Leased car return: what happens
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Anonymous
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My elderly mom is scheduled to turn in her lease car. She will not buy a new car. When she went to turn it in, the vin did not match the contract. She is out of state. The car is in her elderly brothers driveway. She was scheduled to fly to DC today but this is postponed due to the car. I think she has to turn the car in herself and sign paperwork. I have only bought cars, so I am unfamiliar with the process.
Doesn't she have to do it in person? Also, I think she needs to stay in Michigan until the vin issue is solved. Thanks for the information. |
Anonymous
| Can someone get a power of attorney? |
Anonymous
| someone needs to go to the dealer with her- an elderly woman turning in a lease, with a problem, seems like a salesman's dream |
Anonymous
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Without a power of attorney I would assume she has to turn it in herself.
What do you mean the VIN doesn’t match? Is it the right car or not? |
Anonymous
This.. Depending on the brand you may have an allowance for a certain $$ of damages built into the contract. Some brands have dealers do inspections themselves and others may have a 3rd party do it. But other Brands like BMW will it will depend entirely on the dealer. Some trips from my recent experience turning in my lease - Despite BMW having clear guidelines for what is considered damage, and what isn't, some dealers will make their own rules up (like all 4 tires have to be the same brand, or "We'll mark it as damaged on the turn in form, but you can call BMW after to explain and remove it") -Passport in Alexandria wanted to charge $1500 for dents, scratches, curb rash and a windshield chip. I agreed with them on all of the damage except the curb rash. Sterling told me different rules about the curb rash, but still both contradicted BMW FS 
-I ended up going to a dealer outside Philadelphia, to do the return and they didn't notice one of the dents nor the windshield chip. due to the fact I already extended my lease, I had to have a 3rd party do the final inspection, but they ended up only charging me $350 for one scratch  which was surprising considering they're known to be more strict
I'd highly recommend avoiding DC area dealers if you can help it, 99% of the time for most brands, your mother does not need to return her car where it was purchased, or even the state where she lives. Now if the VIN doesn't match, that means there's something seriously wrong with the deal, I'm not a lawyer but it seems like she was paying $$ for something she never received, so you could have a decent chance of getting some cash back if you felt like it. But do not let her go alone, make sure to read up ahead of time on your brand or bank's website about what the lease end process is like, read up on forums about what other people have experienced, tally up your expected fees, and have that prepared to reference when you're at the dealer. Another thought, put in your mom's VIN on Vroom or Carvana, it very well could be possible that they're willing to pay your mom more than her buyout, which saves you a lot of time since you can do the transaction online, plus you are not on the hook for the lease's disposition fee. Obviously sort out the VIN issue before you go this route. |
Anonymous
This x1000. |
Anonymous
| First thing you need to do is figure out the VIN issue. Is she certain it doesn’t match? I’d run a Carfax report. |
Anonymous
That's the part that has me worried OP. It could have been an error in the paperwork way back when she leased the car, it could be they're wrong and that indeed the document and car do match, or it could be they are getting ready to scam her, but someone needs to be there with her to help her. Is there anyone nearby, a relative or a friend or even the pastor of her church who can help her with this? |