# When can a leasing company charge for scratches, dents and stone chips?

A scratch is chargeable when it is longer than 25mm, shows primer or bare metal, or is one of more than four on a panel. A dent is chargeable when it is wider than 15mm, breaks the paint, or sits on the roof or a swage line. Stone chips are chargeable over 3mm, when rusted, or beyond four on a panel.

Last reviewed 13 November 2026. Published by Handback Check (https://damagereclaim.co.uk), an independent UK service that checks lease return bills. Canonical page: https://damagereclaim.co.uk/guides/scratches-dents-chips-lease-return/

## The limits

Size limits: stone chip 3mm, dent 15mm, scratch 25mm, alloy wheel scuff 50mm in total per wheel.

| Mark | Acceptable | Count allowed |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Scratch | 25mm or less, no primer or metal showing, can be polished out | Four on a panel |
| Dent | 15mm or less, paint unbroken | Two on a panel, none on the roof or a swage line |
| Stone chip | 3mm or less, not rusted | Four on a panel, six on a door edge, eight on a forward-facing panel |

A swage line is the crease pressed into a panel, usually running along the side of the car at door handle height. [1] [2]

## What these charges cost

Charges are set per panel and depend on the repair needed. One LeasePlan bill charged £45 for a scratch over 25mm that had not gone through the top coat and £135 for one that had. [3] A Leasys bill ranged from £48 for a dent to £168 for a scratched door. [2] A Santander bill charged £160 a panel to refinish poor paintwork. [4]

## How the ombudsman has applied the limits

- A dent "slightly over" 15mm was chargeable. [5]
- A dent that crossed a swage line was chargeable whatever its size. [6]
- More than four scratches on one panel was chargeable even though each was short. [2]
- A crack that left a 5mm hole in a bumper justified an £875.89 charge, because cracks and holes are outside the standard altogether. [7]
- Four charges worth £660 were removed where the photographs did not clearly show the damage. [8]

## Bumpers, trims and mouldings

On unpainted trims and mouldings the same 25mm scuff limit applies, provided the part is not broken, cracked or deformed. [2]

## What to do with your bill

1. Match each line to a photograph and look for a measuring scale.
2. Check whether the mark is on a swage line or the roof.
3. Count the marks on that panel.
4. Dispute lines where the photo does not show the size, depth or count claimed.

## Quick answers

**Are stone chips fair wear and tear on a lease car?** Yes, when each is 3mm or less and not rusted, up to four on a panel, six on a door edge and eight on a forward-facing panel such as the bonnet.

**Can I be charged if the leasing company never repairs the scratch?** Yes. BVRLA guidance allows the charge even when the company sells the car unrepaired, and the ombudsman has accepted that in several decisions.

**What is a swage line?** The crease or styling line pressed into a body panel. No dent on a swage line counts as fair wear and tear.

## Sources

1. [The AA, Understanding the fair wear and tear standards](https://www.theaa.com/leasing/leasing-guides/understanding-the-fair-wear-and-tear-standards)
2. [Financial Ombudsman Service, decision DRN-5495134 (Leasys)](https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/decision/DRN-5495134.pdf)
3. [Financial Ombudsman Service, decision DRN-5588300 (LeasePlan)](https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/decision/DRN-5588300.pdf)
4. [Financial Ombudsman Service, decision DRN-5794559 (Santander Consumer Contract Hire)](https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/decision/DRN-5794559.pdf)
5. [Financial Ombudsman Service, decision DRN-5896019 (Arval)](https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/decision/DRN-5896019.pdf)
6. [Financial Ombudsman Service, decision DRN-5975214 (LeasePlan)](https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/decision/DRN-5975214.pdf)
7. [Financial Ombudsman Service, decision DRN-5371089 (Skoda Financial Services)](https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/decision/DRN-5371089.pdf)
8. [Financial Ombudsman Service, decision DRN-6223826 (ALD Automotive)](https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/decision/DRN-6223826.pdf)