BVRLA Return Ready: Check Your Lease Car for Damage Before You Return It

It's about time the return of lease cars and vans took a step into modern technology, and it's about time the BVRLA provided some decent tools to help drivers do it.

The launch of the BVRLA (British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association) Return Ready tool allows users to point their smartphone at areas of potential damage on their vehicle and access the relevant BVRLA Fair Wear and Tear guidance.

If you're coming towards the end of your car lease and are wondering whether that scratch, dent, alloy wheel scuff or other damage could result in an end-of-lease charge, Return Ready gives you a quick and convenient way to investigate it before your vehicle is returned.

What is the BVRLA Return Ready tool?

BVRLA Return Ready is a free smartphone-based tool designed to help leased vehicle drivers identify specific areas of damage and understand how they may be viewed under the BVRLA Fair Wear and Tear standard.

And despite the fact that plenty of people may refer to it as the "BVRLA Return Ready app", there is actually nothing to download. The tool works through your smartphone browser, with the BVRLA saying you can simply follow the guided process on your phone.

You photograph the area of damage, and the tool identifies the relevant type of damage before showing you the applicable BVRLA guidance.

It is a useful addition to the process of returning a leased car or van, particularly if you want to check your vehicle's condition before the end of your contract.

How does BVRLA Return Ready work?

The process is deliberately straightforward.

You need a smartphone, good daylight and a clean area of the vehicle to inspect. The BVRLA recommends wiping down the relevant panel before taking photographs, as dirt and poor lighting can make damage more difficult to assess.

You then follow the instructions on screen and take photographs of the area you're concerned about.

Return Ready uses the images to identify the damage and then shows you the relevant section of the BVRLA Fair Wear and Tear guidance.

This makes it particularly useful for common end-of-lease concerns such as scratches, dents, scuffs and other exterior damage.

The important thing to remember is that Return Ready is an information tool rather than a final inspection. The BVRLA specifically states that it is not a comprehensive whole-vehicle assessment, an official verdict on whether damage is acceptable or a guarantee of what your leasing company will decide.

Why is checking your lease car before returning it important?

One of the biggest concerns for drivers approaching the end of a personal or business car lease is end-of-lease damage charges.

When a leased vehicle is returned, it will normally be inspected to determine whether its condition meets the agreed return standard. Damage or excessive wear that falls outside the applicable fair wear and tear guidelines can potentially result in additional charges.

The BVRLA recommends that customers carry out their own appraisal around 10 to 12 weeks before the vehicle is due to be returned. This gives you time to identify potential problems and, if necessary, arrange professional repairs before the vehicle is collected.

This is one of the biggest advantages of using a tool such as Return Ready. Rather than discovering a problem when the vehicle is being inspected, you can identify potential damage while there is still plenty of time to decide what to do about it.

What is fair wear and tear on a lease car?

Fair wear and tear is one of the most important things to understand when returning a leased vehicle.

A car is expected to show some signs of normal use during a lease. Fair wear and tear covers deterioration that would reasonably be expected from the vehicle's age, mileage and normal use.

It is different from damage caused by an impact, accident, neglect or misuse.

The BVRLA produces an industry Fair Wear and Tear Guide covering areas such as bodywork, paintwork, wheels, tyres, glass, interior trim and vehicle equipment.

Your leasing company should provide you with the relevant Fair Wear and Tear Guide, and this should always be used alongside Return Ready when checking your vehicle before it is returned.

Will Return Ready tell me if I will be charged?

No – and this is an important distinction.

Return Ready does not tell you definitively whether your leasing company will charge you for a particular piece of damage.

Instead, it identifies the relevant BVRLA guidance so that you can better understand how that particular damage may be viewed.

The BVRLA makes clear that Return Ready is not a replacement for its full Fair Wear and Tear Guide and is not a guarantee of what your leasing company will decide.

This is important because individual leasing contracts can sometimes contain different or more favourable standards. The BVRLA itself advises customers to speak to their leasing company if they have questions about potential damage or charges.

Should I repair damage before returning my lease car?

If you've identified damage that appears to be outside fair wear and tear, you may want to consider having it repaired before returning the vehicle.

Typical examples could include significant scratches, dents, alloy wheel damage, damaged trim or other items that would not normally be considered acceptable wear.

However, don't automatically assume that repairing everything yourself will save money. It's worth obtaining a professional repair quotation and comparing this with any potential end-of-lease charge.

If you do decide to arrange a repair, the BVRLA advises that work should be carried out to a professional standard by a reputable repairer, with a transferable warranty provided for the work.

When should I check my lease car for damage?

Don't leave it until the day before your lease car is collected.

The BVRLA recommends carrying out your own appraisal approximately 10–12 weeks before the vehicle is due to be returned. This gives you plenty of time to clean the vehicle, inspect it properly, identify any potential damage and arrange repairs where necessary.

It's also worth doing the inspection in good daylight. Wash the car first and allow it to dry, then walk around the entire vehicle carefully.

Look closely at the bodywork, wheels, tyres, lights, windows, mirrors and interior. Don't forget the roof and lower sections of the bodywork, which can be easy to overlook.

A useful tool for anyone returning a leased car

The BVRLA Return Ready tool is a welcome addition to the process of returning a leased vehicle.

For years, drivers have largely had to rely on written Fair Wear and Tear guides when trying to work out whether a scratch, dent or scuff might be considered acceptable. Having a smartphone-based tool that can identify a specific area of damage and point you towards the relevant guidance makes the process much easier.

It's particularly useful if your personal car lease, business car lease or van lease is approaching its end and you're concerned about potential damage charges.

It isn't a replacement for the full BVRLA Fair Wear and Tear Guide and it won't tell you exactly what your leasing company will charge. What it does provide is a quick first step to help you understand a particular area of concern.

And that's probably the best way to use it: check your vehicle early, use Return Ready to investigate anything you're unsure about, then refer to your full Fair Wear and Tear Guide and speak to your leasing company if you still have questions.

For anyone approaching the end of a lease, it's a useful tool that could make the vehicle return process a little less stressful.