Pivotal return Standards

To ensure your handover or collection process is as seamless as possible, we’ve put together a guide on the condition you should return your car in.  We don’t expect your vehicle to be returned in perfect condition, but here is an outline on what is considered acceptable fair wear and tear. 

We work with the industry-wide, accepted standards created and maintained by the British Vehicle Rental Leasing Association (BVRLA). The BVRLA define fair wear and tear on vehicles when they are returned at the end of a lease or finance agreement.

How does this work?

After you have paused or updated your subscription:

  1. We will organise the collection of your vehicle.
  2. At the point of collection our team will perform an inspection of the vehicle, to assess any damage, and compare this against the report prior to the delivery to you. This inspection will take around one hour.
  3. You will then receive a vehicle condition report which will detail any points of damage.
  4. If there is anything which falls outside of the BVRLA guidelines, we will then organise the repair or recondition of any of these damages, and provide you the bill for any costs incurred.

In order for you to not incur any unexpected surprises, please familiarise yourself with the below to understand the parameters of what the BVRLA considers to be in scope when we refer to “fair wear and tear”. Anything outside of the scope below will incur costs.

See the bvrla guidelines here

GENERAL APPEARANCE, ROAD SAFETY & KEYS

First of all, please ensure that the vehicle is clean, this makes the inspection process much easier. If the vehicle is too dirty, it may prevent the inspection from being completed, as it can obscure our assessment. If this is the case, we will issue a vehicle cleaning fee (as detailed in our charges schedule), and complete the inspection when it is returned to our vehicle preparation centre.

All electronic safety features and driver assistance systems should be in working order, this includes: parking sensors, cruise controls, lane departure and collision warnings.

It might go without saying, but the car should be roadworthy, with no warning lights illuminated, so that we are able to collect the car as seamlessly as possible.

General Apperance, Road Safety & Keys

First of all, please ensure that the vehicle is clean, this makes the inspection process much easier. If the vehicle is too dirty, it may prevent the inspection from being completed, as it can obscure our assessment. If this is the case, we will issue a vehicle cleaning fee (as detailed in our charges schedule), and complete the inspection when it is returned to our vehicle preparation centre.

All electronic safety features and driver assistance systems should be in working order, this includes: parking sensors, cruise controls, lane departure and collision warnings.

It might go without saying, but the car should be roadworthy, with no warning lights illuminated, so that we are able to collect the car as seamlessly as possible.

Paintwork

Dents and scratches are inevitable, so we have the following allowances:

Chips: chips of 3mm or less in diameter are acceptable, provided they are not rusted. We permit a maximum of four chips on any panel, six chips per door edge, and eight chips on any forward-facing panel.

Dents: dents of less than 15mm or less in diameter are acceptable. We allow a maximum of two per panel, and the surface of the paint cannot be broken. Dents on the roof or the swage line of any panel are not permitted. Chips within dents are not acceptable.

Scratches: surface scratches of 25mm or less, (where the primer or bare metal is not showing) are acceptable, provided they can be polished out. A maximum of four surface scratches on one panel is acceptable.

You can organise the repair of chips, scratches or dents yourself, provided the work has been done to a professional standard by repairers who can provide a full warranty on their work. Any evidence of poor repair such as flaking paint, preparation marks, or poorly matched paint, will need to be reconditioned to a professional

Paintwork

Dents and scratches are inevitable, so we have the following allowances:

Chips: chips of 3mm or less in diameter are acceptable, provided they are not rusted. We permit a maximum of four chips on any panel, six chips per door edge, and eight chips on any forward-facing panel.

Dents: dents of less than 15mm or less in diameter are acceptable. We allow a maximum of two per panel, and the surface of the paint cannot be broken. Dents on the roof or the swage line of any panel are not permitted. Chips within dents are not acceptable.

Scratches: surface scratches of 25mm or less, (where the primer or bare metal is not showing) are acceptable, provided they can be polished out. A maximum of four surface scratches on one panel is acceptable.

You can organise the repair of chips, scratches or dents yourself, provided the work has been done to a professional standard by repairers who can provide a full warranty on their work. Any evidence of poor repair such as flaking paint, preparation marks, or poorly matched paint, will need to be reconditioned to a professional

WINDOWS, MIRRORS AND LIGHTS

Windows/ windscreens: Windows/ windscreens must be in a condition capable of passing an MOT. Light scratching of less than 10mm is acceptable, provided it does not interfere with the driver’s line of sight. The Automated Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) must still work properly.

Door mirrors: Missing, cracked or damaged mirror glass and housing units are not accepted. Adjustable or heated door mirrors must be working correctly.

Lamps and lenses: All lamps and lamp units must be in working order. Minor scuff marks of less than 25mm or less are acceptable. Holes or cracks in the glass or plastic covers of lamp covers are not acceptable. Water ingress within lenses is not acceptable.

Panoramic roofs: the roof must be fully functioning, with no chips, cracks or holes. Surface scratches of less than 40mm are acceptable provided they are able to be polished out.

Windows, Mirrors and Lights

Windows/ windscreens: Windows/ windscreens must be in a condition capable of passing an MOT. Light scratching of less than 10mm is acceptable, provided it does not interfere with the driver’s line of sight. The Automated Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) must still work properly.

Door mirrors: Missing, cracked or damaged mirror glass and housing units are not accepted. Adjustable or heated door mirrors must be working correctly.

Lamps and lenses: All lamps and lamp units must be in working order. Minor scuff marks of less than 25mm or less are acceptable. Holes or cracks in the glass or plastic covers of lamp covers are not acceptable. Water ingress within lenses is not acceptable.

Panoramic roofs: the roof must be fully functioning, with no chips, cracks or holes. Surface scratches of less than 40mm are acceptable provided they are able to be polished out.

Tyres and Wheels

All tyres, including spare tyres, must meet minimum UK legal requirements and must comply with the manufacturer’s recommendations of tyre type, class, size and speed rating for the vehicle. Any replacement tyres must be to the same specification as those originally supplied on the vehicle.

There must be no damage to the sidewalls or tread, or any cracking.

Dents on wheels or wheels trims are not acceptable. Scuffs up to 50mm on the total circumference of the wheel rim and on alloy wheels/ wheel hubs are acceptable.

Any damage to wheel spokes, wheel fascia or hub of the wheel is not acceptable.

The spare wheel & jack must be intact & stored properly.

Emergency tyre inflation kit (if supplied) must be in full working order.

Tyres And Wheels

All tyres, including spare tyres, must meet minimum UK legal requirements and must comply with the manufacturer’s recommendations of tyre type, class, size and speed rating for the vehicle. Any replacement tyres must be to the same specification as those originally supplied on the vehicle.

There must be no damage to the sidewalls or tread, or any cracking.

Dents on wheels or wheels trims are not acceptable. Scuffs up to 50mm on the total circumference of the wheel rim and on alloy wheels/ wheel hubs are acceptable.

Any damage to wheel spokes, wheel fascia or hub of the wheel is not acceptable.

The spare wheel & jack must be intact & stored properly.

Emergency tyre inflation kit (if supplied) must be in full working order.

Mechanical Condition

The vehicle must be returned in a safe, legal, and reliable mechanical condition, capable of passing a MOT test.

There should be no vehicle warning lights on. If a warning light is on, this may mean that the vehicle is not drivable, and the vehicle collection could be abandoned. An abandoned collection will incur a cancelled movement cost of £295. Fluid leaks such as oil, coolant and brake fluids are not acceptable. For more detail on the mechanical condition, see the full BVRLA guidelines here.

Mechanical Condition

The vehicle must be returned in a safe, legal, and reliable mechanical condition, capable of passing a MOT test.

There should be no vehicle warning lights on. If a warning light is on, this may mean that the vehicle is not drivable, and the vehicle collection could be abandoned. An abandoned collection will incur a cancelled movement cost of £295, as detailed in our Charges Schedule. Fluid leaks such as oil, coolant and brake fluids are not acceptable. For more detail on the mechanical condition, see the full BVRLA guidelines here.

Vehicle Interior

The vehicle upholstery and trim must be clean and odourless, with no:

  • Burns
  • Scratches
  • Tears
  • Dents or
  • Staining

Carpets should have no holes. All seats and headrests originally supplied should be present.

vehicle Interior

The vehicle upholstery and trim must be clean and odourless, with no:

  • Burns
  • Scratches
  • Tears
  • Dents or
  • Staining

Carpets should have no holes. All seats and headrests originally supplied should be present.

Equipment and Controls

All original equipment, accessories and controls must be present, and operate correctly, including any charging cables. This does not include home ChargePoints, if all conditions were met in the terms of conditions.

All driver safety equipment should be fitted, and remain functional.

All personal items should be removed, we will endeavour to return any personal items, however, this will incur a fee of £25.

Equipment and Controls

All original equipment, accessories and controls must be present, and operate correctly, including any charging cables. This does not include home ChargePoints, if all conditions were met in the terms of conditions.

All driver safety equipment should be fitted, and remain functional.

All personal items should be removed, we will endeavour to return any personal items, however, this will incur a fee of £25.

If you have any questions, or want any clarification on any of the items included in the BVRLA guidelines, please do not hesitate to contact the Pivotal team at [email protected] or +44 (0) 20 3950 4833.

Pivotal

Registered office
Abbey Road,
Whitley,
Coventry, CV3 4LF
Registered in England: 10445040

+44 (0) 20 3950 4833

About Pivotal

Legal

CloseMenu

Speak to a pivotal Expert

Marketing Preferences
Please tick the boxes below if you would like to receive wider marketing communications from Pivotal. In ticking below, you consent for Pivotal to contact you using the details you have provided for these purposes. We gather statistics around email opening and clicks.
Marketing - Email
Marketing - Phone
Marketing - Mail
Marketing - SMS
Eligibilty(Required)
Your personal data will be treated in accordance with our privacy policy.
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.