Lease return checklist

90 days before turn-in

• Read the end-of-term section of your lease: disposition fee amount, mileage allowance, per-mile excess rate, and the wear clause.
• Compare your odometer against your allowance. If you are heading over, ask about buying miles in advance — pre-purchased miles are usually cheaper than the excess rate.
• Decide the path: return it, buy it out, or trade it. Get a buyout figure and a couple of dealer offers so you know whether you have equity.
• Book the free pre-return inspection if your brand offers one.

30 days before turn-in

• Fix the cheap things: tyre tread below the contract minimum, small scuffs, a cracked windshield (often covered by insurance glass coverage).
• Gather everything that came with the car: both key fobs, the owner's manual, cargo cover, charging cable, floor mats, and any removed factory parts.
• If you fitted aftermarket parts, put the originals back on.
• Check whether you bought a wear protection or excess wear waiver product at signing, and read what it covers.

7 days before turn-in

• Clean the car inside and out. It does not change the standards, but it does change what an inspector notices.
• Photograph every panel, all four tyres, the interior, and the odometer, with a timestamp.
• Remove personal items and unpair your phone; clear saved addresses and garage door codes.
• Cancel or transfer toll transponders and any subscription tied to the vehicle.

On the day, and the week after

1. 1Get a signed odometer statement and a dated receipt confirming what you handed over, including both keys.
2. 2Photograph the car where you left it.
3. 3Do not cancel insurance until the return is confirmed in writing.
4. 4When the lease-end statement arrives, check every line against your contract and your photos before paying anything.
5. 5Watch your credit report a few months later to confirm the lease shows as closed with a zero balance.