For those of you who have leased a car (PCH)

[mattpj]

What was handing it back like?

I want to know the reality of how awkward a lender can be when the car is returned with reasonable wear and tear.

Any horror stories or indeed success stories welcomed.

Along with how much you hate/love leasing if you fancy

 

[crazyDAJT]

The lease company should send you there fair use ware and tear in line with British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association’s (BVRLA) guidelines.

You normally have a small damage waver for things outside these limits.

The odd chip or dent isn’t an issue.

My experience has always been straight forward.

Edit: in terms of pick up, they turn up, spend 20-30 mins looking at the car then get you to sign the report.

 

[g60dubster]

Had quite a few and never had any issues when returning. But I treated them like a car I owned, so there was never any issues outside the guidelines for them to challenge.
Get the guidelines issues by the lender and the leasing association. It's surprising what they allow without charge and some things are cheaper to take the charge than get fixed.
Some lenders (VWFS for example) publish a table of charges so you can see what the best option is.

One tip - clean it and don't leave it on fumes - let the assessor have some fuel to get back to the depot.

I do remember last year a colleague who I had told of a really good deal handed back a 4 year lease, 2 tyres under legal tread, service light on the dash and filthy. Got hammered for all sorts (after being refused the first collection due to the illegal tyres, which was also charged), all clearly explained in the documents send to him when due to arrange return, and he didn't even check them until he received the invoice!
Has now decided leasing is a ripoff and bought a £20k car from a large car supermarket for £500 a month for 5 years!!

 

[mattpj]

The lease company should send you there fair use ware and tear in line with British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association’s (BVRLA) guidelines.

You normally have a small damage waver for things outside these limits.

The odd chip or dent isn’t an issue.

My experience has always been straight forward.

Brilliant.

I’ve been offered an attractive lease on 36 months but really was looking at 24 months because I thought there’s less chance of wear and less risk.

Thanks for letting me know. It seems you’ve had more than one?

 

[mattpj]

Had quite a few and never had any issues when returning. But I treated them like a car I owned, so there was never any issues outside the guidelines for them to challenge.
Get the guidelines issues by the lender and the leasing association. It's surprising what they allow without charge and some things are cheaper to take the charge than get fixed.
Some lenders (VWFS for example) publish a table of charges so you can see what the best option is.

One tip - clean it and don't leave it on fumes - let the assessor have some fuel to get back to the depot.

I do remember last year a colleague who I had told of a really good deal handed back a 4 year lease, 2 tyres under legal tread, service light on the dash and filthy. Got hammered for all sorts (after being refused the first collection due to the illegal tyres, which was also charged), all clearly explained in the documents send to him when due to arrange return, and he didn't even check them until he received the invoice!
Has now decided leasing is a ripoff and bought a £20k car from a large car supermarket for £500 a month for 5 years!!

I think your perspective of treating it like a car you own is perfectly reasonable. I’ve had my car 3 years and now I’m in the midst of selling so checking it “like a buyer” Minor curbing of a rear alloy but its there. But a scrap on the front bumper which I genuinely haven’t seen and can’t remember however I have most certainly done it.

Your colleagues approach seems the worst of all worlds for someone doing PCH? What lender wants a car back (which they own after all) that’s been treated like that?

 

[crazyDAJT]

Brilliant.

I’ve been offered an attractive lease on 36 months but really was looking at 24 months because I thought there’s less chance of wear and less risk.

Thanks for letting me know. It seems you’ve had more than one?

Just via work so not PCH, but the process will be the same.

It’s can be surprising what they alow, I had a dent in the door from some idiot in a car park denting my door, but it was within spec, so a non issue.

Just treat the car properly and you will be fine.

 

[kefkef]

Sent my Seat back recently, 3.5yrs 26k miles (kept it a bit longer as am still waiting for salary sacrifice car to turn up!). Small scuff on the front bumper, small dent in rear driver side door from someone opening a car door into me. Worst thing was have an error on the dash “SOS Unavailable”.

Chap turned up made a note of the front scuff, missed the dent and when he asked about the error I told him that happened when I reset the infotainment system as directed by lease company. He just shrugged and said it would be going straight to the auctions anyway so he didn’t really care.

As above, I always treat them like they’re my own car, so always looked after well.

 

[mattpj]

Sent my Seat back recently, 3.5yrs 26k miles (kept it a bit longer as am still waiting for salary sacrifice car to turn up!). Small scuff on the front bumper, small dent in rear driver side door from someone opening a car door into me. Worst thing was have an error on the dash “SOS Unavailable”.

Chap turned up made a note of the front scuff, missed the dent and when he asked about the error I told him that happened when I reset the infotainment system as directed by lease company. He just shrugged and said it would be going straight to the auctions anyway so he didn’t really care.

As above, I always treat them like they’re my own car, so always looked after well.

This makes me feel far more confident that leasing will work out for me. Thanks very
Much.

 

[Journey]

Zero issues, many PCH leases from low end to premium vehicles, I didn't baby them either, but also they weren't treated like a rental in Ibiza.