Returning a lease?

My current lease expires in January and there are a few scratches and 1 golf ball sized dent on the exterior. I do not plan on leasing a new car with the company and think that as a result, they'll hit me up with a bill to fix everything along with the dispensation fee (whereas if I leased another vehicle with them, this money would be waived). Is it worth it to take it to an auto body shop and have them detail/fix the minor issues? Anyone have experience with this?

Re: Returning a lease?

From my experience, its the bank that will hit you up for the damage, not the dealership. Its really out of their hands - once you turn the car in, the bank takes the car into their possession and runs their own inspection and will bill you for damage, over-mileage, missing keys, missing manual etc...

The dealership did agree to cover my disposition fee since I was leasing another car from them - but they knew the cost was 400 so they just cut the check to the bank - you could do the same for something like mileage if they know how much it is per mile, but again your payment will go up to make up the difference of the cost. But for something like damage, they dont know what the bank is going to charge, so thats a bill I dont think you can avoid.

You may end up paying the same amount of money to the bank that you would to the autobody shop...if the damage is minor, I would just turn in as is.

Re: Returning a lease?

If you have an autobody shop that you trust and you don't feel like they are ripping you off, I might get it fixed with them.

Because I just don't trust the dealers and/or the banks/leasing companies.

I had traded in a car once that had a problem where the paint job a crappy body shop did after an accident was starting to fade in one area. The dealer took a LOT of money off the trade in value for that, and I knew they could get it repainted (espeically with the connections they must have with their body shop) for a LOT less.
I felt like they were just fleecing me.

If you have a place you trust and get an estimate that isn't too crazy, I"d probably get it fixed before turning it in. I'd just feel better doing it on my terms than being forced into whatever they want to charge me for it when I turn it in.

Returning a lease?

I always get my leases fixed by an outside auto body shop.

Just so you know its the bank that hits you up with the fees not the dealer. The bank is never waiving fees and charges, its the dealer that eats the fees to get you into another one of their cars.

Re: Returning a lease?

Check your lease. You may have a damage allowance. With my Honda, I was allowed to have up to $1,500 worth of damage to the car. If they damage is smaller than a credit card, they usually overlook it anyway. That's what they told me when I returned my Infiniti.

Re: Returning a lease?

I had an Autobody shop fix a dent on mine for $300 and turned it in the following month. I was pretty certain the dealership/bank would have charged a lot more than that.

Get a quote or two from an Autobody to see how much it would cost. Otherwise, its too late.

Message edited 8/1/2017 12:41:24 PM.

Returning a lease?

If the scratch is less then the length of a credit card and the dents are golf ball sized or smaller they wont charge you. Its considered normal wear and tear. They will send you a diagram in the mail with your lease end packet. The dispo fee you will have to pay if you dont get a car with the same manufacturer. You can however, work that in to your new lease and not have to pay it directly out of pocket. Let me know if you have any other questions.