What “Excess wear and tear” means
Leases allow normal wear: small scratches, light chips, typical interior use. The leasing company publishes a guide, often with rules like “dents larger than a credit card” or minimum tire tread depth. Anything beyond that is excess wear, billed at the leasing company’s repair estimate.
Most leasing companies offer a free pre-inspection some weeks before turn-in, at your home or work, with a written report.
How it shows up at the dealership
At lease signing, the finance office may offer lease-wear protection that waives charges up to a limit. It can make sense for some drivers, but it’s priced for profit; compare it against your own risk.
Take dated photos of every panel, wheel and the interior when you return the car, and get a signed copy of the turn-in condition report. It’s your evidence if the final bill doesn’t match.
Worked example · illustrative numbers, not a quote
A pre-inspection report, and the cheaper fix
| Bumper scuff (leasing company estimate) | $400 |
| Two curb-rashed wheels | $300 |
| One tire below tread limit | $250 |
| Charges if returned as-is | $950 |
| Fixed at an independent shop beforehand | about $500 |
Illustrative. Some repairs aren’t worth doing yourself; the report shows which ones are charged.
What to do
- Schedule the free pre-inspection 60–90 days before turn-in.
- Repair only items on the report that cost less to fix than to be charged for.
- Bring both keys, the manuals and any accessories that came with the car.
What to say
“Can I get the pre-inspection report in writing with each charge listed? I’d like to decide which items to repair before I return the car.”
Also called: excess wear, lease damage charges.