Up top I will preface that my lessor is USBank. Yes I have read the stories. Yes, I wish I had read them 3 years ago.
I’m returning my lease --my end of term is 12/13 but was planning on going Friday to drop off. I’m aware of my disposition fee ($395) to the bank.
I did the self-inspection and was quoted $750 (well, really $475, $250 was for a dash light that for service that I went and got handled, and $25 for “missing” owner’s manual–I have it). It looks like I can maybe start this fresh but USB was very helpful about letting me know to bring in my service doc and evidence to the drop off so that’s included and I don’t get dinged for those costs.
Two questions I wanted to double check/get feedback on:
both the dispo fee and any excess wear/tear are due once i get the report back from the bank in whatever time frame they work with?
As far as the invoice, I know the estimate is just an estimate, but do they vary wildly when they actually inspect? Like 95% of the car is in really good condition and only 25k miles after three years, but I have some swipe damage on a rear quarter and door thanks to fat fingering a gate, and there is paint scraped away/damage/surface rust. But it’s pretty much looked the same for years and I live in LA.
An additional note: i went to carmax earlier today and they claimed “frame damage” after a 20 min inspection so not sure if that means something worse than what these photos show.
That means they noticed repaired or existing frame damage from a prior incident(s). Just means it’s not good enough for them to sell retail, but they’ll buy at much lower wholesale numbers to auction off. As long as the repair was to spec and performed properly, it shouldn’t be a problem.
i haven’t done any repairs to the car at all so maybe they were just taking about that part where they metal is kind of pinched on the wheel well? i haven’t been in any wild collections, just gate thing i mentioned
ETA: lol i only registered the “repaired” part but yeah. it was apretty STEEP devalue from them, 10k was their offer so im hoping that USB doesn’t throw me out a window
I buy cars (wholesale) for a living. This sounds really weird. Why is the car declared frame when it’s been in no accidents? Send me the vin and miles and payoff.
Carmax offers ultimately depend on how good/bad the inspector you get is my conclusion after taking a few cars to them. And I agree with Aronchi that you got off light for that panel if it goes through with the damage numbers you mentioned.
Hopefully not hijacking this thread, but when you all surrender your leases when the time comes, do you stay there after drop off with the person that does the inspection? Or is it good enough to just drop off the vehicle and do a video walk around to ensure you have proof you dropped off the vehicle in said condition?
closing the loop on this for posterity but i did chat briefly w/CMG also and got the frame damage note from them so i’m going thru insurance to get this repaired before returning it. thankfully i did have a couple of braincells to extend my lease to allow for repairs
the “inspection” was the self option and just based on photos, it probably would have been a lot higher after return. its in the shop and insurance sent an adjuster and their estimate was closer to 10k after looking at the daamage (aka replacing both rear passenger quarter and rear passenger door panels). doubt USB would have let that slide
yeah, i think w/o damage at all they might have offered me $17-18k for the vehicle so it’s pretty close. but unfortunately USB does have those escalating buyouts depending on who is doing the buying so it would have to be at least 18k to be at least a wash. i may get another quote from them to kick those tires
