End-of-Lease & De-Fleet Repairs - Lingfield

Recharges at the end of a lease are one of the most avoidable costs in running a fleet. Damage that would have cost a modest amount to put right locally is charged back at rates you had no part in setting, on an assessment you were not present for, often months after the vehicle went back.

Having the work done before the vehicle leaves you puts the cost back under your control.

The economics are usually straightforward

A kerbed alloy, a scuffed bumper, a dented door and some panel scratches are ordinary wear on a working vehicle. Put right in advance, they are a routine repair. Assessed at de-hire, the same damage frequently comes back at a multiple of that, and by then you have no opportunity to shop around.

You also lose the ability to argue. Once the vehicle is off your premises and in somebody else’s inspection bay, you are responding to a report rather than managing a cost.

What we do

Pre-return inspection

We look over the vehicle against fair wear and tear standards and tell you what is likely to be charged and what is not. Not every mark is worth repairing, and we will tell you where to leave it alone.

A prioritised estimate

What genuinely needs doing, what is borderline, and what to ignore. You decide how far to go.

The repairs themselves

Bumper scuffs, dents, kerbed alloys, panel damage, paintwork and, where it is needed, structural repair. Much of this is SMART repair work, which is quick and does not take the vehicle off the road for long.

Livery and decal removal

Signage taken off cleanly and any adhesive residue or paint shadow dealt with, which is a common recharge item in its own right.

De-fleeting vehicles you own

The same logic applies to vehicles you are selling rather than returning. Presentation drives price, and cosmetic work is one of the few reliable ways to move a vehicle up a band. A van that looks cared for sells faster and for more than an identical one that does not.

If you are disposing of several vehicles at once, tell us, and we will work through them in a batch so they go to sale together.

Timing

The best time to look at a vehicle is roughly two to three months before it goes back. Early enough to do the work without rushing, late enough that it will not pick up fresh damage in the meantime.

If you are further ahead than that, we can still look at it now and tell you what to expect, which at least removes the surprise from the budget.

Doing it across a fleet

Where you have vehicles coming off lease steadily, it is easier to book a standing arrangement than to handle each one individually. We will collect, inspect, report, repair what you approve and deliver the vehicle back ready to go.

Ongoing Fleet Repair Agreements.

Talk to us before they go back

Tell us what is coming off lease and when, and we will tell you what is worth doing.

Call us on 01342 832511 or enquire online.

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