Are scratches chargeable at the end of a car lease?

A scratch under about 25mm that polishes out without exposing primer or metal is normally fair wear and tear. Longer scratches, or any scratch that has broken through the paint film, are treated as damage and typically cost £85–£250 per panel.

How big can a dent be before it is charged?

Most UK funders accept a shallow dent of roughly 10–15mm on a flat panel where the paint is undamaged. Anything larger, creased, on a swage or feature line, or with cracked paint is chargeable — £70–£180 for paintless repair and £180–£400 where paint is needed.

Will I be charged for stone chips on the bonnet?

Isolated small chips consistent with the car's age and mileage are normally accepted. You are at risk if the chips are densely clustered, have started to rust, or the front edge is heavily peppered — that can lead to a bonnet respray charge of £300–£600.

Can a repair I paid for be charged again?

Yes, if the quality is poor. Overspray, visible masking lines, colour mismatch, ripples or 'orange peel' texture are recorded as damage in their own right and can trigger a full panel repaint charge. Use a repairer who guarantees a colour match.

Does the location of a scratch matter?

Considerably. Marks on bumper corners, swage lines, door edges and around handles are harder to blend, so they attract higher charges than the same mark in the middle of a flat door skin.

Are scratches, dents and stone chips chargeable?

A scratch is normally fair wear and tear if it is under about 25mm and has not broken through the paint film, and a dent is normally acceptable if it is under roughly 10–15mm, shallow, off any feature line and the paint is intact. Once paint is broken, a dent is creased, or stone chips cluster or corrode, the item becomes chargeable — typically £85–£250 per scratched panel and £70–£400 per dent.

Bodywork thresholds and charges

Indicative UK bodywork charges on lease and contract-hire returns.
Item	Usually fair wear and tear	Usually chargeable	Typical charge
Light surface scratch	Under ~25mm, polishes out	Over ~25mm or won't polish	£85–£180
Scratch through to primer/metal	—	Always chargeable	£150–£250 per panel
Shallow dent	Under ~10–15mm, paint intact, flat area	Larger, on a swage line, or paint cracked	£70–£180 paintless
Creased or sharp dent	—	Always chargeable (needs filling and paint)	£180–£400
Stone chips — bonnet front edge	Isolated small chips, no rust	Dense clusters or corrosion	£0–£600 (respray)
Bumper scuff	Light polishable scuff	Cracked, gouged, rippled or previously badly repaired	£120–£350
Poor previous repair	Colour-matched, invisible	Overspray, orange peel, mismatch, masking lines	Full panel repaint £200–£400

The fingernail and polish tests

Two quick checks tell you which side of the line a mark sits on. Run a fingernail across it: if your nail catches, the paint film is broken and it will be charged. Then try a light polish on a clean, dry panel: if the mark disappears, it is almost certainly fair wear and tear.

Photograph the mark before and after polishing. If an inspector later lists it, you have evidence of what was actually there.

What to fix and what to leave

Fix: anything through the paint, bumper corners, creased dents, rusting chips.
Fix cheaply: single-panel scuffs via mobile smart repair, usually £60–£140.
Leave: sub-25mm polishable scratches, isolated chips, faint swirl marks.
Never: touch-up pen blobs or DIY spray cans — they read as damage.

Frequently asked questions

Are scratches chargeable at the end of a car lease?: A scratch under about 25mm that polishes out without exposing primer or metal is normally fair wear and tear. Longer scratches, or any scratch that has broken through the paint film, are treated as damage and typically cost £85–£250 per panel.
How big can a dent be before it is charged?: Most UK funders accept a shallow dent of roughly 10–15mm on a flat panel where the paint is undamaged. Anything larger, creased, on a swage or feature line, or with cracked paint is chargeable — £70–£180 for paintless repair and £180–£400 where paint is needed.
Will I be charged for stone chips on the bonnet?: Isolated small chips consistent with the car's age and mileage are normally accepted. You are at risk if the chips are densely clustered, have started to rust, or the front edge is heavily peppered — that can lead to a bonnet respray charge of £300–£600.
Can a repair I paid for be charged again?: Yes, if the quality is poor. Overspray, visible masking lines, colour mismatch, ripples or 'orange peel' texture are recorded as damage in their own right and can trigger a full panel repaint charge. Use a repairer who guarantees a colour match.
Does the location of a scratch matter?: Considerably. Marks on bumper corners, swage lines, door edges and around handles are harder to blend, so they attract higher charges than the same mark in the middle of a flat door skin.

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.