Returning a leased vehicle often comes with an invoice: damage, diminished value, excess mileage. Not all of it is justified. If you can document the condition, you only pay what is genuinely due.
The basic rule first: you owe the lessor the vehicle in the contractually agreed condition — that is, with normal wear and tear but without damage beyond that. The dispute arises precisely at the line between “normal” and “has to be paid for”. These are the items that may come your way at the return.
If they cannot document an item of damage properly — or if you can document that it was already there at issue — the claim cannot be enforced.
Light car-wash scratches, minimal stone chips, the usual interior wear: this is covered by the lease payments and may not be charged. The art lies in drawing the line — and that is decided by the documentation.
Dents, deep scratches, damage to rims, cracks, missing parts: these have to be paid for. What matters is that every item of damage is named, assessed and documented individually. A blanket invoice for “various damage” is open to challenge.
Often it is not the repair that is charged but a diminished value (loss in value). This has to be derived traceably for each item of damage — merely adding up quotes is not enough. A recent ruling by the Higher Regional Court of Stuttgart, Germany (28 October 2025) expressly confirmed this requirement on the lessor.
If the agreed mileage is exceeded, a contractually fixed amount in cents applies per excess kilometre (kilometres under the limit are sometimes refunded). The prerequisite: the odometer reading at return is clearly documented. A disputed or incorrectly noted reading can quickly amount to several hundred euros here.
Your own return record with photos — do not rely solely on the lessor's.
Know the initial condition: anyone who documented at handover can prove “it was already there” instead of merely claiming it.
Photograph the odometer — with a link to time, not just noted down.
Check every item of damage claimed individually: is it beyond normal wear? Has the diminished value been derived?
If in doubt, counter with an independent expert appraisal.
Comcentra Logs produces one record at issue and one at return, neither of which can be changed afterwards: photos taken live on site with place and time, every item of damage marked individually on the diagram, the odometer reading bound to the photo, plus a before/after comparison. That makes it clear which damage occurred when — the basis for paying only justified costs. It protects lessees from inflated claims and gives lessors the quality of evidence the court requires.
For normal wear and tear, as a rule nothing; for damage beyond that, repair or diminished-value costs, plus excess mileage where applicable.
Wear and tear means small signs of use normal for the vehicle's age; damage goes beyond that and is recoverable. Where to draw the line is the most common point of dispute.
With a return record backed by evidence: the documented condition with photos, place and time, which no one can alter afterwards to your disadvantage.
The loss in value that remains despite repair — for example after major damage. It can be claimed in addition to the repair costs.
This article gives a practical overview and does not replace legal advice in an individual case. It refers to German law.