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Damages

When you own a car for an extended amount of time, sometimes accidents happen, even small ones. When we talk about damages, we’re talking about anything from a small scuff to a significant dent (across multiple panels). Damages also include missing accessories such as keys and charging cables.

When you’re handing back your EV at the end of the contract, please be mindful that all of the above could fall into end-of-lease damage costs.

Got some questions? We’re here to help.

Here’s all you need to know about damages on your EV:

Should I report any damage to my car?

Yes. From minor bumps to major ones, please get in touch through the Driverline (020 3322 2601). You can find out what to do if you’ve been involved in an accident and need to report damage, in our accident management section.

Any damage to your vehicle can increase your end-of-lease payments.

Some of our leases do have damage waivers included, however, please check your Driver Handbook for information on this.

Every so often we’ll send a self-inspection link to you to help you estimate any end-of-lease damage costs. However, if you’re aware of any damage to your car, please contact us as soon as possible so we can talk you through your options.

Most common types of damage and their costs

Below are the top 5 damage types along with their average repair cost. It is important to ensure you take scans of all damage on your vehicle, regardless of the size.

Estimating your damage costs

We understand that wear and tear as well as minor mishaps can happen when having a car for a lengthy amount of time.

However, there is a way to estimate damage costs. Using our self-inspection tool you can regularly assess any damage to estimate if/how much your end-of-lease damage costs could set you back.

What is fair wear and tear?

Fair wear and tear happens when a vehicle shows normal signs of use over time. At the end of a contract or finance agreement, we check the vehicle’s condition, considering its age, mileage, and overall care. Any fair wear and tear costs will be removed from the final bill.

This is different from damage caused by specific events, like an accident, improper storage, rough handling, or negligence.

For more information on wear and tear, check your Driver Handbook.

How do I self-inspect?

We’ll send you a digital self-inspection link at regular intervals. It should take 5-10 minutes to complete.

We recommend you complete the self-inspection at each of these intervals to get a better idea of any damage costs early in your ownership to help minimise costs where possible and avoid surprises at the end of your lease.

To complete the self-inspection, you’ll need:

  • A smartphone or tablet with a camera
  • Internet signal (either WiFi, or phone data)
  • Five minutes to take pictures of all sides of the car

Tips to make the best use out of self-inspection

  • Always use the personalised link provided to access your inspection.
  • Walk around the vehicle to locate any damages before scanning. Make sure to include two pictures of any damage for an accurate report - one up close and one wide shot.
  • Make sure your car is clean and dry.
  • Make sure there’s enough daylight/good lighting.
  • Try to fill as much of the screen as possible when taking pictures.
  • Make sure there’s enough room around the car to take pictures from all sides.

Some of our contracts have an End of Contract Damage waiver included, you can check your Driver Handbook to see if your scheme includes this waiver.

Please note that self-inspection isn’t a final assessment of costs. Our logistics partners will fully assess your car after collecting it and let us know the final breakdown. And if anything changes between self-inspection and collection, or any damage isn’t noted on your self-inspection, this will be picked up after collection.

Can I use my insurance to cover damage?

If you have insurance included in your scheme and you’re still within your lease, yes. However, if you want to raise an insurance claim and your car is being collected in less than 30 days, it’s unlikely that the claim will be able to go through.

If you do want to raise an insurance claim, call the Driverline on: 020 3322 2601 (option 1, then option 1 again).


What if I don't have insurance included in my lease?

If you do not have insurance included in your lease, you can raise an insurance request for damage however the terms of repairing the damage may be different from insurer to insurer.

Please raise this directly with your insurer.