Our Volvo is a few months from lease end. Planning on returning the car.
Just discovered significant overspray on the car from a painting project near where we regularly park. Overspray did not come off with a hand wash.
If we were going to keep the car I’d contact the painting contractor and request they cover removal of the overspray or failing that submit a comprehensive claim to our insurance and let them go after the contractor.
But since the car is going back at lease end and belongs to the finance company I’m not sure if that’s best. Maybe bring it up at the pre-return inspection and proceed based on what the finance company wants to do?
Has anyone dealt with 3 party damage at lease end? If so how did you deal with it?
Damage is damage. How recent was it? I would first try (politely & professionally) reach out to the contracting company. You’ll likely need a good buffing to remove the overspray, by a reputable detail shop.
They want it fixed, and they don’t really care who does it. But to them you are responsible, if you don’t think so, then you need to figure that out with the contractor or your insurance imo
I have no experience w/ this, but I think, as the poster above said, the bank is simply going to want it fixed. You can either fix it before you turn it in or get a pre-return inspection to see how much they would charge you for the damage.
Either way, prob a good idea to follow @max_g’s suggestion to get an independent quote for fixing it on your own.
There is nothing to bring up. Schedule the inspection and just see what they say. Best case scenario the inspector notices some kind of paint issue one or two panels and dings you $300. Worst case scenario more than that. You won’t know until you get the inspection, but again I wouldn’t “bring it up”.
The finance co doesn’t care who damaged it, as far as they are concerned, it is your problem.
The painting contractor is going to be hard enough to go after today, what do you think their response will be 2 months from now when you do the lease return inspection?
Get it fixed professionally, one way or another. But if you want the painter to pay for it, the clock is ticking.
What kind of paint? How bad is it and how many panels? You are looking at options from aggressive rubbing to full repaint. Most construction dyes will come off with orbital polisher.
I’m not sure what your car looks like, but I’ve had an issue with overspray on a prior lease. Clay bar (a type of detailing product) took it all off, just took some elbow grease. Watch a YouTube video on how to do it. If you use soap as a lubricant it will not damage the paint. If that doesn’t work, random orbital paint correction (paint polishing) will likely fix it; this would be better done by a detailer if only because you need the proper polishing machine. Good luck!
Thanks again for the many responses and suggestions.
Not sure what paint type but it was a spray application onto the exterior of a concrete structure.
Paint seems to be evenly distributed over the entire exterior of the car. Body panels, trim, and wheels. Very small drops. Same color as body panels so hard to see there but it can be felt with fingers. Most visible on piano black trim.
I understand that I am ultimately responsible to the finance company to correct the issue.
My primary concern is to balance the need to correct the issue in a way the finance company is happy with vs the need to make a claim to the painting contractor as soon as possible to increase the odds of getting them to cover the damage.
Sounds like getting a quote for repair and taking that to the contractor now but waiting to pull the trigger on the repair until after the pre-return inspection may be the best approach.
Asking/demanding/expecting the contractor to make amends months after the fact is a bunch of IMO. If the inspector (or finance company) discovers overspray on an area or two, they are likely going to see it all. The first thing I would do is look over the entire car, after being alerted.
We’ve got ~a dozen posts on here saying the same thing I said at the beginning. It needs to be corrected. If I were you - I would do it now vs waiting for an inspector to see it all, then you will REALLY need to get it corrected.
Bring it to a reputable detail shop that does paint correction. They will be able to tell you if that will remove the overspray. The longer it sits (esp as the weather gets warmer), the more challenging it will be to remove.
I would not bring this to the attention of the financing company. That will likely only trigger a more thorough inspection IMO. Get a pre-return lease inspection (without alerted them) and see what they say.
A clay bar may get it off. If OP isn’t good with auto detailing or knows nothing about it then take it to a good detailer and let them give it a try. A reputable detailer will not cause more damage. If anything, they will be able to tell you before doing any work if/how they think it can be corrected. It’s not that complicated.
IMO. If the inspector (or finance company) discovers overspray on an area or two, they are likely going to see it all. The first thing I would do is look over the entire car, after being alerted.