One of the major annoyances to leasees is that they receive bills from their inspection about 10 or 20 days after the fact. Most consumers probably figured that the end-of-term inspection is some arcane process bordering on arbitrary, kind of like how they grade English papers.
Supposedly, that’s not the way it works at all.
A grouchy inspector should have no effect whatsoever on your end of term inspection; they’re provided with a set of guidelines set by the leaser. Alliance Inspection, which provides inspections of leased vehicles, says about 51 percent of leased vehicles show excess wear. They’re not including some minor interior stains or scruff on the bumper, but dents from bumps or serious damage from accidents will knock you up a bill.
There is no expectation that the car will be in perfect condition, especially after three years, and they don’t sweat the small stuff.
BMW, Chrysler, Ford, and Honda all have their own self evaluation methods for a leasee.
Our take? So if you’re a leasee, the odds are against you, slightly.
via New York Times