How much will I get charged at the end of my lease?

Typical UK end-of-lease damage invoices run from about £200 to £800, with badly marked cars exceeding £2,000. The amount depends on how many separate items fall outside fair wear and tear, not on how bad the worst one is — funders charge per panel, per wheel and per item from their damage matrix.

Why is the leasing company's price higher than my local bodyshop?

Funders price from a fixed damage matrix based on main-dealer or auction repair rates, often including a full panel repaint where a smart repairer would blend a small area. That is why getting borderline items repaired independently before hand-back is usually much cheaper.

Can I be charged for excess mileage as well as damage?

Yes. Excess mileage is billed separately at the pence-per-mile rate in your contract, commonly 5p to 30p per mile plus VAT, and it is charged in addition to any damage.

When will the invoice arrive?

Usually two to eight weeks after collection, once the vehicle has been inspected at the funder's site or auction. You should receive a condition report with photographs — always ask for it if it is not supplied.

Is it cheaper to repair the damage myself before returning the car?

Almost always, provided the work is done to a professional standard. A mobile smart repair on a scuffed bumper or a kerbed alloy typically costs £60–£120 against £120–£350 on a funder's matrix. Poor-quality repairs, though, can themselves be charged.

How much will I get charged at the end of my car lease?

Most UK end-of-lease damage invoices land between £200 and £800, and a car with several damaged panels can exceed £2,000. Funders price each item from their own damage matrix: roughly £85–£250 per scratched panel, £70–£400 per dent, £75–£150 per kerbed alloy wheel, £90–£400 for glass and £60–£350 per interior item. Charges are per item, so three small faults cost far more than one large one.

Typical UK damage charges, item by item

Indicative charges taken from published finance-company damage matrices and Financial Ombudsman Service decisions.
Item	Usually fair wear and tear	Usually chargeable	Typical charge
Scratched door or wing	Polishable, under ~25mm	Through the paint or over ~25mm	£85–£250
Bumper scuff	Light surface scuff that polishes	Cracked, gouged or rippled paint	£120–£350
Dent (paintless repairable)	Under ~10–15mm, paint intact	Creased or paint-cracked	£70–£180
Dent needing paint	—	Any dent with damaged paint	£180–£400
Alloy wheel refurb	Scuff under ~25mm on rim edge	Gouges, buckles, face damage	£75–£150 per wheel
Windscreen replacement	Small chip out of driver's view	Cracks or chips in the swept view	£90–£400+
Tyre replacement	Legal, even tread	Under 1.6mm or sidewall damage	£80–£220
Seat tear or burn	Light soiling	Any tear, burn or permanent stain	£120–£350
Missing spare key	—	Always chargeable	£150–£400
Excess mileage	—	Every mile over contract	5p–30p per mile

Worked examples

Example 1 — the “my car was fine” invoice. Two kerbed alloys (£240), a 40mm scratch on the rear door (£145) and a scuffed bumper corner (£165) = £550. None of it looked serious on the driveway.

Example 2 — the four-figure invoice. Front bumper repaint (£310), two doors (£420), rear quarter dent with paint (£380), three alloys (£360), scratched rear screen (£290), missing spare key (£256) = £2,016. That is close to a real published Ombudsman case.

Example 3 — checked first. The same faults as example 1 repaired independently before hand-back: two alloys smart-repaired (£150), scratch and bumper blended (£180) = £330, and the car passed inspection with no invoice.

What drives the total up

Item count. Every panel, wheel and glass surface is priced separately.
Paint type. Pearlescent, matte and multi-stage finishes cost far more to blend.
ADAS. Cameras and sensors behind glass or in bumpers add recalibration costs.
Low age and mileage. Less deterioration is allowed on a nearly-new car.
VAT. Matrix prices are often quoted excluding VAT, then 20% is added.

How to find out your number before the invoice

You cannot get a funder to price the car in advance, but you can measure every mark against the guidelines and price it yourself. That is exactly what the Snapfixly End of Lease Damage Check does from your photos: it flags each likely chargeable item and gives an expected range, so you can decide what to repair and what to leave.

Frequently asked questions

How much will I get charged at the end of my lease?: Typical UK end-of-lease damage invoices run from about £200 to £800, with badly marked cars exceeding £2,000. The amount depends on how many separate items fall outside fair wear and tear, not on how bad the worst one is — funders charge per panel, per wheel and per item from their damage matrix.
Why is the leasing company's price higher than my local bodyshop?: Funders price from a fixed damage matrix based on main-dealer or auction repair rates, often including a full panel repaint where a smart repairer would blend a small area. That is why getting borderline items repaired independently before hand-back is usually much cheaper.
Can I be charged for excess mileage as well as damage?: Yes. Excess mileage is billed separately at the pence-per-mile rate in your contract, commonly 5p to 30p per mile plus VAT, and it is charged in addition to any damage.
When will the invoice arrive?: Usually two to eight weeks after collection, once the vehicle has been inspected at the funder's site or auction. You should receive a condition report with photographs — always ask for it if it is not supplied.
Is it cheaper to repair the damage myself before returning the car?: Almost always, provided the work is done to a professional standard. A mobile smart repair on a scuffed bumper or a kerbed alloy typically costs £60–£120 against £120–£350 on a funder's matrix. Poor-quality repairs, though, can themselves be charged.

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.