DENTLID RESEARCH / LEASE RETURN
The dent is visible.
The bill isn’t.
Lease return dent charges, explained.
A damage limit tells you what may be chargeable. It rarely tells you the price. Separate the lender’s assessment from the cost of fixing it.
See the published figures01 / PUBLISHED RATES
A number you can read.
A scope you must check.
Stellantis Financial Services publishes estimated charges. These are lender figures, not repair quotes or a universal tariff for every lease.
The guideline covers an item measuring at least 2 inches, or more than four items on a panel. It lists up to three charged items and a $750 category maximum.
View the published damage categories
| Damage | Trigger | Estimated charge | Ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ding, dent or scratch | One item of 2 inches or more, or more than four on a panel | $250 per item | 3 items, $750 |
| Rust or corrosion | Any visible corrosion | $250 per item | 4 items, $1,000 |
| Puncture | Any puncture | $250 per item | 4 items, $1,000 |
| Interior cut or tear | Larger than half an inch | $100 per item | 3 items, $300 |
| Windshield chip | Under half an inch | $75 per item | 2 items, then replacement |
| Windshield replacement | Damage over half an inch | $750 | Per windshield |
| Headlight | Crack or hole over 2 inches | $970 | Per unit |
| Tail light | Crack or hole over 2 inches | $530 | Per unit |
| Missing smart key | Both keys not returned | $500 | Per key |
Other damage categories may add separate charges. Severe or collision damage is evaluated individually. Do not read the category maximum as permission to leave additional damage unchecked.
Source: Stellantis Financial Services excess wear and use guidelines, © 2025. Selected categories from the document.
02 / CHECK THE CONTRACT
Same Jeep.
Different rulebook.
Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Fiat and Alfa Romeo vehicles can have different finance providers. The lender on your agreement determines which rules apply.
Published estimates.
A damage-category table supplies a dollar figure, trigger and cap. Check all three, plus the guide’s exceptions.
Read the SFS price tableInspection-based pricing.
The original review found wear criteria but no fixed dent-price table. Do not apply the SFS $250 figure to a Chrysler Capital contract.
Find the lender’s size criteriaStart with the finance-company name on your lease, not the badge on the car.
03 / PROTECTION LIMITS
Coverage is not
the cost of a dent.
A protection product, built-in allowance or loyalty waiver may reduce what you owe. Its headline limit does not price the damage.
Recorded protection ceiling for Audi and Volkswagen in the original review.
Not a per-dent charge.
| Lender | What the number covers | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audi Financial Services | Purchased lease-end protection | Up to $10,000 | Lease-end protection |
| Volkswagen Credit | Purchased lease-end protection | Up to $10,000 | Turn-in process |
| Mercedes-Benz Financial Services | First Class Lease Protection | Up to $7,500 | Lease protection |
| Porsche Financial Services | Purchased protection product | Up to $7,500 | Lease-end |
| Volvo Car Financial Services | Purchased protection product | Up to $7,500 | Excess wear and use |
| BMW Financial Services | Optional lease-end protection | Up to $5,000 | Lease program |
| Ford Credit | WearCare product | Up to $5,000 | Wear and use |
| Subaru Motors Finance | Allowance built into the lease | $1,000 | Lease-end |
| Land Rover Financial Group | Allowance built into the lease | $1,000 | Lease-end |
| Acura Financial Services | One-Pay lease waiver | $750 | Leasing |
| Genesis Finance | Loyalty waiver on re-lease | $500 | Lease-end options |
| Nissan Motor Acceptance | Loyalty waiver on re-lease | $500 | Lease-end |
| Toyota Financial Services | Allowance built into qualifying leases | $500 | Wear and use |
| Cadillac Financial | Loyalty partial waiver | $500 | Lease-end FAQ |
No matching entries. Try another lender or program.
August 2026 research snapshot. Eligibility, exclusions, deductibles and current product terms must be checked with the provider. A listed allowance is not confirmation that your lease includes it.
04 / REPAIR OR PAY?
Compare two real numbers.
Then decide.
Ask for a pre-return assessment and a repair quote for the same damage. Compare the amount you would actually owe after any confirmed waiver.
Include applicable taxes and fees. Leave unknown amounts blank.
YOUR COMPARISON
Have both figures?
Enter them to see the difference. This comparison does not predict what your lender will charge.
A lower repair quote only helps if the repair meets your lender’s return requirements.
Repair-price context
Florida guide ranges from the original article. Actual quotes depend on paint, panel, access and damage.
Florida dent repair cost breakdown- Door ding / PDR
- $100-200
- Medium dent / PDR
- $200-400
- Large damage / PDR
- $400+
- Aluminum adjustment
- +$50-150
- Body-shop work / panel
- $400-800+
Check the wear rule.
Size is only part of the test. Count, paint and location can matter too.
Compare brand-by-brand limitsGet it assessed.
Ask your lender about a pre-inspection, coverage and the deadline for documenting repairs.
Choose a sound repair.
Poor repairs may still be chargeable. Cracked paint needs more than reshaping the metal.
Risks of DIY dent removal05 / QUESTIONS BEFORE TURN-IN
Before you pay.
How much does a lender charge for one dent?
There is no universal price. The original 36-brand review found one published price table, from Stellantis Financial Services. It lists an estimated $250 per qualifying ding, dent or scratch, with a $750 category maximum and specific conditions. Ask your own lender for the applicable assessment.
Is the $7,500 or $10,000 figure the cost of damage?
No. In the programs listed here, those are protection ceilings, not per-dent prices. Your eligibility, covered damage, exclusions and contract terms determine whether protection reduces an actual charge.
Why does my Jeep have two different sets of rules?
Stellantis Financial Services and Chrysler Capital are separate finance providers. A published SFS estimate does not automatically apply to a Chrysler Capital lease. Check the lender named on your agreement before using either rulebook.
Is it cheaper to repair a dent or pay the charge?
Either can be cheaper. Compare a repair quote with the lender amount you would owe for the same damage after confirmed coverage. A repair is useful only if it meets return requirements; size, paint condition and the number of dents also matter.
Can a bad repair cost more than the dent?
An improper repair can leave chargeable damage or create additional work. It does not automatically mean two separate charges. Avoid treating a DIY attempt as a guaranteed saving; ask a technician to assess paint condition and repairability.
When do I find out what I owe?
Ask your lender about a pre-return inspection and how long its assessment remains valid. The final statement may follow turn-in. Inspection timing, repair-documentation deadlines and any later adjustments vary by lender.
06 / SOURCES & LIMITS
Published documents.
Not your final invoice.
The original DentLID study reviewed official manufacturer and finance-company documents across 36 US brands in August 2026. It found one published lender price table in that review. That is a finding about the documents reviewed, not proof that no other pricing exists.
The 2025 Stellantis document labels its figures estimated pricing and excludes severely damaged or collision vehicles from the standard treatment. Protection-program entries above reflect the August 2026 review; current terms may differ.
Providers may publish different information online, through a mailed guide or in a customer portal. Availability of a document does not establish your charge. Ask your lender for the current guide and an assessment of your vehicle.
Repair prices are Florida guide ranges, not lender charges. Your agreement, current program terms and vehicle assessment govern. The comparison tool performs subtraction using your entries; it is not a repair or lender estimate.
A REPAIR QUOTE HELPS YOU COMPARE
One request.
Available local estimates.
Send your photos once. Compare available responses from independent PDR technicians and choose who to contact.
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Availability varies by ZIP.