LEAWOOD, KS (April 6, 2015) – You loved your leased vehicle, but now it’s time to turn it in. But did you know those minor dings and scratches you’ve incurred can leave a major dent in your wallet? Not only can the leasing company take your deposit, it can charge you thousands of dollars for excessive wear and tear on the vehicle.
A simple solution is a quick trip to the body shop. A thorough detailing inside and out, repair of minor scratches in the clear coat and paintless dent repair for the dings can leave your vehicle looking brand new – all for about $500.
“Leasing companies are looking at the residual value of the vehicle, and anything that diminishes that adds to your turn-in costs,” said Dean Fisher, vice president of Operations for CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts. “If they have to cover additional restoration of the paint finish, repairs to dings and dents or correct other damage, it’s going to cost you much more than if you get them fixed on your own.”
CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts, which repairs thousands of vehicles across North America each year, offers the following tips for drivers who are preparing to return their leased vehicle:
- Know what damage manufacturers penalize you for:
- Mechanical problems in the engine or any of the car’s systems
- Dents, dings, scratches and scrapes on the car’s exterior, bumpers and wheels
- Cracks, stars or excessive pitting: In the windshield and other windows
- Abnormal or excessive wear to the tires or mismatched tires
- Tears or stains on the upholstery that can’t be cleaned or repaired with normal refurnishing
- Understand the terms of your lease:
- An open-ended lease means the residual value will be determined at time of turn-in
- A close-ended lease pre-determines the turn-in value of the car but may charge a fee for excessive wear and tear or mileage
- Have your trusted body shop “turn-in makeover” on your vehicle, where they:
- Conduct a thorough cleaning of the car’s exterior and interior
- Restore the headlights to remove scratches and yellow hazing that age the car and diminish visibility
- Clean the wheels and tires to remove brake dust and grime
- Restore black plastic bumpers, door handles and tires to a brand-new finish
- Repair small scratches in the clear coat and paint to a like-new surface
- Repair minor dings and dents with paintless dent repair
- Replace missing or damaged trim or decorative elements
- Restore the finish of the car with a full detailing
- Consider minor paint work for blemished areas
“With a small investment, you can potentially save thousands of dollars on your lease turn-in,” adds Fisher. “That can become the down payment on another vehicle or a great contribution to your bank account.”
About CARSTAR
CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts is North America’s largest Multi-Shop Operator Network of independently owned collision repair facilities with more than 430 locations in 30 states and 10 Canadian provinces. CARSTAR delivers national scale, consistently high-quality vehicle repairs, repeatable outcomes and the industry’s highest customer satisfaction ratings; all repairs are backed by a national warranty and service guarantee. For more information visit www.carstar.com.