What lease returns actually charge for
Chips on the front bumper, chipped or hazed headlights, scuffs on the hood. The inspector runs a card over the panel and anything beyond the wear guide is billed at body-shop prices. A respray of a bumper on the return invoice is $600 and up.
What film does for a lease
- Partial Front from $899: front bumper and headlights. The two items on every return invoice.
- Full Front from $1,799: add the hood, fenders and mirrors if the lease is long or the car is dark.
- Film comes off clean at return, or stays on: many lessees leave it, and it helps the car sell as a CPO.
What does not make sense
Full Body PPF on a three-year lease you will not buy. The math only works if you keep the car. The exception is a buyout you already plan to exercise.
Timing
The first two weeks of the lease. Film over a chip does not remove the chip, and the return inspector will find it.
