Lease return dent repair is one of the simplest ways to cut what you pay when you hand a car back. At the end of a lease or a finance (PCP) agreement, the car is inspected, and any damage beyond fair wear and tear is charged to you. Small dents are among the most common items on those inspection reports, and they are often among the easiest and cheapest things to put right first.
This guide explains what lease companies usually accept, what they charge for, and how to time a repair so you go into the inspection with a clean car.
What counts as fair wear and tear for dents?
Most UK leasing and finance companies follow the fair wear and tear guidance published by the BVRLA, the trade body for the leasing industry. Your own agreement or return guide is the final word, so always check it, but broadly:
- small dents of around 15mm across or less are usually accepted, as long as there are no more than a couple on any one panel and the paint is not broken;
- larger dents, several dents on one panel, and dents on the roof or on a sharp bodyline are usually charged;
- any dent where the paint is cracked or chipped is usually charged, whatever its size.
Inspections are done under good light, panel by panel, so dents you have stopped noticing are likely to be spotted.
Why paintless dent repair suits a lease return
Paintless dent removal (PDR) pushes the metal back into shape from behind the panel, so the car keeps its original factory paint. There is no filler, no respray and no colour matching to worry about, and the panel looks as it did before the dent.
That matters on a car going back to a lease company. A respray can leave a slight difference in colour or finish, while a PDR repair leaves nothing behind for an inspector to find. It is also quick: most single dents take around 45 minutes, and the car is ready to drive straight away.
Is it cheaper than paying the charge?
Often, yes. Lease companies price damage item by item, and the charge for a single dent can cost more than having it repaired. Our prices start from £45 plus VAT, depending on the dent size and the vehicle, and we give you a fixed price before any work starts. If a dent falls within fair wear and tear, we will tell you, so you do not pay to fix something that would not have been charged.
When to book
Book four to six weeks before your hand-back date. That leaves time to fix everything in one visit and to deal with anything you spot later. Hand-backs peak around the number-plate change months of March and September, so book early if your agreement ends near then.
How it works with us
- Walk round the car in daylight. Check every panel, including the roof, bonnet, door edges and the area around the wheel arches. Mark anything you find with a small piece of masking tape.
- Send us photos. A close-up of each dent from a slight angle and one of the whole panel is enough for us to advise.
- We tell you what is worth fixing. We will point out what is likely to be charged and what is likely to pass as fair wear and tear.
- We repair it where it suits you. We are a mobile service, so we can come to your home or workplace, or you can bring the car to our workshop in Clifton.
Finance returns, company cars and dealers
The same approach works for cars going back at the end of a PCP finance agreement, for company and fleet cars, and for dealers preparing returned vehicles for sale. With over 30 years’ experience and main dealership approval, we are used to working to the standard a hand-back inspection expects. Our bodyline dent guide explains the trickier repairs that inspectors tend to notice.
Frequently asked questions
Will the inspector be able to tell a dent has been repaired?
A good PDR repair leaves the original paint untouched and the panel back in shape, so there should be nothing to see. We check every repair under a light board before we finish.
Can every dent be fixed before I hand the car back?
Not every dent. If the paint is cracked or the metal is badly stretched, PDR may not be suitable, and we will say so when we look at the photos.
Do you repair finance (PCP) cars as well as lease cars?
Yes. The return standards are very similar, and we repair both.
How much does lease return dent repair cost?
Prices start from £45 plus VAT, depending on the dent and the vehicle. We give you a fixed price first, and estimates are free.
Handing a car back soon? Send us your photos for a free estimate, or read what our customers say on our reviews page.
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