'Fair Wear and Tear' and Damage

What Classifies Under Fair Wear and Tear?

What the lease industry considers to be ‘fair wear and tear’ is standard and set out by the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), of which Select Car Leasing is a member.

It differs between regular road vehicles and light commercial vehicles, with vans given slightly more leeway.

And the BVRLA says that fair wear and tear occurs when ‘normal usage causes deterioration to a vehicle’. It is not to be confused with ‘damage which occurs as a result of a specific event or series of events such as impact, inappropriate stowing of items, harsh-treatment, negligent acts or omissions’.

You should get a copy of the BVRLA’s Fair Wear and Tear guide when you pick-up your lease car.

It stipulates that when you hand the vehicle back at the end of your lease contract, it needs to be roadworthy, with no warning lights flashing, all the driver assistance systems functioning and with both a clean exterior and interior.

You need to have stuck to the manufacturer’s stipulated servicing instructions, and you also need to return all the relevant documentation, from the operating manual to Vehicle Registration Document and all sets of keys.