Car leasing concerns as drivers could be charged thousands for dents and scratches
Whilst leasing a vehicle can help motorists get behind the wheel of a new car, they could receive a significant penalty if it is not well-kept.
The vehicle finance company Select Car Leasing has warned drivers thinking about financing a new vehicle to take care in order to avoid significant unexpected costs.
Leasing a car can help motorists fight the rising costs of running a vehicle by allowing them to pay monthly.
However, Graham Conway, managing director at Select Car Leasing, warned that drivers must make sure their financed vehicle is kept in good condition.
He advised: “We all know that cars don’t remain in showroom condition, even for the most careful of owners. This is for a whole host of reasons – from kids spilling something on the upholstery to stones flying up off the road as you drive.”
“There is bound to be some sort of wear and tear if you are driving a car for a number of years, so you won’t be expected to return a lease vehicle in exactly the same condition as when you first got it. But there are guidelines in place, laid out by the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA).”
READ MORE: Drivers urged to buy used electric cars as value depreciates by half in just three years
When leasing a car on a Personal Contract Purchase (PCP), drivers pay a downpayment and then a monthly fee for a set number of years.
After the leasing plan has expired, the driver has the option of paying another larger sum in order to completely pay off the car, or they can return it to the dealership.
Whilst this allows drivers to spread the cost of the car over a number of years, it means that during the time in which a motorist pays monthly they will not own the car.
Don't miss:
‘I’m a car expert – this much-loved used car is cheap to buy but costly to run' [INSIGHT]
Over half a million motorists buy grey cars with other monochrome shades popular [ANALYSIS]
Nearly half of UK drivers run risk of £2,500 fine when taking their car for MOT [REPORT]
As a result, the BVRLA noted that drivers must make sure that they do not dent more than two panels of the vehicle.
To avoid penalties, neither dent must be more than 10mm deep or affect the paintwork, which will require more effort to repair.
In addition, any scratches made to the paintwork must not be over 25mm deep to avoid scraping into the primer or metal, which may cause surface rust.
The company also highlighted that, when returning a leased car, drivers must make sure that the interior has no noticeable damage.
This includes any scratches on any hard plastics, such as the dashboard, and tears or burns to the seats.
Finally, drivers must make sure that the tyres fitted to the car are within the legal requirements, with a tread depth of over 1.6mm and no damage to the sidewalls.