Is the BVRLA standard legally binding?

It binds you only because your agreement refers to it. The Financial Ombudsman Service treats it as the industry standard when deciding whether a charge is fair.

How big a scratch is allowed on a lease car?

Up to 25mm, as long as no primer or bare metal shows and it could be polished out, with no more than four on any one panel.

How big a dent is allowed on a lease car?

15mm or less across under the current standard, with no more than two on a panel and the paint unbroken. No dent is allowed on the roof or a swage line.

What counts as fair wear and tear on a lease car?

Fair wear and tear is the deterioration that comes from normal use. The BVRLA standard, which most UK leasing companies write into their agreements, puts numbers on it: scratches up to 25mm, dents up to 15mm, stone chips up to 3mm and alloy wheel scuffs up to 50mm in total on a wheel. Damage from a single event, such as a kerb strike or a car park knock, is chargeable.

Last reviewed 13 November 2026. Every figure links to its source.

The limits at a glance

The four size limits drawn to the same scale. Screens vary, so measure the car with a real ruler.

Item	Usually acceptable	Usually chargeable
Scratches	25mm or less, no primer or bare metal showing, able to be polished out, up to four on a panel	Longer or deeper scratches, or more than four on a panel
Dents	15mm or less across, up to two on a panel, paint unbroken	Any dent on the roof or on a swage line, or a chip inside a dent
Stone chips	3mm or less and not rusted. Up to four on a panel, six on a door edge, eight on a forward-facing panel	Rusted chips, or more than those counts
Alloy wheels	Scuffs adding up to 50mm around the rim	Dents, and any damage to the spokes, face or hub
Tyres	Legal tread depth and the right type for the car	Cuts, cracking or sidewall damage
Windscreen	Light scratching outside the driver's view	Damage over 10mm in the driver's line of vision, or over 40mm elsewhere in the wiped area
Interior	Wear and soiling from normal use	Burns, tears, holes and stains
Keys and records	All keys and a complete service record returned	Missing keys or missed services

These figures are the current car standard as published by leasing companies and quoted in ombudsman decisions.¹²³⁴

The limits are totals and counts, not just sizes

Three details catch people out. Alloy scuffs are added together on each wheel, so two 30mm kerb marks make 60mm. Scratches and chips have a count per panel as well as a size. And depth beats length: a 10mm scratch that shows primer is chargeable.

Which edition applies to you

Your agreement decides which standard applies, and most name the BVRLA guide. Earlier editions used a 10mm limit for dents, where the current one uses 15mm.⁵ If your bill includes dents between 10mm and 15mm, ask the company in writing which edition its inspector applied.

Vans have their own BVRLA guide with different tolerances. See business lease and van return charges.

What the standard does not excuse

The BVRLA says charges can still apply when the leasing company chooses not to repair the car before selling it, and that no charge applies for refurbishment caused by normal wear.⁶ The ombudsman follows the same line. Passing an MOT and returning the car under its mileage allowance have not reduced damage charges in the decisions we have read.⁷⁸

How to use the limits on your own bill

Ask for the inspection report and the photograph for every line charged.
Compare each line with the row above. Look for a ruler or scale in the photo.
Count scratches and chips per panel and add up scuffs per wheel.
Dispute the lines where the photo does not show damage beyond the limit.

Quick answers

Is the BVRLA standard legally binding?: It binds you only because your agreement refers to it. The Financial Ombudsman Service treats it as the industry standard when deciding whether a charge is fair.
How big a scratch is allowed on a lease car?: Up to 25mm, as long as no primer or bare metal shows and it could be polished out, with no more than four on any one panel.
How big a dent is allowed on a lease car?: 15mm or less across under the current standard, with no more than two on a panel and the paint unbroken. No dent is allowed on the roof or a swage line.