This is my first lease and this website definitely helped me feel more confident going in my first time, but I definitely still have some questions. At the end of signing the lease they offer you several tiers of warranties. I was talked into the oil change one (6 oil changes for $258.00) as well as the vehicle protection plan (brakes, belts and hoses, alignment, battery, wiper blades, fuses and bulbs) with free key replacement for $620 over the 36 months, $0 deductible. These were rolled into my monthly. I took these reluctantly because I don’t quite get how wear and tear will be calculated at the end and I wasn’t sure if the things that this warranty covers are all things they would charge me for and charge me more than the $620. The finance guy selling this package “assured” me that this would cover me at wear and tear time. However there is nothing in this package about tires so he failed to mention that. I can cancel this warranty but should I keep it? What can I expect to be charged for wear and tear at the end of a Honda (I got the 2017 Civic EXL) lease? Also, would an aftermarket warranty be cheaper and cover more? Thanks.
Those are unnecessary and a total ripoff. I would return both packages.
Yeah the more I read the more I agree with that. I plan on returning them today. At the time the wear and tear was a mystery to me and at the end of a long lease negotiation I just forgot to think about it. Seems like a good strategy is to sell the vehicle before you turn it in, if you do not plan on keeping it. This avoids wear and tear fees and return fee. Thanks.
If you can sell it for more that payoff, sure, but chances are that will not be possible.
Then I guess my original question hasn’t been answered. $620 to cover most things over the 36 months minus the tires seems high. But is it? How much are they going to charge me for those things at the end of the lease? I assume the number can be anywhere from $200 to $2000 depending on actual wear and tear and the guy doing the inspection. They seem to use the wear and tear as a number to get you into another lease or buy the vehicle so can’t I expect it to be the cost of the tires plus brakes at the very least? Honda is already advertising a $500 wear and tear wavier if you get a new lease or buy a new car, so I can expect it to be at least $500 on average in their minds. Also, even if I sell it for $500 less than payoff aren’t I still ahead or at least break even once you calculate the $350 return fee and wear and tear? Versus owing like $1000 at the end of the lease.
I doubt they would charge you for any of these things. Your brakes should last longer than 36k miles and if a bulb goes out, it’ll cost you $5 to replace.
Thanks. So the typical wear and tear after a 36 month lease is just tires?
Yes. Depending on your driving style, the OEM tires on Civics would probably not need to be replaced either.
http://www.hondaleasereturncenter.com/images/Honda%20Self%20Inspection%20Reference%20Card.pdf
If you are over 4/32 you are good.
Perfect, this is what I needed. Thanks!
I think the discussion here so far isn’t getting after a significant concern than many people have when leasing a car. It’s similar to moving out of a leased property, where you have a lease agreement that says you are responsible for anything beyond normal wear and tear. You don’t know if the landlord is going to be reasonable about the condition of the property or pull out a magnifying glass and attempt to hold you financially responsible for a litany of little things that most people would certainly consider normal wear and tear.
What constitutes normal wear and tear vs excessive wear and tear? For measurable items like tire tread, it’s probably pretty clearly stated. For things like condition of the body or interior, expect to find a much vaguer description of what types of items will result in charges.
I’ve never returned a lease vehicle (currently leasing 3), but I’ve observed experiences ranging from totally painless to absolutely frustrating. I think certain companies have a less than stellar reputation for being unreasonable at lease end, but I don’t have a personal experience to share.
Both Ford and Infiniti have videos and other resources available to inform lessees about the lease end process - I’d imagine Honda does as well. Take a look at those resources beforehand if you’re concerned. Ask specific questions to the dealership about who will be inspecting then vehicle at lease end and what standards they will use. Lastly, understand that like a lot of things in then car business, it’s subject to negotiation. If the first response is something unreasonable, you may be able to work with them to get to a solution that is a little fairer. I’ve heard some second hand experiences of being nickel and dimed on the lease return, but if you lease another car that somehow all goes away…
Long story short there is no single, simple answer. Get the vehicle inspected a month or two before lease turn in to understand in advance what they intend to hold you responsible for - that gives you some time to sort it out before you hand in the keys and they present you with a bill. Cheers!
If you lease another Honda and they still have the $500 waiver, you would need to turn in a badly abused vehicle to owe $$$.
@mikebyu I echo what others have said about returning those packages.
I just had my 2014 inspected by Honda’s independent third party company and thus far it has been fairly painless.
Turns out they don’t charge if you lost one of the remote key fobs.
Of course, I haven’t actually turned it in yet, and I’m mildly nervous about what my final bill will look like, but if I can remember, I’ll post here after all is said and done.