Lease return advice

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

• Normal wear or excess wear? Reading your own vehicle before turn-in

  What passes as everyday use and what gets billed as excess wear follows recognizable criteria. A practical guide before your lease ends.

• Curb rash before a lease turn-in: fix it or leave it?

  Curbed wheels are among the most reliably recorded items on a turn-in inspection. Here is how to judge whether refinishing pays.

• The eight photos to take before your lease turn-in

  A simple eight-angle photo protocol that documents your vehicle's real condition before the pre-inspection.