Is Returning a Leased Car With Damage Possible?

Part of the lease return process includes an inspection of the vehicle, so you may worry about the potential consequences if there are dings or scratches on your leased car from wear and tear in St. Marys. What happens if you damage a leased car? Better yet, is returning a leased car with damage allowed? Yes, even if there is damage to a leased car, it can still be returned to the dealership. However, there will likely be fees to account for the damage. Read the guide below if you’re concerned about what happens if you damage a leased car.

What Happens if You Damage a Leased Car?

Returning a leased car with damage will most likely mean you’ll have to pay for the damage. This is because when you sign a car lease, chances are you’ve agreed to maintain the car in its original condition. While some lease contracts will allow you to have minimal scratches on your leased car or any other insignificant signs of wear and tear, you’ll want to check your lease agreement to see what is considered wear and tear, and not substantial damage, to your leased car.

Have you heard that upgrading to a new vehicle after you return your lease can eliminate the fees for damage to a leased car? This is simply not true. You will still have to cover the damages to the leased car one way or another. Some dealerships will roll over that cost to repair your leased vehicle onto your new leasing contract. 

How To Return a Leased Car With Damage

Before you drop the car at a lease return center, you should consider doing the following if your leased car has some sort of damage.

1. Speak To Your Insurance Company

Is the damage to your leased car significant? If so, we recommend that you speak to your insurance company. Many full-coverage insurance policies will help protect you if you’ve substantially damaged your leased vehicle.

Most lease contracts also come with GAP insurance for added protection in case you damage your leased vehicle. However, keep in mind that GAP insurance is not a replacement for standard insurance coverage.

2. Review Warranty Coverage

A perk of leasing a new car is the comprehensive warranty coverage. This means that if you’ve damaged a part of your leased vehicle that’s covered under warranty, you likely have nothing to worry about. Take a look at your warranty coverage and confirm with our service team if the part you need to replace is covered.

3. Use OEM Parts

If you choose to fix your vehicle before returning it near State College, be sure that the service center you’re using uses genuine OEM parts. Failure to use genuine OEM parts could void your lease agreement and make you responsible for additional charges.

4. Pre-Lease Return Inspection

Is your lease return date soon? If you’ve got some damage to your vehicle, it may be a good idea to schedule a pre-lease return inspection in Altoona. A pre-inspection can let you know beforehand what to expect if you do decide to return your leased vehicle with damages.

We Can Help With Your Lease Return at Spitzer Autoworld DuBois Cadillac!

We’re here to help you at our dealership in Dubois. Contact us if you’re worried about scratches on your leased car or anything else to do with lease returns, and we’ll help take the stress away so you can focus on how to move forward.