Car good condition guide

What you need to be aware of before the end-of-contract inspection of your vehicle.

What counts as good?

At the end of your car finance agreement, you may choose to return your vehicle. During your agreement, you must keep the vehicle in good condition, allowing for fair wear and tear. 

This guide explains what fair wear and tear is and highlights other key information you need to know.

Car good condition guide

What you need to be aware of before the end-of-contract inspection of your vehicle.

 

What counts as good?

At the end of your car finance agreement, you may choose to return your vehicle. During your agreement, you must keep the vehicle in good condition, allowing for fair wear and tear. 

This guide explains what fair wear and tear is and highlights other key information you need to know.

Terms defined

Fair wear and tear happens when normal use causes acceptable deterioration to the car’s condition. We take the car’s age, mileage and use into account.

End-of-contract charges apply when you haven’t used or looked after the car and its equipment or accessories as you originally agreed to.

Before you return the car

There are some things you can do to avoid any unexpected charges.

Carry out your own inspection

First, wash and dry your vehicle, as dirt can mask damage. Make sure you check your vehicle in good light – checks carried out in poor light may mean you miss something. Be objective and evaluate your car as honestly as you can.

We suggest you check your vehicle 10 to 12 weeks before it’s due for return. This will give you time to arrange to have any unacceptable wear and tear repaired. 

Servicing and repairs

Your vehicle must be fully serviced, in line with the manufacturer and warranty requirements. We won’t accept any mismatched colours and parts or substandard repair work. We can return additions you’ve made to the vehicle to you if you ask us in writing. You need to pay any reasonable costs to do this, which may include replacing any items and repairs to damage caused.

You may find it cheaper to make your own repairs before we collect the vehicle. You’ll be responsible for the standard of those repairs.

When you return the car

What to expect when you return your car and what we’ll check.

Inspection

We’ll arrange for a qualified inspector to check your car for any damage over and above normal wear and tear. We’ll then tell you about any damage that falls outside of fair wear and tear standards and give you a costed inspection report. You must pay any excess mileage and damage charges within 30 days of that report.

Documents and keys

You’ll need to return the complete servicing record. You’ll also need to return any items or documents that came with your vehicle, such as the vehicle registration certificate and spare keys. If you don't have any of these, the value of the vehicle may be reduced and you may be charged the cost to replace them.

Personal items or data

Make sure you check for and remove all personal items, such as phone kits, portable sat navs, trackers, parking permits and CDs. Delete any personal data you’ve stored in vehicle systems. For example, clear destination details from built-in sat navs, wipe phone contact lists and call logs from in-car phones and remove all music uploaded to onboard music systems. Remove all personal memory cards or drives.

  • Make sure the following items are placed in the vehicle or there may be a charge:

    • Any accessories supplied on delivery.
    • Spare and master keys.
    • Wheel security key, if applicable.
    • Vehicle operating manual.
    • Service book.
    • Vehicle registration, except for section 9 of the V5, which you should complete and return to the DVLA.

Let’s look at the details

  •  

    General appearance

    Acceptable condition

    Any repairs made to the vehicle, as long as they meet our good condition guidelines. You’ll be responsible for the standard of the repairs.

    Not acceptable
    • Rust, corrosion or discolouration on any painted area, including painted bumpers, body moulding and mirrors.
    • Obvious evidence of poor repair, such as flaking paint, preparation marks, paint contamination, rippled finish and poorly matched paint.
     

    Chips

    Acceptable condition

    Small areas of chipping, including door-edge chipping, as long as the base coat has not been penetrated.

    Not acceptable

    Areas of chipping which require the entire panel, bumper or trim to be repaired or repainted.

     

    Dents

    Acceptable condition

    Dents up to 10mm in diameter, as long as the paint surface isn't broken.

    Not acceptable

    Dents on the roof or grooved metal line on any of the panels.

     

    Scratches

    Acceptable condition

    Scratches and abrasions up to 25mm, where the primer or bare metal is not showing.

    Not acceptable

    Scratches down to the primer or to bright-work and moulding. Panels that require respraying will incur end-of-contract charges.

  • Acceptable condition

    The vehicle should be returned in a safe, legal and reliable mechanical condition, capable of passing an MOT test.

    Not acceptable

    • Brake damage from worn out pads.
    • Engine damage due to ignoring warning lights.
    • Seizure through low fluids.
    • Excessive damage to the underside.

  •  

    Wheels and wheel trims

    Acceptable condition
    • Minor scuffs and scratches – up to 25mm – so long as the moulding or trim isn’t broken, cracked or deformed.
    • Scuffs totalling up to 50mm on the circumference of the wheel trim and on alloy wheels.
    Not acceptable
    • Dents and holes on wheel rims and wheel trims.
    • Any damage to the wheel spokes and the hub of the alloy wheels.

    Tyre wear and damage

    Acceptable condition

    All tyres including the spare must be within legal limits. 

    The minimum legal tread depth for a car tyre is 1.6mm. This must be maintained across the central three-quarters of the breadth of the tread in a continuous band for the full circumference of the tyre.

    Not acceptable
    • Damage to sidewalls or tread.
    • Uneven wear due to under- or over-inflation.

  • Windscreen and windows

    All heating elements should work properly.

    Acceptable condition

    Light scratching, so long as it doesn’t interfere with the driver’s line of sight.

    Not acceptable

    Chips and any critical damage. Cracks or holes should be repaired immediately and to a professional standard.

    Door mirrors

    Adjustable and heated mirrors should work correctly.

    Acceptable condition

    Minor scuff marks or scratches up to 25mm to door mirrors.

    Not acceptable

    Missing, cracked or damaged door mirrors. These should be replaced.

    Lights and lamps

    All lamps and lenses must work.

    Acceptable condition

    Minor scuff marks or scratches up to 25mm.

    Not acceptable

    Holes or cracks in the glass or plastic covers of lamp units. These should be replaced.

  •  

    Interior fittings should be present, intact and free of damage.

    Acceptable condition

    Normal wear and tear to carpets and trims.

    Not acceptable

    • Burns, cuts, scratches or dents to trim, seat covers, headlining and floor coverings.
    • Stains or permanent discolouration to interior upholstery. 

    Any damage, including holes after audio removal, should be repaired to a professional standard.

    Equipment, tools and controls

    The spare wheel, including 'spacesaver', jack and other tools must be intact, stowed properly and in good working order. The emergency tyre inflation kit, if supplied when new, should be in full working order, serviceable and ready for use.

    Not acceptable
    • Missing items, including original audio equipment unless it has been replaced with equivalent.
    • Bent or broken parts, ill-fitting items through substandard work, accident damage or misuse.

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