DENTLID RESEARCH / LEASE RETURN
Small dent.
Different rules.
Lease return dent size limits by brand.
There is no universal two-inch rule. Find the published criteria for your lender before you decide what to repair.
Find your brandCompare all lendersCompare the card with the dent at its widest point. Approximate size only.
01 / FIND YOUR RULE
Start with your badge.
Check your lender.
Your lease paperwork names the company that sets the criteria. Some brands have more than one lender.
Choose a brand to see its recorded size and quantity criteria.
This guide helps you find the rule. It does not decide whether your vehicle passes inspection.
YOUR LENDER’S CRITERIA
A clearer answer
starts here.
Select your brand. We’ll show the size rule, quantity notes and a direct link to the lender’s guide.
02 / READ THE WHOLE RULE
Measure once.
Check three things.
A small diameter alone does not establish acceptable wear. Read the size wording, count and surface conditions together.
Size & shape
Measure the widest extent. A credit-card template has two dimensions; it is not interchangeable with a circular diameter.
Count per panel
Several small dents can be assessed differently from one. Keep the lender’s quantity rule separate from its size limit.
Paint condition
Cracks, chips and scratches may fall under separate criteria. Photograph the surface and record them alongside the dent.
03 / THE RESEARCH
Every lender.
The wording matters.
Recorded criteria from the existing August 2026 study. Follow the official source for the current guide and its full conditions.
| Brand / lender | Size rule | Quantity / context | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| TeslaTesla Leasing | Under 2 inches | Two | Official source |
| ToyotaToyota Financial Services | Larger than a credit card is chargeable | Not published | Official source |
| LexusLexus Financial Services | Larger than a credit card is chargeable | Not published | Official source |
| BMWBMW Financial Services | 2 inches or less, paint intact | Multiples flagged, no figure | Official source |
| Mercedes-BenzMercedes-Benz Financial Services | Larger than a credit card is chargeable | Dent count not established here; source also discusses scratches. | Official source |
| AudiAudi Financial Services | Smaller than 2 inches | Three dings | Official source |
| VolkswagenVolkswagen Credit | Smaller than 2 inches | Three dings | Official source |
| Honda, AcuraAmerican Honda Finance | Larger than 1.5 inches is chargeable | Four dings triggers a charge | Official source |
| FordFord Credit | Up to 4 inches | Three, plus 15 paint chips | Official source |
| LincolnLincoln Automotive Financial Services | Up to 4 inches | Three, plus 15 paint chips | Official source |
| Chevrolet, Buick, GMCGM Financial | Dings under 2 inches, or one dent up to 4 inches | Fewer than four dings | Official source |
| CadillacCadillac Financial | Dings under 2 inches, or one dent up to 4 inches | Fewer than four dings | Official source |
| HyundaiHyundai Motor Finance | Less than 4 inches | Not published | Official source |
| KiaKia Finance America | Less than 4 inches | Not published | Official source |
| GenesisGenesis Finance | Less than 4 inches | Not published | Official source |
| NissanNissan Motor Acceptance | Over 2 inches is chargeable | Four dents of any size | Official source |
| InfinitiInfiniti Financial Services | Over 3 inches is chargeable | Four dents of any size | Official source |
| MazdaMazda Financial Services | Larger than a credit card is chargeable | Not published | Official source |
| Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Fiat, Alfa RomeoStellantis Financial Services | 2 inches or more is chargeable | More than four | Official source |
| Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Fiat, Alfa RomeoChrysler Capital | Two inches or less passes | Not published | Official source |
| LucidLucid Financial Services | Smaller than a credit card; door dings under 2 inches | Dent count not established here; source also discusses scratches. | Official source |
| MINIMINI Financial Services | No confirmed numeric threshold in this research | An evaluator tool given to the lessee | Official source |
| VolvoVolvo Car Financial Services | No confirmed numeric threshold in this research | Photo examples, plus a tire tread figure | Official source |
| PorschePorsche Financial Services | No confirmed numeric threshold in this research | Damage categories and waiver ceilings | Official source |
| JaguarJaguar Financial Group | No confirmed numeric threshold in this research | Damage categories, tire tread only | Official source |
| Land RoverLand Rover Financial Group | No confirmed numeric threshold in this research | Damage categories, tire tread only | Official source |
| RivianRivian Financial Services | No confirmed numeric threshold in this research | Damage categories, tire tread and mileage rate | Official source |
| SubaruSubaru Motors Finance | No confirmed numeric threshold in this research | A built-in repair allowance, no sizes | Official source |
| MitsubishiMitsubishi Motors Credit | No confirmed numeric threshold in this research | No confirmed US document found | Official source |
No matching lender. Try another brand or finance company.
04 / BEFORE YOU HAND OVER THE KEYS
Know the rule.
Then make the decision.
Check the contract.
Confirm your finance company and obtain its current wear-and-use guide.
Measure & photograph.
Record the widest size, affected panel, dent count and paint condition.
Ask before return.
Arrange a pre-return inspection where available. Ask about approved repairs and receipts.
Compare the options.
Consider the written assessment, repair estimate and lender requirements together.
05 / COMMON QUESTIONS
Before you decide.
Is there one standard dent size?
No universal threshold is established by this research. The lender’s wording, quantity rules and surface conditions need to be read together.
Does a two-inch dent always pass?
No. “Under two inches” and “two inches or less” describe different boundaries. Other conditions and the lease agreement also matter.
How many dents can one panel have?
Quantity criteria vary. Select your brand above and check the full lender document. Do not interpret an unlisted count as unlimited damage.
What if the paint is cracked?
Paint damage may be assessed separately. A technician can assess whether paintless repair is suitable or whether other work is needed.
Can I repair the dent before returning the car?
Confirm your lender’s repair requirements first, including any approved-facility or documentation requirements. Compare a repair estimate with the written inspection assessment.
What if there is no published measurement?
Ask your finance company for its current guide and inspection process. An inaccessible source and an explicitly non-numeric rule are different situations.
06 / SOURCES & SCOPE
A guide to the documents.
Not an inspection verdict.
This comparison carries forward the existing DentLID research recorded in August 2026. Each lender entry links to its official source. Documents may change; your agreement and current lender guidance govern.
The original study reviewed manufacturer and finance-company wear-and-use guides, brochures and inspection keys in August 2026. Dealer pages, forums and aggregator summaries were excluded. Entries are grouped by finance company because a single guide can cover several brands.
Numeric thresholds, template-based criteria and research gaps are shown separately. Inch comparisons are illustrative, not a screen ruler. A source not confirmed in the study is not evidence that no rule exists.
REPAIR BEFORE RETURN?
One photo request.
Your next decision.
Send your dent photos and ZIP. Compare available estimates from independent PDR technicians and choose who to contact.
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