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Check for wheel damage before you return a leased car

What Toyota Financial Services, American Honda Finance, and BMW Financial Services count as excess wear on wheels and tires. Your own lease agreement still controls the charges.

Here's what you need

  • Your lease agreement
  • A look at each tire and each wheel

What should you check first?

Read the wear guide for the company that holds your lease. These three publish different lists.

  1. Read the wear guide for the company that holds your lease. These three publish different lists.
  2. Look at the tires for the damage that company names.
  3. Look at the wheels for the damage that company names.
  4. If that company offers a pre-inspection, schedule it before the return.

What does Toyota count?

Toyota Financial Services lists these under tires, wheels, and wheel covers: tires with exposed cords or sidewall damage; tires or wheels that do not meet the manufacturer's guidelines for safe operation; missing or damaged wheel covers; and wheel gouges, scratches, dents, or cracks greater than the size of a credit card.

They recommend a courtesy pre-inspection within 60 days before you return the car. That inspection is not available if you live in Hawaii, or if the lease started in New Hampshire or Wisconsin.

What does Honda count?

The American Honda Finance Corporation inspection guide, for a Honda or Acura lease, lists less than 4/32 of an inch of tread at the lowest point. It says that if the red bar shows, the tire tread is too low and may be charged.

It also lists broken or bent wheels and rims.

The guide says the examples are not a complete list. It recommends a free pre-termination inspection if the car went over the contracted miles or has more than normal wear and use.

What does BMW count?

On the BMW USA return page, no problem includes the same size, speed rating, and run-flat specification as the original equipment, painted or chromed wheels free of scuffs and scratches, and minor curb rash.

Needs repair includes tires that are not that specification, seasonal tires, recapped and re-treaded tires, and tire sidewall repair plugs. It also includes mismatched, bent, or broken wheels, wheel covers, or alloys, and painted or chromed wheels that are scuffed or scratched. Bulges, cuts, gouges, cupping, or any tire damage that affects safe operation are on that list too.

In the tire-replacement answer on the same page, BMW says acceptable wear is a minimum of 4/32 of an inch of depth from the finish tread. If the car came with run-flat tires, BMW says it must be returned with run-flat tires.

Things you should know

Sources