End of contract

Question 1

Are there any other end of contract charges I need to be aware of?

ald · Accepted Answer

Depending upon the condition of your vehicle, your/your company’s agreement type and the timing/circumstances of your collection, there may be additional charges related to your/your company vehicle’s collection. Details of possible charges are included below.

Please be aware that this is not an exhaustive list of end of contract charges. You can refer to your/your company’s agreement for any specific charges that may be relevant to you/your company, such as Balloon payments or Early Termination Fees.

Should you/your company wish to discuss these charges please call us on 03700 011 181 or email us at [customerrelations@aldautomotive.com](targetSelf:mailto:customerrelations@aldautomotive.com). Please have your vehicle registration number or account reference number to hand if calling us or include it in your email.

**Vehicle Appraisal Charges**

If the collection agent identifies damage outside of the BVRLA fair wear and tear standards, you/your company will receive an invoice clearly stating the damage charges. Should you/your company wish to discuss these charges please call us on 03700 011 181 or email us at [customerrelations@aldautomotive.com](targetSelf:mailto:customerrelations@aldautomotive.com). Please have your vehicle registration number or account reference number to hand if calling us or include it in your email.

Occasionally, collection agents may miss damage to a vehicle due to environmental impact such as poor light and/or weather conditions. Please be aware that you/your company may be liable for any damage not recorded at point of collection when it is clear that the damage is not new and has been missed at the initial inspection. If you/your company believe that any damage mentioned is new, please call us on 03700 011 181 or email us at [customerrelations@aldautomotive.com](targetSelf:mailto:customerrelations@aldautomotive.com) so that we can address this with the collection agent. Please have your vehicle registration number or account reference number to hand if calling us or include it in your email.

If damage on the vehicle prevents a standard collection and/or reduces the resale value of the vehicle, further costs such as the arrangement of a low loader transport vehicle and/or loss suffered by us could be incurred by you.

**Collection fee**

Depending on your agreement type you might have to pay a collection fee. If you are not sure if a collection fee is due, please call us on 03700 011 181 or email us at [customerrelations@aldautomotive.com](targetSelf:mailto:customerrelations@aldautomotive.com) and we will be happy to help. Please have your vehicle registration number or account reference number to hand if calling us or include it in your email.

**Abandoned Collection Fee and Special Collection Arrangements**

You/Your company may be charged an ‘abandoned collection fee’ if the vehicle is not available, has a dirty interior/exterior that impacts the collection agent’s ability to complete a detailed inspection or is in an unroadworthy condition, for example illegal tyres, invalid MOT, warning lights on the dashboard or less than 100% charge remaining on the battery. Additional fees may be charged if a low-loader is required to uplift your/your company vehicle.

**Late Hire**

You/your company must contact us to arrange collection of your/your company vehicle at least five working days before your/your company’s end of contract date, otherwise late hire charges may apply.

**Excess Mileage**

Your/your company’s agreement includes a mileage limit, which would have been decided when you/your company set-up or rescheduled your contract. If your/your company vehicle is returned and you’ve gone over your/your company’s agreed mileage limit, you/your company may need to pay excess mileage charges.

Question 2

Dents and chips

ald · Accepted Answer

Dents no larger than 15mm in diameter are acceptable where:

- There are no more than 2 per panel
- Paint surface isn't broken
- There are no dents on the wheel arch rims/trims
- There are no dents on roof or swage line

Chips are no larger than 3mm in diameter are acceptable where:

- They are not rusted
- Paint surface isn't broken
- Max 4 chips per panel, 6 chips per door edge and 8 chips per any forward-facing panel

The above will be deemed as Fair Wear and Tear and therefore not as chargeable damage when you return your/you company vehicle. You can see more information in the [BVRLA Fair Wear and Tear Guide here](targetSelf:https://issuu.com/bfwsn67/docs/fwt_2014-15_issuu_ald_automotive_ca?e=2001091/8764530).

Question 3

Do I need to remove advertising/logos from my vehicle at the end of my contract?

ald · Accepted Answer

If your/your company’s vehicle has advertising or logos on it, we may charge for their removal when you hand your/your company vehicle back to us.

**If your vehicle has been migrated to ALD from LeasePlan**

Charges may apply for the removal of advertising or logos from your vehicle. To avoid charges, you will need to arrange for any advertising or logos to be professionally removed ahead of handing the vehicle back to us and ensure that any damage caused by their removal is repaired. Any unrepaired damage may incur a charge.

**If your vehicle is a Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV)**

We won’t charge for removing advertising or logos from your/your company vehicle unless the vehicle has a full body wrap. Please be aware that if any damage is discovered when we remove advertising or logos from your/your company vehicle, you may be charged for this damage.

If your/your company vehicle has a full body wrap, you will need to have this professionally removed before you hand the vehicle back to us and ensure that any damage caused by its removal is repaired. Any unrepaired damage may incur a charge.

**If your vehicle is anything other than an LCV**

Charges may apply for the removal of advertising or logos from your/your company vehicle. To avoid charges you will need to arrange for any advertising or logos to be professionally removed ahead of handing the vehicle back to us and ensure that any damage caused by their removal is repaired. Any unrepaired damage may incur a charge.

Question 4

Do I need to replace a lost key?

ald · Accepted Answer

At the end of your/your company’s contract your/your company vehicle needs to be returned with all the keys, including the spare key.

The cost of replacement keys is not included in your/your company’s agreement. If you/your company need to replace a missing key, we recommend contacting your/your company’s local dealership. They will be able to quote for the replacement key cost. Your/your company’s dealership may need to see a copy of your/your company vehicle’s log book (V5C) ahead of providing a replacement key.

If you return your/your company vehicle without all the keys, a charge for any missing keys will be invoiced as part of the vehicle appraisal process.

Question 5

Scuffs and scratches

ald · Accepted Answer

Scuffs and scratches within 25mm are acceptable where:

- They can be polished out
- Primer/bare metal isn't showing
- Moulding/wheel arch trim isn't broken, cracked or deformed
- There are no more than 4 scuffs per panel

For wheels and tyres:

- Scuffs up to 50mm on the total circumference of the wheel rim and on alloy wheels are acceptable
- There must be no damage to sidewalls or tread

The above will be deemed as Fair Wear and Tear and therefore not as chargeable damage when you return your/you company vehicle. You can see more information in the [BVRLA Fair Wear and Tear Guide here](targetSelf:https://issuu.com/bfwsn67/docs/fwt_2014-15_issuu_ald_automotive_ca?e=2001091/8764530).

Question 6

Queries relating to vehicle appraisal invoices

ald · Accepted Answer

If you have received a vehicle appraisal invoice and have a query relating to it, please contact us at uk-disposals@aldautomotive.com or call us on 03700 011 181. Please include either your vehicle registration number or account reference number in your email or have these details to hand when you call.

If you would like to provide us with missing service history, please send it to us at uk-disposals@aldautomotive.com, including the vehicle registration number in your ema

Question 7

What is depreciation?

ald · Accepted Answer

Depreciation is the term used to refer to a reduction in a vehicle’s value over time. It’s the difference between the vehicle’s value when it is brand new and its current market value. The rate of a vehicle’s depreciation is impacted by several factors, including:

- Mileage
- Age
- Any new models introduced to the market

At the beginning of your/your company’s agreement we calculate the estimated residual value of your/your company vehicle. We use the expected rate of depreciation for your/your company vehicle to help us with this. Some vehicles depreciate at a slower rate than other vehicles, meaning the residual value is likely to be higher. This will be reflected in your/your company’s monthly payments under your/your company’s agreement.

Depreciation in a vehicle’s value is also taken into consideration when we calculate any fees that may be due if you/your company request to return your/your company vehicle early. At the start of your/your company’s agreement, the value of the vehicle depreciates at a faster rate than at later points in your/your company’s agreement. This means that you/your company may not have paid enough to cover the cost of the depreciation. This is taken into consideration when calculating any charge associated with early terminating your/your company’s agreement.

Question 8

What is fair wear and tear?

ald · Accepted Answer

Even with careful driving and regular maintenance, a vehicle’s condition can deteriorate over time. This is known within the vehicle leasing industry as ‘fair wear and tear’, which is defined and governed by the BVRLA (British Vehicle Rental & Leasing Association) [Fair Wear and Tear guidelines](targetSelf:https://issuu.com/bfwsn67/docs/fwt_2014-15_issuu_ald_automotive_ca?e=2001091/8764530). We use the BVRLA guidelines when assessing any damage identified on your/your company vehicle.

Fair wear and tear is not to be confused with damage which occurs as a result of specific events like harsh driving, accident damage, incorrectly stowed items and/or driver negligence. If such damage(s) is present when the vehicle is collected and inspected, costs will be recharged accordingly.

Question 9

What is residual value?

ald · Accepted Answer

Residual value is the estimated value of your/your company vehicle at the end of your/your company’s agreement. The residual value is calculated at the beginning of your/your company’s agreement, as it will need to be taken into consideration when we determine your/your company’s monthly payments under your/your company’s agreement.

When we calculate the residual value of your/your company vehicle, we take into account the agreed annual mileage and the term of your/your company’s agreement to help us estimate the depreciation in value of the vehicle over the length of your/your company’s agreement. This resulting figure is the residual value of the vehicle.

Question 10

Where can I find information on acceptable levels of wear and tear?

ald · Accepted Answer

Please visit the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) [Fair Wear & Tear guidelines](targetSelf:https://issuu.com/bfwsn67/docs/fwt_2014-15_issuu_ald_automotive_ca?e=2001091/8764530), for full information on acceptable levels of fair wear and tear when returning your/your company vehicle. You can also find details of the condition that your/your company vehicle needs to be returned in in your agreement.

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