What is Fair Wear and Tear?
Before your vehicle contract comes to an end, use this guide to check over your car and find out what might be classed as fair wear and tear versus repairs you could be charged for. Assess your vehicle in advance, so you have time to book in any repairs, if needed.
All Vehicles
All original in-car entertainment equipment must be intact and work correctly. Any holes or other damage from fitting phones or other equipment must be repaired.
All glass should be kept clean for safety reasons, and so damage can be seen easily. Damage in the driver’s direct line of sight or impacting heating elements should be repaired immediately. Light scratches less than 40mm long and chips smaller than 10mm are accepted as fair wear and tear, anything above should be repaired/replaced, otherwise you’ll be charged when you return your vehicle.
Light scratches and abrasions up to 25mm long are acceptable as long as they’ve not gone through the base coat of the paintwork and there’s no corrosion. You’ll be charged per affected panel when you return your vehicle for any scratches longer than 25mm, or any that have gone through to the base coat.
Missing, cracked, badly scuffed or damaged door mirrors aren’t acceptable. If they’re adjustable and/or heated, they must work correctly when you return your vehicle, otherwise you’ll be charged for a repair/replacement.
All tyres, including the spare, must meet minimum UK legal requirements (1.6mm), have no visible damage and comply with manufacturers’ recommendations. If the tyres don’t meet this criteria when you return your vehicle, you’ll be charged for a replacement.
A single scuff or the total of multiple scuffs up to 50mm on alloy wheels are accepted as fair wear and tear, anything above should be repaired/replaced, otherwise you’ll be charged when you return your vehicle.
Cracks, scratches or scuffmarks on the interior trim or seating that are less than 50mm are accepted as fair wear and tear, anything above including tears, burns or staining should be repaired/replaced, otherwise you’ll be charged when you return your vehicle.
All original in-car entertainment equipment must be intact and work correctly. Any holes or other damage from fitting phones or other equipment must be repaired.
Lights, lamps and lenses must be working with no holes or cracks when you return your vehicle, otherwise you’ll be charged for a repair/replacement.
The spare wheel, all charge cables, jack and other tools, if originally supplied, must be intact, stored properly and in good working order. All issued vehicle keys must be returned. You’ll be charged for new replacement keys and coding, if these are lost or damaged. Don’t leave spare keys in your glove box as this invalidates your vehicle insurance.
If you fit any accessories or optional extras to the interior or exterior of the vehicle after delivery, for example, a tow bar, roof rack or bike rack, ensure it’s removed prior to returning the vehicle and any damage caused by fitting them is repaired, otherwise you’ll be charged when you return your vehicle.
For minor dents that have not gone through the base coat of the paintwork, a SMART repair might be possible. For larger dents or multiple dents on the same panel, more extensive repair work will be needed. All dents should be repaired otherwise you’ll be charged when you return your vehicle.
Minor dents that are less than 15mm are acceptable providing they’ve not gone through the base coat of the paintwork and there’s no corrosion. For larger dents or multiple dents on the same panel, these should be repaired otherwise you’ll be charged when you return your vehicle.
Minor dents that are less than 25mm are acceptable providing they’ve not gone through the base coat of the paintwork and there’s no corrosion. For larger dents or multiple dents on the same panel, these should be repaired otherwise you’ll be charged when you return your vehicle.
