Will I be charged for damage on the car?

Short answer – whether or not you’re charged depends on how bad the damage is.

Because let’s be honest, real life can be hard-wearing on any car.

But finance companies are reasonable: They don’t expect your lease car back in showroom condition after two, three, or even four years on the road.

There’s an acceptable allowance for wear and tear, outlined by the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA). This is covered in their Fair Wear and Tear Guide, and it’s what will be used to assess your car’s condition at the end of your lease.

Things like minor upholstery wear and bodywork scuffs of less than 2.5mm are covered.

But if you’ve got windscreen chips, tyre tread below the legal minimum, or otherwise drastic damage on show, you’re probably going to be looking at a fee when you hand the car over.

If you give yourself enough time, you can pay to get more serious issues sorted and save on end of lease fees – but this is a bit of gamble.

Damage charges are decided on a case-by-case basis, making it hard to predict whether you’ll pay more to fix the problem than you would on the damage fee.

You can check whether your car complies with the BVRLA’s Fair Wear and Tear guide here before the end of your lease.