What is an End of Lease Inspection?

If you have leased a vehicle in Santa Monica or Beverly Hills, most manufacturers will require an end of lease inspection between 60 and 90 days before you return the vehicle to a dealership. Can you return a leased car without an inspection? It really depends on the automaker. Even if it is not required, we recommend still having your vehicle inspected, as it can help save you money by empowering you with a condition report of your vehicle at lease end. You can potentially avoid frivolous charges for excess wear and tear on the vehicle. What does a pre-lease return inspection involve? We have provided an end of lease inspection checklist in the guide below.

Can You Return a Leased Car Without an Inspection?

As mentioned above, an end of lease inspection may or may not be required by the automaker, but we always recommend having one done for added peace of mind. According to Cartelligent, here are the manufacturers that require a pre-lease return inspection. 

• Acura
• Audi
• BMW
• Buick
• Cadillac
• Chevy
• Chrysler
• Dodge
• Fiat
• Ford
• Honda
• INFINITI
• Jeep
• Mercedes-Benz
• MINI
• Porsche
• RAM
• Volkswagen
• Volvo

With Genesis, Hyundai, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Mazda, Subaru, and Toyota, lease inspections are optional. Kia currently does not offer lease inspections. 

End of Lease Inspection Checklist

While pre-lease return inspection checklists will vary by manufacturer or service center, below you will find a general end of lease inspection checklist. 

• Tires with less than 1/8″ of tread
• More than three dings on a single body panel
• Windshield chips that are larger than 1/8″
• Upholstery tears or burns
• Excess stains on the carpet
• Damage to convertible top (if applicable)
• Illuminated dashboard lights
• Heavily dented wheels
• Scratches, dents, and gouges that are larger than 2″
• Body repair work that has not been completed correctly

Set Up an End of Lease Inspection at Eli’s Collision Repair

If you are returning your leased vehicle in the near future, we encourage you to set up an end of lease inspection here at Eli’s Collision Repair. It’s just one of the many services we offer to drivers in the downtown LA and Inglewood areas. Enjoy the added peace of mind a pre-lease return inspection provides. Contact us today for more information.