Will I be charged for kerbed alloy wheels at the end of my lease?

Only if the damage exceeds the guideline. A light scuff up to about 25mm on the rim edge is normally fair wear and tear; longer scuffs, gouges you can feel with a fingernail, damage to the wheel face or a buckled rim are charged at roughly £75–£150 per wheel for refurbishment.

How is the 25mm alloy wheel rule measured?

It is measured as the length of the scuff along the rim, not its depth or the area of the wheel. Inspectors typically hold a ruler or gauge against the mark, so photographing your wheels with a ruler in shot is useful evidence.

Should I refurbish my alloys before returning the car?

If the scuffs clearly exceed the guideline, yes — a mobile alloy refurbishment usually costs £50–£90 per wheel against £75–£150 on a funder's matrix, and there is no dispute afterwards. Insist on a colour and finish match, because a visibly poor repair can itself be charged.

Are diamond-cut wheels treated differently?

In practice, yes. Diamond-cut finishes cannot be spot-repaired invisibly and must be re-machined and re-lacquered, so funders charge more and accept less marking. Corrosion under the lacquer is always treated as damage.

Can I be charged for tyres as well as wheels?

Yes, separately. Tread below 1.6mm, uneven wear, sidewall cuts or bulges, and in some contracts non-matching or budget-brand replacements can each attract a charge of roughly £80–£220 per tyre.

Will I be charged for kerbed alloy wheels?

A single kerb scuff up to about 25mm long, on the rim edge only and with no gouging, is normally accepted as fair wear and tear. Scuffs longer than that, gouges deep enough to catch a fingernail, damage across the wheel face or spokes, buckled rims and any damage to a diamond-cut or painted finish are chargeable — typically £75–£150 per wheel for a refurbishment.

Wheel charges at a glance

Indicative UK alloy wheel and tyre charges on lease and contract-hire returns.
Item	Usually fair wear and tear	Usually chargeable	Typical charge
Rim edge scuff	Up to ~25mm, light, no gouging	Over ~25mm or multiple scuffs on one rim	£75–£150 per wheel
Wheel face / spoke damage	—	Any scrape, gouge or lacquer peel on the face	£90–£180 per wheel
Diamond-cut wheel	Very light marking only	Any cut through the lacquer; corrosion blooming	£120–£250 per wheel
Buckled or cracked rim	—	Always chargeable; often a full replacement	£250–£700 per wheel
Wheel trims / centre caps	Light scuffing	Missing, cracked or mismatched	£25–£90 each
Locking wheel nut key	—	Missing	£30–£90

How inspectors judge a wheel

Each wheel is assessed on its own, so four lightly kerbed wheels can produce four separate charges. The inspector looks at the length of the scuff along the rim, whether the lacquer or paint is broken, and whether the damage extends onto the face or spokes.

Corrosion is the giveaway. Once salt gets under a broken lacquer edge the wheel blooms white, and that is never accepted as wear and tear.

Repair or accept the charge?

One wheel just over the line: repair it. £50–£90 mobile beats a £75–£150 matrix charge and removes the argument.
All four kerbed: get a four-wheel package price — usually £180–£300 — against a potential £300–£600 invoice.
Borderline scuffs under 25mm: photograph with a ruler and leave them. Repairing everything is how people overspend.
Buckled rim: replace or repair before return; funders bill these at main-dealer part prices.

Frequently asked questions

Will I be charged for kerbed alloy wheels at the end of my lease?: Only if the damage exceeds the guideline. A light scuff up to about 25mm on the rim edge is normally fair wear and tear; longer scuffs, gouges you can feel with a fingernail, damage to the wheel face or a buckled rim are charged at roughly £75–£150 per wheel for refurbishment.
How is the 25mm alloy wheel rule measured?: It is measured as the length of the scuff along the rim, not its depth or the area of the wheel. Inspectors typically hold a ruler or gauge against the mark, so photographing your wheels with a ruler in shot is useful evidence.
Should I refurbish my alloys before returning the car?: If the scuffs clearly exceed the guideline, yes — a mobile alloy refurbishment usually costs £50–£90 per wheel against £75–£150 on a funder's matrix, and there is no dispute afterwards. Insist on a colour and finish match, because a visibly poor repair can itself be charged.
Are diamond-cut wheels treated differently?: In practice, yes. Diamond-cut finishes cannot be spot-repaired invisibly and must be re-machined and re-lacquered, so funders charge more and accept less marking. Corrosion under the lacquer is always treated as damage.
Can I be charged for tyres as well as wheels?: Yes, separately. Tread below 1.6mm, uneven wear, sidewall cuts or bulges, and in some contracts non-matching or budget-brand replacements can each attract a charge of roughly £80–£220 per tyre.

Related guides

Charge figures are indicative UK ranges compiled from published finance-company damage matrices and Financial Ombudsman Service decisions. Every funder uses its own matrix, so your invoice may differ. Snapfixly is not affiliated with the BVRLA, the Financial Ombudsman Service or any leasing company, and nothing here is legal or financial advice.