End-of-Lease Inspection | Mazda MX5 Video

There was very little to do on this car, so is it even worth having your own inspection before sending the car back?

It most definitely is. The customer could have read their own contract, inspected the car themselves and decided to refurbish the wheels. We advised against it. The cost of the recharge would be the same or less than repairing them yourself because they usually charge these at trade prices. That's if they charge at all. The lease companies have a threshold for charges, and we think this car will come under.

But more importantly, the customer has a record of the car showing that it's all in good order. When you give the car back, it may be taken by a driver to a car park, probably at the auctions, where it will sit waiting for an inspector to come and do their inspection. Between you handing over the keys and that happening, who know what could happen. Somebody could back into it in the car park, the driver could scuff a bollard. It might even be the case that the inspector doesn't notice the locking wheel nut or the spare key and marks them as missing, either of which would incur a huge recharge. It doesn't happen often, but it does happen. Having your own independent report can be very useful in such situations to help you argue your case.