What interior damage is chargeable at the end of a lease?

Anything permanent. Tears, cuts, cigarette burns, indelible stains, cracked or gouged plastics, scratched or cracked screens, damaged headlining, smoke or pet odour and missing items are all charged, typically between £60 and £400 per item. Dirt that cleans off is not chargeable.

Will I be charged for a scratched infotainment screen?

Yes. Screens are treated as damage rather than wear, and replacements are priced at main-dealer rates — published Ombudsman cases include a £288 charge for a single scratched screen, and modern integrated displays can cost considerably more.

Can I be charged for smoking in a leased car?

Yes. Most lease agreements prohibit smoking, and odour or burn damage attracts a deep-clean or ozone-treatment charge of roughly £100–£350, plus repair costs for any burns to fabric or trim.

Does a professional valet stop interior charges?

It removes the soiling arguments, which is worth doing — but it will not fix tears, burns or scratches. A £40–£80 valet before hand-back is usually money well spent because a clean interior also inspects better overall.

What items do people most often forget to return?

The spare key, locking wheel nut key, boot floor or false floor, parcel shelf, load cover, and the charge cables on plug-in and electric vehicles. Each is charged at dealer prices, and a replacement key alone is commonly £150–£400.

What interior damage gets charged on a lease return?

Interior soiling that cleans off is fair wear and tear; anything permanent is not. Tears, cuts, burns, indelible stains, cracked or scratched plastics, damaged infotainment screens, smoke or pet odour and missing items such as the spare key, parcel shelf, boot floor or charge cable are all chargeable, usually £60–£400 per item — and a scratched screen alone can exceed £280.

Interior charges at a glance

Indicative UK interior charges on lease and contract-hire returns.
Item	Usually fair wear and tear	Usually chargeable	Typical charge
Seat fabric or leather	Light soiling, minor bolster shine	Tears, cuts, burns, ingrained stains	£120–£350
Carpets and mats	Normal wear that cleans	Holes, burns, permanent staining, missing mats	£60–£200
Dashboard and trim plastics	Light marking	Cracks, gouges, broken clips, missing covers	£90–£300
Infotainment or driver display	Fingerprints	Any scratch, crack or dead pixels	£180–£600+
Headlining	—	Stains, sag, adhesive marks from mounts	£150–£400
Smoke or pet odour	—	Odour, burns, embedded hair	£100–£350 valet
Missing items	—	Spare key, parcel shelf, boot floor, charge cable, load cover	£40–£400 each

The cleanable / permanent test

Inspectors separate soiling from damage. If a professional valet would remove it, it is soiling and not chargeable. If the surface itself has changed — fibres cut, plastic gouged, screen scratched, dye lifted — it is damage and priced per item. That is why the cheapest interior insurance is a valet plus a careful look at the two or three items that will not clean.

Before collection: the ten-minute interior sweep

Empty every cubby, door pocket, boot well and under-seat space.
Refit the boot floor, parcel shelf, load cover and all original mats.
Find both keys, the locking wheel nut key and any charge cables.
Photograph seats, carpets, headlining, all screens and the boot.
Book a £40–£80 valet if there is any pet hair or lingering odour.

Frequently asked questions

What interior damage is chargeable at the end of a lease?: Anything permanent. Tears, cuts, cigarette burns, indelible stains, cracked or gouged plastics, scratched or cracked screens, damaged headlining, smoke or pet odour and missing items are all charged, typically between £60 and £400 per item. Dirt that cleans off is not chargeable.
Will I be charged for a scratched infotainment screen?: Yes. Screens are treated as damage rather than wear, and replacements are priced at main-dealer rates — published Ombudsman cases include a £288 charge for a single scratched screen, and modern integrated displays can cost considerably more.
Can I be charged for smoking in a leased car?: Yes. Most lease agreements prohibit smoking, and odour or burn damage attracts a deep-clean or ozone-treatment charge of roughly £100–£350, plus repair costs for any burns to fabric or trim.
Does a professional valet stop interior charges?: It removes the soiling arguments, which is worth doing — but it will not fix tears, burns or scratches. A £40–£80 valet before hand-back is usually money well spent because a clean interior also inspects better overall.
What items do people most often forget to return?: The spare key, locking wheel nut key, boot floor or false floor, parcel shelf, load cover, and the charge cables on plug-in and electric vehicles. Each is charged at dealer prices, and a replacement key alone is commonly £150–£400.

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.