Mirrors: Missing, cracked or damaged door mirror glass and housing units are not acceptable. Adjustable or heated door mirrors must work correctly. Camera mirror systems must be in tact and in working order. 

Lamps and Lenses: All lamps and lamp units must work. Mirror scuff marks or scratches of 25mm or less are acceptable. Holes or cracks in the glass or plastic covers of lamp units are not acceptable. Water ingress within lenses is not acceptable. 

Tyre Wear and Damage: All tyres, including any spare, must meet the minimum UK legal limit and comply with the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations of tyre type, class*, size and speed rating for the vehicle. Any replacement tyres must be to the same specification as those originally supplied on the vehicle. There must be no damage to sidewalls or tread, or any cracking. Evidence of uneven wear due to under or over inflation or incorrect steering geometry is not acceptable.  

Over-Inflation - Centre of tyre excessively worn

Under - Inflation - Both outer edges of tyre unevenly worn

Incorrect Steering Geometry - The inner or outer edge of the tyre unevenly worn

* = Tyre Labelling Regulations describe the performance of a vehicle's tyres according to three factors: 

FUEL EFFICIENCY (the tyre's rolling resistance) 

VEHICLE SAFETY (the tyre's wet grip) 

EXTERNAL ROLLING NOISE (expressed in decibels) 

Wheels & Trims: Dents on wheel rims and wheel trims are not acceptable. Scuffs to 50mm on the total circumference of the wheel rim and on alloy wheels are acceptable. Any damage to wheel spokes, wheel facias, or hub of the wheel is not acceptable. There must be no rust or corrosion on the alloy wheel or hub. The spare wheel, including space saver, jack and other tools must be in tact, stowed properly and in good working order. Locking wheel nuts must be available and the emergency tyre repair kit if supplied should be in full working order.

The vehicle must be returned in a safe, legal and reliable mechanical condition, capable of passing an MOT test. The vehicles engine and brake management system should not be displaying any warning lights, e.g. diesel particulate filter (DPF), tyre pressure system (TPS), or oil pressure. If a warning light is illuminated, the vehicle may not be drivable and the collection process may be aborted in which case you will be charged. Advisory illuminated alerts are acceptable, e.g. countdown to next service. Fluid leaks such as oil, coolant and brake fluid are not acceptable. The following items are not acceptable fair wear and tear, because the customer has neglected to service the vehicle and or failed to action any warning messages.

Brakes: Grooved brake discs or drums caused by excessive wear or metal to metal contact from worn out pads.

Engine: Seized or damaged due to running the vehicle with insufficient coolant or oil, or broken internal components.

Manual Transmission: Clutch slipping, noisy clutch or gearbox, or excessively worn or ineffective synchromesh.

Automatic Transmission: Noisy gearbox or torque convertor, abrupt gear changes, or loose gear linkages.

Modifications: Performance modifications must only be carried out with approval from the leasing company.

Vehicle Underside: Any impact damage to the vehicle's underside is not acceptable. Catalytic converters not working because of obvious abuse or damage are not acceptable.

Passenger area, Seats, Headrests and Trims: The interior upholstery and trim must be clean and odourless with no burns, scratches, tears, dents or staining. carpets should not have holes. All seats and headrests originally supplied must be present. Interior fittings such as seat belts, rear view mirrors, courtesy lights, sun visors, door bins must be present, intact and free of damage.

Door aperture, Boot, Boot liner and Luggage area: Scratches on treads, sills and seals that reflect normal use are acceptable. Torn or split floor coverings and damaged surrounding trim panels are not acceptable. Accessories such as parcel shelves, load covers, boot liners, restraining straps and nets must be returned with the vehicle. 

All original equipment, accessories and controls must be present and operate correctly including satellite navigation disks, secure digital SD cards and remote units including headphones, battery charging cables, Bluetooth and other integrated systems. Damage to electric vehicle battery charging leads, plugs and sockets is not acceptable. If originally supplied, both fast and slow charging leads must be present and in good working order.

All personal data such as home address, email and credit card details should be deleted and permanently removed from the operating system. A factory reset should be performed to ensure no personal details are passed onto any future owners. If accessories or non standard equipment like mobile phone holders and chargers have been wired in or mounted on the dashboard, any holes or other damage must be neatly repaired when they are removed. Aerials must be left in place or the hole must be neatly repaired. All driver safety equipment originally fitted to the vehicle must be present and fully functioning.