Is a windscreen chip fair wear and tear?

Only if it is 10mm or less in the driver's line of vision, or 40mm or less elsewhere in the area the wipers sweep.

Can I be charged for a dirty lease car?

Yes. Normal soiling is accepted but stains are not, and a car too dirty to inspect can be refused at collection.

What glass and interior damage can a leasing company charge for?

Glass damage over 10mm in the driver's line of vision, or over 40mm anywhere else the wipers sweep, is chargeable. Inside the car, normal wear and soiling is accepted, but burns, tears, holes and stains are not, however they happened.

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

Glass and lights

Item	Acceptable	Chargeable
Windscreen	Light scratching that does not affect the driver's view	Damage over 10mm in the driver's line of vision, or over 40mm in the wiped area
Lamps and lenses	Scuffs or scratches up to 25mm, all lamps working	Holes, cracks or failed lamps
Door mirrors	Intact and working	Missing, cracked or damaged

One decision applied the windscreen measurements to a rear screen and upheld a £367.96 charge for scratching.¹ Another upheld £315.18 for a windscreen.²

Seats, carpets and trim

The interior should be clean, with no burns, tears or staining on seats, headrests or trim, and no holes in carpets.³ Scratches on door sills and boot treads from normal use are accepted.

A £50 charge for soiled upholstery stood.¹
A £368.97 charge for tears in a driver's seat was refunded, because the tears probably came from a defect present when the car was supplied.⁴
A van driver argued the factory floor matting had worn through under work boots. The ombudsman found a hole in the floor covering is damage, and saw no evidence the matting was defective.⁵

What to do before return

Valet the car. A dirty car can lead to an abandoned collection or a valet charge.⁶
Have windscreen chips repaired while they are small. Windscreen cover on many policies pays for a chip repair for a small excess or none.
Photograph the interior on the day of collection.

Disputing a glass or interior charge

Ask for the photograph and where on the screen the damage sits. A mark outside the driver's view has to be over 40mm to be chargeable.

Quick answers

Is a windscreen chip fair wear and tear?: Only if it is 10mm or less in the driver's line of vision, or 40mm or less elsewhere in the area the wipers sweep.
Can I be charged for a dirty lease car?: Yes. Normal soiling is accepted but stains are not, and a car too dirty to inspect can be refused at collection.