# Dazed and Confused: Not an Inspection Process Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Off-Ramp\ **Created:** [April 9, 2026, 7:39pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/dazed-and-confused-not-an-inspection-process-question/756030 "2026-04-09T19:39:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![trism](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.leasehackr.com/trism/32/26973_2.png) [@trism](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/trism)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2026, 7:39pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/dazed-and-confused-not-an-inspection-process-question/756030/1 "2026-04-09T19:39:11Z")
Lease inspection is coming, and I know the process. Obviously if this gets noticed(!) it’s chargeable. 😃 Some are harder to see than others, but there are 7 or 8 scratches roughly parallel, some deeper than others, a couple spanning the entire width of the roof from rail to rail. ![IMG_0188 (002)](https://leasehackr-assets.b-cdn.net/original/3X/1/7/17a442f1d2ea104de4ca921d16c880befa1d0374.jpeg) ![IMG_0191 (002)](https://leasehackr-assets.b-cdn.net/original/3X/5/f/5fab0df39653c150c39c4260cbbc1436179abfd6.jpeg) ![IMG_0185 (002)](https://leasehackr-assets.b-cdn.net/original/3X/6/0/609e2dbf391b9f062de3e4093f451760014a3238.jpeg) ![IMG_0183 (002)](https://leasehackr-assets.b-cdn.net/original/3X/6/f/6ffbf9c9563d72483a3b39f36702afd3812e4054.jpeg) ![IMG_0184 (002)](https://leasehackr-assets.b-cdn.net/original/3X/1/5/15a84220bec408dee306bd3f98954ed4c7d10c52.jpeg) ![IMG_0189 (002)](https://leasehackr-assets.b-cdn.net/original/3X/a/b/ab09c23e936b7bfbc55cecd6872465110fce3c33.jpeg) If this condition was on door panels or even the hood I would assume it was vandalism. But the top? Can I request an inspector who’s only 5’2"? ---
**Author:** ![Redstone1](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar/redstone1/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Redstone1](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/Redstone1)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2026, 7:48pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/dazed-and-confused-not-an-inspection-process-question/756030/2 "2026-04-09T19:48:11Z")
“I went ahead and put it on the lift so you can get a really good look at the undercarriage!” ---
**Author:** ![joeblogs](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.leasehackr.com/joeblogs/32/44022_2.png) [@joeblogs](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/joeblogs)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2026, 8:26pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/dazed-and-confused-not-an-inspection-process-question/756030/3 "2026-04-09T20:26:28Z")
Get it really dirty and or get some of that magic scratch hider/polish crap, a decent detailer should be able to make those go away or hide them pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![jeisensc](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.leasehackr.com/jeisensc/32/224821_2.png) [@jeisensc](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/jeisensc)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2026, 8:28pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/dazed-and-confused-not-an-inspection-process-question/756030/4 "2026-04-09T20:28:51Z")
> [@joeblogs](#): > > a decent detailer should be able to make those go away +1 for touch up paint and having a pro detailer see what they can do Guesses: people “rest things” on the roof all the time and unintentionally drag them, but _me thinks_ the long drag across the top was caused by a car wash (roller that didn’t or debris dragging in the brushes) Also (looks at time in service, mileage, damage, and to the primary driver) _ **THIS** is why we can’t have poofy things, our neglect leaves them less-poofy than we found them._ ---
**Author:** ![trism](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.leasehackr.com/trism/32/26973_2.png) [@trism](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/trism)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2026, 5:23pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/dazed-and-confused-not-an-inspection-process-question/756030/5 "2026-04-10T17:23:28Z")
I was nearby anyway so I stopped in at a local [Leader in SMART Repairs & Automotive Reconditioning | Dent Wizard](https://www.dentwizard.com/) location. Because of the depth of at least some of the scratches, all they could do was repaint the roof. I’ll have the estimate later today. Detailer path is probably the most fruitful, I just couldn’t squeeze that in today. ---
**Author:** ![trism](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.leasehackr.com/trism/32/26973_2.png) [@trism](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/trism)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 7:49pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/dazed-and-confused-not-an-inspection-process-question/756030/6 "2026-05-08T19:49:21Z")
I’ve been to a detailer and two body shops. All three told me to hope the inspector doesn’t notice, because painting the roof is the only option. Second body shop estimate was verbal, but was in line with the written one I already had. ![image](https://leasehackr-assets.b-cdn.net/original/3X/0/9/09096e2ce188bcaf34fd19bb70eca54880774d92.png) ---
**Author:** ![valek.jw](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.leasehackr.com/valek.jw/32/109883_2.png) [@valek.jw](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/valek.jw)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2026, 9:19pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/dazed-and-confused-not-an-inspection-process-question/756030/7 "2026-05-10T21:19:27Z")
Do you use an automatic carwash? A good detail/buffing won’t make these “disappear” but may at the very least improve them a bit. If you can find a good detailer maybe let them try. It’s cheaper than paint. ---
**Author:** ![trism](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.leasehackr.com/trism/32/26973_2.png) [@trism](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/trism)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 12:15am UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/dazed-and-confused-not-an-inspection-process-question/756030/8 "2026-05-11T00:15:44Z")
It’s been through an automatic car wash three or four times. The detailer I met with said he could make some of them look better, but the problem is that he can’t do much of anything for the worst ones, which means some pretty obvious deep scratches will remain. At this point I think I’m going to roll the dice on the inspection. Even if they flag it I think the bill will be less than a body shop would charge to repaint it. ---
**Author:** ![valek.jw](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.leasehackr.com/valek.jw/32/109883_2.png) [@valek.jw](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/valek.jw)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 4:15pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/dazed-and-confused-not-an-inspection-process-question/756030/9 "2026-05-13T16:15:36Z")
Never do the automatic car wash. And you’re probably right, the excess wear charge will probably be less than going through a repaint of the affected panels. ---
**Author:** ![Muwa](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar/muwa/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Muwa](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/Muwa)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 4:19pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/dazed-and-confused-not-an-inspection-process-question/756030/10 "2026-05-13T16:19:24Z")
I highly suggest leaving your car outside for a while without washing it, 80% chance they won’t say anything. ---
**Author:** ![IAC](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.leasehackr.com/iac/32/149215_2.png) [@IAC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/IAC)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 4:26pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/dazed-and-confused-not-an-inspection-process-question/756030/11 "2026-05-13T16:26:28Z")
Woah buddy, those run deep. ---
**Author:** ![valek.jw](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.leasehackr.com/valek.jw/32/109883_2.png) [@valek.jw](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/valek.jw)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 6:43pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/dazed-and-confused-not-an-inspection-process-question/756030/12 "2026-05-13T18:43:32Z")
I agree with @Muwa , don’t have the car super clean on the outside when the inspector comes. Now don’t let it look trashed out either, but I wouldn’t put a spit shine on it before they come inspect. Have the interior looking nice though. ---
**Author:** ![anique](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.leasehackr.com/anique/32/195260_2.png) [@anique](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/anique)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 1:06am UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/dazed-and-confused-not-an-inspection-process-question/756030/13 "2026-05-14T01:06:46Z")
> [@trism](#): > > The detailer I met with said he could make some of them look better If this is in San Diego, I can suggest a guy. He has been good every time I have been to him with such scratches. ---
**Author:** ![trism](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.leasehackr.com/trism/32/26973_2.png) [@trism](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/trism)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 1:00pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/dazed-and-confused-not-an-inspection-process-question/756030/14 "2026-05-14T13:00:38Z")
Thank you for the offer. This car is at our home in Ohio. ---
**Author:** ![trism](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.leasehackr.com/trism/32/26973_2.png) [@trism](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/trism)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2026, 4:35pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/dazed-and-confused-not-an-inspection-process-question/756030/15 "2026-08-29T16:35:27Z")
I don’t want to use precise numbers or elaborate too much (purely out of superstition), but the story has a happy ending. The excess wear charges assessed on this vehicle were less than $50. In addition to waiving the disposition fee, when you replace a GMF lease with another GMF lease (which we did) GMF also takes 50% off excess wear charges up to $500. That brought the total to less than $25, which I paid with GM Rewards points.