Retuning a leased car with damage

[Mac4life30]

Question to those who have returned a leased car... I have some
Bumper damage. Im planning on getting another one at the end of the lease. Can't I just turn it with the damage and either have the cost of the damage added to the new car or have it waived if I'm getting a new car(not sure what the dealer will offer if am getting another two cars that same day). The damage is so minor I don't want to put in a claim and I honestly rather not pay for repairs now especially for a car I don't plan to own. Any advise is welcomed

 

[sam_gordon]

Question to those who have returned a leased car... I have some
Bumper damage. Im planning on getting another one at the end of the lease. Can't I just turn it with the damage and either have the cost of the damage added to the new car or have it waived if I'm getting a new car(not sure what the dealer will offer if am getting another two cars that same day). The damage is so minor I don't want to put in a claim and I honestly rather not pay for repairs now especially for a car I don't plan to own. Any advise is welcomed

I would guess it would depend on the dealership and the terms of the lease. The worst case scenario is they have you pay (at dealership rates) for the repair. It wouldn't hurt for you to get an estimate at a body shop (unless the lease agreement specifies you have to go through the dealer). Are there other dealerships you can go to? If this dealership is a stickler for you paying for the repair, do so, then go somewhere else for the new car.

 

[ronandannette]

Question to those who have returned a leased car... I have some
Bumper damage. Im planning on getting another one at the end of the lease. Can't I just turn it with the damage and either have the cost of the damage added to the new car or have it waived if I'm getting a new car(not sure what the dealer will offer if am getting another two cars that same day). The damage is so minor I don't want to put in a claim and I honestly rather not pay for repairs now especially for a car I don't plan to own. Any advise is welcomed

We've leased for over 20 years - at least a dozen vehicles between DH and I. Some we exchanged and leased again from the same dealer and some we just returned at the end of the lease term. Although there's never been anything substantial, all the the minor wear and tear (including dings, scratches and cracks in the windshield) has been "absorbed" by the dealer. Especially if you're getting another vehicle from them, your dealer will not charge any penalty for the damage.

 

[Mac4life30]

Thanks!!

 

[xlxo]

To clarify..... how bad is the damage? Will spit and polish fix it?

1. You might want to stop by a body shop to get a quote tomorrow.
2. then take it to the dealership before the return date to discuss penalties vs fixing it.
3. return vehicle when the lease expires.

 

[Squirlz]

We've leased for over 20 years - at least a dozen vehicles between DH and I. Some we exchanged and leased again from the same dealer and some we just returned at the end of the lease term. Although there's never been anything substantial, all the the minor wear and tear (including dings, scratches and cracks in the windshield) has been "absorbed" by the dealer. Especially if you're getting another vehicle from them, your dealer will not charge any penalty for the damage.

Oh believe me, you're paying for it. You are their favorite customer.

 

[abdmom]

I returned a leased car to the dealer about a year ago. I was moving out of the country and was returning it 2 years before the lease expired. The car had a significant scrape and dent along the front body and front passenger door. The dealer just calculated what it would cost him to repair the damage, what the car was worth and how much was remaining on the lease. I did end up having to write a check to the dealer, but I would have had to do that anyway. The amount he charged for the damage was a lot less than I would expect to pay if I'd had it repaired myself. I was still able to negotiate the amount down by a few hundred.

 

[ronandannette]

Oh believe me, you're paying for it. You are their favorite customer.

Sure - but why wouldn't I expect to pay for it? We're not too stupid to know that. We understand exactly what we're doing when we lease - the benefits are quite worthwhile for our priorities.

 

[tvguy]

We've leased for over 20 years - at least a dozen vehicles between DH and I. Some we exchanged and leased again from the same dealer and some we just returned at the end of the lease term. Although there's never been anything substantial, all the the minor wear and tear (including dings, scratches and cracks in the windshield) has been "absorbed" by the dealer. Especially if you're getting another vehicle from them, your dealer will not charge any penalty for the damage.

I guess it depends on the lease terms and the dealer. I have never leased but one of our reporters leased a BMW and had a fender bender type accident. It was all fixed, but her lease specified any work had to be done by a BMW dealer, with BMW parts, so at the end of the lease she was on the hook for several thousand dollars for THEIR body shop to redo the work. Also had a broken window replaced with aftermarket glass, she had to have that redone with BMW glass. Funny thing is, the body shop she used for the original repairs has a better reputation than the dealer body shop. Dealer body shop foreman said, he couldn't even tell they used an aftermarket fender because the work was so good.

 

[ronandannette]

I guess it depends on the lease terms and the dealer. I have never leased but one of our reporters leased a BMW and had a fender bender type accident. It was all fixed, but her lease specified any work had to be done by a BMW dealer, with BMW parts, so at the end of the lease she was on the hook for several thousand dollars for THEIR body shop to redo the work. Also had a broken window replaced with aftermarket glass, she had to have that redone with BMW glass. Funny thing is, the body shop she used for the original repairs has a better reputation than the dealer body shop. Dealer body shop foreman said, he couldn't even tell they used an aftermarket fender because the work was so good.

Specific terms of that particular agreement, I guess. Usually all vehicle warranties require that repairs and maintenance be done by authorized dealers/technicians - whatever that manufacturers' definition of "authorized" is. Technically, for example, you void the warranty if you change your own oil (not that I've ever heard of anybody having an issue).

We've had several mishaps with our leased vehicles over the years and have had insurance repairs made by shops other than the dealership. No effect whatsoever on our lease agreement (I'm thinking specifically of both a Honda and a Toyota we've had).

 

[nkereina]

I had a GM lease on a Chevy Cruze that had some bumper damage as well as a ding in the side. I was not charged for either of these and was told it was under the allowable damage per quarter panel. They did want to charge me $400 for new tires since I was just under my mileage allowance, but I had purchased the extra insurance at lease origination for the extra $12/month. If you purchased this, it will cover quite a bit without having to file a claim or fixing it yourself.

The main factor, from my understanding and my own experience, will be dependent on whether the dealer is keeping your vehicle for resale or returning it to your leasing company. In my experience with the Cruze, the dealer didn't want it and sent it back to GM Financial. In a subsequent lease on a Chevy Equinox, the dealer kept it for resale and did not charge me for anything. I did take out another lease at that time. If you know they are keeping it for resale and you are taking out another lease, I suspect any damage charges can be negotiable or rolled into your next payment if they insist on charging you. But if they are sending it back to the leasing company, I'm not sure how they could tack those fees onto your lease payment since they won't review and bill for damage until about a month or so into your new lease.

 

[tvguy]

Specific terms of that particular agreement, I guess. Usually all vehicle warranties require that repairs and maintenance be done by authorized dealers/technicians - whatever that manufacturers' definition of "authorized" is. Technically, for example, you void the warranty if you change your own oil (not that I've ever heard of anybody having an issue).

We've had several mishaps with our leased vehicles over the years and have had insurance repairs made by shops other than the dealership. No effect whatsoever on our lease agreement (I'm thinking specifically of both a Honda and a Toyota we've had).

The Honda dealer here is in the habit of contacting those who are leasing cars after one year into a 3 year lease. They offer you a new car, for the same payment as your current car, nothing out of pocket, and a new 3 year lease. They want those 1 year old lease cars on their used car lot.

 

[ronandannette]

The Honda dealer here is in the habit of contacting those who are leasing cars after one year into a 3 year lease. They offer you a new car, for the same payment as your current car, nothing out of pocket, and a new 3 year lease. They want those 1 year old lease cars on their used car lot.

I wish my Nissan dealer had made that kind of call to me. I'm in a 2014 Juke and I fell out of like with it practically as soon as I drove it off the lot. OTOH, I can't really think of another Nissan product I'd want right now either, so when this term is up next spring I'm pretty sure I'll just hand them the keys and move on.

 

[jliehr]

Specific terms of that particular agreement, I guess. Usually all vehicle warranties require that repairs and maintenance be done by authorized dealers/technicians - whatever that manufacturers' definition of "authorized" is. Technically, for example, you void the warranty if you change your own oil (not that I've ever heard of anybody having an issue).

This is false, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act prevents this exact type of requirement.

 

[tvguy]

I wish my Nissan dealer had made that kind of call to me. I'm in a 2014 Juke and I fell out of like with it practically as soon as I drove it off the lot. OTOH, I can't really think of another Nissan product I'd want right now either, so when this term is up next spring I'm pretty sure I'll just hand them the keys and move on.

The family that owns one of the local Toyota, Honda, Subaru, Mazda and Chevy dealerships had a Nissan dealership. They sold it, too many lawsuits involving defective CVT transmissions.

 

[ronandannette]

This is false, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act prevents this exact type of requirement.

I've never heard of that legislation but consumer law differs here in Canada than in the US. Perhaps what you're mentioning is more accurate for the OP.

 

[tvguy]

Usually all vehicle warranties require that repairs and maintenance be done by authorized dealers/technicians - whatever that manufacturers' definition of "authorized" is. Technically, for example, you void the warranty if you change your own oil (not that I've ever heard of anybody having an issue).

FTC says such a requirement is illegal.
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0138-auto-warranties-routine-maintenance

 

[ronandannette]

FTC says such a requirement is illegal.
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0138-auto-warranties-routine-maintenance

See my response to the PP who made a similar point.

 

[tvguy]

I've never heard of that legislation but consumer law differs here in Canada than in the US. Perhaps what you're mentioning is more accurate for the OP.

Appears to be illegal in Canada too.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/glo...r-to-keep-the-warranty-valid/article29822686/