Lease return advice

Checklists, benchmarks and mistakes to avoid when preparing the end of your lease.

• Fair wear and tear or damage? Where the line usually falls

  What counts as everyday use and what gets charged follows recognisable criteria. A practical guide to reading your own car before collection.

• Kerbed alloy wheel: is it worth refurbishing before you hand the car back?

  Kerbing is one of the most reliably recorded items on a UK lease collection report. Here is how to judge whether refurbishment pays.

• The eight photos to take before returning a leased car

  A simple eight-angle photo protocol that records the real condition of your vehicle before the collection agent arrives.