Leasing a car centers on what the car will be worth at the end of the term, also called the residual value. Ideally, you sign your lease, make monthly payments on time, and hand the keys back to the dealer when it ends. Sounds simple, right? Not always.
Dealers may overlook minor wear and tear, but heavy use changes things. If the vehicle loses value because of high mileage, scratches, or chipped paint, you must cover the difference.
Most lease agreements require you to pay for excess wear and tear. This means that when you return the vehicle at lease-end, the dealer could charge you to fix anything deemed excessive by the lease agreement. After all, every car is going to have a little wear and a few nicks after three or four years’ use, and you want to be sure that the wear and tear standards are reasonable. If you’re going to be driving on the highway a lot, your chances of getting rock chips on the vehicle increase greatly.
Do you need to protect the paint on your leased vehicle?
There are a couple of questions you should ask yourself to determine if spending the money to have paint protection film or ceramic coating installed on your leased vehicle is worth it.
- How often do you drive, and what condition are those roads in?
If you drive daily on roads covered with rocks and gravel, or other road debris, then your vehicle is going to be more prone to rock chips and scratches than vehicles driving on well-maintained surface streets. This can lead to excessive damage to the front end of the vehicle. How much you drive also affects the wear and tear on the paint on your vehicle.
2. How often do you wash your vehicle?
Vehicle maintenance is going to be another determining factor. If you do not properly maintain your vehicle over time, the paint will begin to stain and oxidize. Bird dropping will etch into the clear coat, pollen and bugs will stain the clear coat. Excessive etching and staining can result in getting hit with extra charges when turning in the lease, or costing you hundreds of dollars for a vehicle detail.
3. Does your car sit outside all the time?
When a vehicle is constantly exposed to the elements, it takes a toll on the clear coat and paint. Over time, the sun can fade the clear coat, causing it to appear dull. Water spots etch into the paint and become hard to remove. Bird droppings, pollen, and bugs can become baked on and stain or etch the clear coat.
How to protect your leased vehicle’s paint?
Applying protective film to your vehicle’s finish is an effective way to reduce the risk of wear-and-tear penalties at the end of a lease.
This invisible urethane film shields your car against chips, scratches, bug splatter, tree sap, bird droppings, and small dings. It adheres to the surface like a second skin, remaining virtually undetectable. The film is just as easy to clean as the original paint and can even be waxed.
Peace of mind has real value. Paying for protective film during a lease acts as insurance and prevents surprise costs when you return the car. At the very least, you can wrap the high-impact areas, such as the front bumper, hood, and fenders. On some models, including Corvettes or BMW M2s, the rocker panels also take heavy damage from road debris and need extra protection.
Whether you must remove the clear bra at the end of the lease depends on the dealership. Some accept the vehicle with the film in place. Others ask you to remove it before the return.