Normal wear vs chargeable damage
| Item | Usually treated as normal | Usually treated as chargeable |
|---|---|---|
| Paint | Small chips and light scratches | Dents, deep scratches through the paint, panel damage |
| Tyres | Even wear above the contract's minimum tread depth | Below minimum tread, mismatched or damaged tyres |
| Glass | Tiny pits from road use | Cracks or chips in the driver's line of sight |
| Interior | Light seat and carpet wear | Tears, burns, permanent staining, missing trim |
| Wheels | Light scuffing on the rim edge | Bent, cracked, or heavily gouged wheels |
Itemised beats lump sum
A line that reads "Right rear door dent — $310" can be checked: you can look at the inspection photo, compare it against the brand's wear standard, and get your own repair quote. A line that reads "Excess wear and tear — $1,450" tells you nothing. Ask for the inspection report, the photographs, and a per-item breakdown before paying an unitemised total.
How to dispute, step by step
- 1Request the full condition report with photographs and a per-item cost breakdown, in writing.
- 2Compare each item against your brand's published wear-and-use standards and the wear clause in your lease.
- 3Get one or two independent repair quotes for items you think are overpriced.
- 4Reply in writing, item by item, saying which charges you accept and which you are asking them to document or reconsider — and keep every reply.
- 5If a charge stays unresolved, escalate to the lender's customer relations team and keep paying anything you do not dispute so the account stays current.
Two practical points. First, a pre-return inspection (many brands offer one free, weeks before turn-in) lets you fix cheap items yourself instead of paying the lender's repair pricing. Second, repairing something badly can cost more than leaving it — poor paintwork often gets charged anyway.
Wear-charge review
- Is every wear charge itemised with its own amount?
- Did you receive the inspection report and photographs?
- Does each item exceed the threshold in the brand's wear standards, or is it borderline?
- Is the same damage charged twice under different wording?
- Are the repair prices close to independent quotes you obtained?
- Did you reply in writing rather than by phone only?
This page describes common industry practice for orientation only. It is not legal advice and does not assert that any particular charge is improper — your contract and the brand's published standards decide that.