BVRLA updates Fair Wear and Tear Guidelines for leased cars

Driver Guides  General Guides 

We usually sit here writing about all the great cars you can lease and how it's definitely the easiest and most cost-effective way to get behind the wheel of a brand-new car. We're in the business of leasing cars so of course we're going to let you know about our offers. All of that is still the case, but it's also part of our job to explain what happens at the other end of the deal when you come to renew your lease. Now the BVRLA has updated its guidelines on fair wear and tear, it's an opportune moment to bring the subject up.

For those of you who may not know, the BVRLA is the British Vehicle Rental Leasing Association. It represents over 1,000 companies with a combined fleet of four million cars, vans, and trucks - 10% of all the vehicles on UK roads are leased or rented by a member of the BVRLA. We're talking about an awful lot of experience.

And if you've read the fair wear and tear section in our leasing guide you'll know it's the BVRLA that sets the standard and that these are the guidelines we follow. Widely accepted across the industry, the guide gives a reliable, consistent reference point for calculating any end-of-contract charges.

When your lease comes to an end and you're handing your car back it's totally expected that it may show some signs of wear and tear. You've probably been driving it for a few years, it's been to work and back countless times on top of the weekend shopping trips and family visits, so of course it will look like a car that's done a few miles. There'll be a few stone chips, the odd supermarket car park scuff, it's all stuff that happens and there isn't much anyone can do about it.

To reflect changes in technology and driver choices these guidelines have now been given an update. The general guidelines on fair wear and tear remain largely unchanged – although anyone who has ever brushed a kerb with their shiny new alloys may be glad to hear that the perennial question of reasonable tyre and wheel condition has been clarified.

Mainly, though, the updated guide addresses the growing popularity of electric vehicles. Several changes have been introduced regarding electric vehicles, including the requirement for them to have a full charge at the point of collection and the presence of charging cables where appropriate.

Given how many people are now choosing an EV it was only a matter of time before the guidelines needed to be changed to reflect that change. If you're thinking of leasing an EV, or any other vehicle for that matter, we'll bring you up to speed with all of the updates as part of the process.

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