Author Topic: Returning a Lease with AutoVin (Read 6627 times)

hozman · « **on:** April 01, 2009, 10:38:55 am »

I have to return my 2006 Ford Fusion, have an appt with AutoVin next week. I have some minor issues with scratches etc...they send over a pamplet with a card in it, with a hole and a ruler line. Anything bigger than the hole or larger than the ruler line I am liable for. I wish they gave you that card before you sign the lease. I think its a big cash grab. How can I deal with these guys? I don't have alot of cash to settle with them. Any ideas?

thx
-h

sailor723 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 01, 2009, 10:55:58 am »

I have yet to have any dealings with Autovin but from what I've read here..............Good Luck!

The most important thing to do is to read the fine print on your original lease. That's the legal agreement.

Giant Dwarf · « **Reply #2 on:** April 01, 2009, 11:02:06 am »

I'm a little concerned right now myself. My MX-5 is going back (early) next week sometime. The problem is, I can't seem to get the Mazda dealer to send the AutoVin inspection ahead of time. So, I have to return the car blindly and just hope they don't come back with a laundry list of fictitious repairs that need to be made?

aquadorhj · « **Reply #3 on:** April 01, 2009, 11:07:44 am »

Quote from: Giant Dwarf on April 01, 2009, 11:02:06 am

I'm a little concerned right now myself. My MX-5 is going back (early) next week sometime. The problem is, I can't seem to get the Mazda dealer to send the AutoVin inspection ahead of time. So, I have to return the car blindly and just hope they don't come back with a laundry list of fictitious repairs that need to be made?

Hey Giant D, it's a bit out of bluemoon but would you give me some idea on your ownership experience with MX-5?
I like that car so very much I want to get as much info as possible.

To the original poster, my apology for going off topic. Good luck with your lease return!

hozman · « **Reply #4 on:** April 01, 2009, 11:23:26 am »

just call AutoVin and set up an appt.
1-866-620-7021

quadzilla · « **Reply #5 on:** April 01, 2009, 11:30:35 am »

To the OP: The details should have been in your lease agreement. I don't understand why you thought you could lease (rent) a car and expect to give it back not in good condition?

I just went through the Autovin with my Mazda and my process was quite painless. Next to the terrible phone people the guy that came was really nice and even a car nut. He did his job and marked out any issues, printed up a report and explained everything to me. Do I think he went out of his way to find 'extra' issues...not at all.

My only issue came when tried to return the car. I was told I could return it to any Mazda dealer so I took it to the closest to where I bought my new car. Once there the guy says I can't leave it here to which I told him, that Mazda said I could. He was upset that people would just leave cars and they have to pay for extra parking space (this is TO). I told him, that is your problem to deal with Mazda, not me. I'm sure they took it for a joy ride to Florida the next day.

Of course, I'm still waiting for my final bill from Mazda. Its only been 3 weeks.

ktm525 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 01, 2009, 11:31:09 am »

I have a date with Autovin in two weeks. They are sending someone to my house to give the Volvo the once over. This is set up 2 weeks before the end of the lease so i can get any "findings" addressed. I need a windshield.

toolatecrew · « **Reply #7 on:** April 01, 2009, 11:56:13 am »

Quote from: hozman on April 01, 2009, 10:38:55 am

I have to return my 2006 Ford Fusion, have an appt with AutoVin next week. I have some minor issues with scratches etc...they send over a pamplet with a card in it, with a hole and a ruler line. Anything bigger than the hole or larger than the ruler line I am liable for. I wish they gave you that card before you sign the lease. I think its a big cash grab. How can I deal with these guys? I don't have alot of cash to settle with them. Any ideas?

thx
-h

If all you are worried about is dents and scratches (no other big issues ) then you have a few

1.WIll Autovin do the inspection before return? If so they will identify the damage you need to pay for. You can then decide if you want to get it fixed yourself or pay their fees (which will be high). Then you can get the scratches etc fixed and make sure that when you return it you don't leave until someone has signed that the issues noted by Autovin are not there. If they won't sign or say "we can't do that" then refuse to retunr the car until someone who can does. Once its out of your hands you are screwed.

2. If for some reason they can't/won't do a presinspection. I suggest making an appointment for an estimate at your dealership body shop. Call the body shop directly. Do NOT tell them you are returing the car off lease. Simply get an estimate for cost to fix the current dents and scratches. Then you can decide if you want them fixed first.

If not when they inspect the vehicle you can present them with a quote for fixing the damage provided by their very own body shop. You can offer to take it to the shop and have it fixed for that price or pay that price for them to get it fixed. No more.

read your lrase contract. You have a card that shows what damage you are liable for. You should expect to have that damage repaired or pay to have it reapired. No more. No less.

toolatecrew · « **Reply #8 on:** April 01, 2009, 12:01:53 pm »

Quote from: ktm525 on April 01, 2009, 11:31:09 am

I have a date with Autovin in two weeks. They are sending someone to my house to give the Volvo the once over. This is set up 2 weeks before the end of the lease so i can get any "findings" addressed. I need a windshield.

I went through same process with my Volvo.

It was painless. FUnny thing was that the guy said "Your tires are just on the edge of meeting spec I'll mrk them as such . If they wear more between now and when you return you could get dinged". I wasn't worried as I had another worn set of tires that would pass for sure (long story).

When I returned the car the Volvo dealer did nothing more than collect the keys and verify the mileage. They didn't even look at anything else. I was sure to have them sign they recived the car. That was the end of it.

Preinspection is a good thing. I would suggest that you take some digital pics with a date stamp on the day they do the inspection. If you don't get some damage fixed (don't know why you would not) for sure take digital pics when you drop it off at the dealer. Protect yourself against damage that happenes after you leave.

hozman · « **Reply #9 on:** April 11, 2009, 11:03:01 am »

well they finally did the inspection. most of what they found they classified under normal wear and tear. they did ding me for 2 scratches that you could feel. I think it went to the paint. One small scratch was $60, another larger was $120. I am going to try to negotiate with Ford credit since I returned the car with less than 20,000 KMs than allowed. Overall it was ok, the worst part of it was to book them.

Guy · « **Reply #10 on:** April 11, 2009, 11:42:22 am »

I went through same process with my Volvo.

It was painless. FUnny thing was that the guy said "Your tires are just on the edge of meeting spec I'll mrk them as such . If they wear more between now and when you return you could get dinged". I wasn't worried as I had another worn set of tires that would pass for sure (long story).

When I returned the car the Volvo dealer did nothing more than collect the keys and verify the mileage. They didn't even look at anything else. I was sure to have them sign they recived the car. That was the end of it.

Preinspection is a good thing. I would suggest that you take some digital pics with a date stamp on the day they do the inspection. If you don't get some damage fixed (don't know why you would not) for sure take digital pics when you drop it off at the dealer. Protect yourself against damage that happenes after you leave.
[/quote]

Exact same experience with my last 2 Volvo's. Totally painless.

articsteve · « **Reply #11 on:** April 11, 2009, 01:59:21 pm »

Don't wash your car for 30 days prior to returning it. Covered in road salt is ideal.

BMWRIPOFF · « **Reply #12 on:** April 13, 2009, 10:46:00 pm »

BEWARE of all lease returns! i just went through hell with a BMW lease return... they send out an inspection "robot" who cannot talk to you during the inspection. He takes pictures of EVERY little dent & ding. My car was clean as can be and well under my mileage allowance. There is NO such thing as normal wear and tear. All paint was measured for thickness, tires, etc etc... A report is sent to BMW Canada FINANCE and when I returned the car to the dealer, I asked to speak about the damage report ($570). I was told nobody at the dealer cannot speak to the damage report and I would have to deal directly with BMW Canada Finance. I called the next day but you get a call center that is trained to say "but I am looking at the picture". I called my dealer back to discuss the situation, but the car had been transferred to an off-site storage lot for processing... the sales rep at Parkshore BMW told me that BMW Canada Finance has way over estiamted residuals and is looking for ways to try and recover some of thier loss... Leasee's are out of luck and now there is nothing I can do to dispute or resove this issue. I just received a credit from BMW Finance for the balance of my damage deposit and I never had achance to speak with a live person about my situation. BMW just lost a customer for life!

I suggest witholding last 2 lease payments or you will get screwed like I did. BEWARE!

quadzilla · « **Reply #13 on:** April 13, 2009, 11:01:50 pm »

Quote from: BMWRIPOFF on April 13, 2009, 10:46:00 pm

I suggest witholding last 2 lease payments or you will get screwed like I did. BEWARE!

I still don't understand how you got screwed? You leased a car, they inspected the damage, you have to pay for that damage (seriously, $500 is peanuts). Did you really think you would lease the car, do what you want to it and then return it with no questions asked? Those days are long gone.

Also, the dealership has nothing to do with this. Your lease agreement is with BMW financial, not the dealer. If you think BMW Financial is wrong in their assessment, show them your pictures taken at the time the car was returned. That should clear everything up.

articsteve · « **Reply #14 on:** April 13, 2009, 11:12:08 pm »

My car was clean as can be

That was your big mistake. Have you ever taken pictures of a dirty vehicle; can't see the imperfections in the photos or the windshield. It's akin to assisting in your own prosecution.

ktm525 · « **Reply #15 on:** April 13, 2009, 11:57:27 pm »

I am not so sure. What happens if Autovin misses a bunch of stuff but these imperfections are picked up by the dealer/transporter/finance company after the car had been dropped off on the last day of the lease?

articsteve · « **Reply #16 on:** April 14, 2009, 01:48:55 am »

Dealer is responsible for sighting obvious damage. The customer drops off the car and usually the finance manager handles the exchange. In cases were AutoVin is employed, the finance manager is just looking for obvious damage, not "imperfections" or little tics out of the windshield.

Think about; it could be blowing cold outside, could be raining, the finance guy or girl just wants to get it over with fast. In the worst case it's no more than a rental agency does when you turn in a rental car which is just a quick glance in my experience. Once the finance manager accepts the car it's done. They could wash the car that day and find a nice long scratch; too late.

AutoVin is a very clever scheme. Very similar in nature to dealers pushing the vehicle etching. Not only does it create money for the AutoVin ppl, it creates money for the company and it insulates the dealer to some extent from the ire of customers because the dealer's excuse is that it's beyond their control to alter the charges as they had nothing to do with the inspection.

What a leasee might want to do before they sign a lease is to determine who is going to determine the wear and tear on the car at the end of the lease. If it turns out to be a third party, you know by default that it will be you that in the end who will be paying their fee plus some. Guaranteed

Cord · « **Reply #17 on:** April 14, 2009, 12:56:00 pm »

Quote

Dealer is responsible for sighting obvious damage.

Dealers now just take the keys and park the car. With the Autovin system, they no longer have any responsibility for inspecting the car. They will certainly not bother to wash a lease return. It is all between you and Autovin.

Before Autovin, when I was a lease manager, when someone was returning a lease I had no choice but to be extremely picky about every defect I found as the dealer was responsible for every thing found later by the leasing company. I had some people get mad about what I was noting on the inspection and they were told their choice was to accept my inspection or return it to another dealer.

Now that Autovin is totally responsible, the inspections I see from them are much less thorough than those that used to be done by dealers.

ktm525 · « **Reply #18 on:** April 14, 2009, 02:23:07 pm »

Quote from: articsteve on April 14, 2009, 01:48:55 am

Dealer is responsible for sighting obvious damage. The customer drops off the car and usually the finance manager handles the exchange. In cases were AutoVin is employed, the finance manager is just looking for obvious damage, not "imperfections" or little tics out of the windshield.

Think about; it could be blowing cold outside, could be raining, the finance guy or girl just wants to get it over with fast. In the worst case it's no more than a rental agency does when you turn in a rental car which is just a quick glance in my experience. Once the finance manager accepts the car it's done. They could wash the car that day and find a nice long scratch; too late.

AutoVin is a very clever scheme. Very similar in nature to dealers pushing the vehicle etching. Not only does it create money for the AutoVin ppl, it creates money for the company and it insulates the dealer to some extent from the ire of customers because the dealer's excuse is that it's beyond their control to alter the charges as they had nothing to do with the inspection.

What a leasee might want to do before they sign a lease is to determine who is going to determine the wear and tear on the car at the end of the lease. If it turns out to be a third party, you know by default that it will be you that in the end who will be paying their fee plus some. Guaranteed

Autovin looked over my V70R this morning. Other than my cracked windshield (getting fixed on friday) there were NO additional charges.

toolatecrew · « **Reply #19 on:** April 14, 2009, 05:56:00 pm »

Quote from: Cord link=topic=61852.msg 573570#msg 573570 date=1239728160

Quote
Dealer is responsible for sighting obvious damage.

Dealers now just take the keys and park the car. With the Autovin system, they no longer have any responsibility for inspecting the car. They will certainly not bother to wash a lease return. It is all between you and Autovin.

Before Autovin, when I was a lease manager, when someone was returning a lease I had no choice but to be extremely picky about every defect I found as the dealer was responsible for every thing found later by the leasing company. I had some people get mad about what I was noting on the inspection and they were told their choice was to accept my inspection or return it to another dealer.

Now that Autovin is totally responsible, the inspections I see from them are much less thorough than those that used to be done by dealers.

So at what point does the lesse relinquish responsibility for the vehicle?

Autovin does an inspection on March 1. Owner turns keys power to dealer on March 15. A brick falls off the wall on march 16 and dents the hood. Who is responsible?

On March 2nd the door gets scratched. Dealer makes no inspection of it. On march 16 is someone coming back and sharing the lease for it?

I have yet to see an answer to the question.

As far as I'm concerned once the vehicle and the keys are gone and I walk off the lot that's it. Anything you find after that time is not on me regardless of when it occured. There are two opportunities to inspect it:1 When Autovin comes to inspect it 2 Weh the car is dropped off. Anything after that is not my responsibility.