Manufacturers invest a good deal of time and effort in the preparation of vehicle operation manuals. Always have the manual to hand and consult it often.

On return.... You should make sure that your service and maintenance record is as comprehensive as possible. Changes in the law mean that dealers will find themselves exposed if the cars they sell develop faults.

Regular maintenance and servicing should be carried out by a franchised dealer or an authorised servicing agent, according to the manufacturer's guidelines. The vehicle's service record must be stamped at each service. Any defects or damage that occurs during normal vehicle usage should be rectified as soon as authority for the repair has been given.

Regular cleaning of both the interior and exterior of the vehicle will ensure a good cosmetic appearance. Polishing the vehicle's exterior around four times a year will help reduce the effects of any stone-chip damage, remove traffic grime and make routine washing easier.

On return.... The vehicle should be valeted, cleared of rubbish and the ashtrays emptied.

Advertising should never be painted directly onto the vehicle without the owner's written permission. Any advertising, labelling or logos should be fitted so that they can be easily removed without damaging any part of the bodywork of the vehicle.

On return.... All non-standard badges, labels or advertising should be removed unless originally fitted with the agreement of the leasing company. Any difference in paintwork colour noted following the removal of advertising, labelling or logos is not acceptable.

Make sure that keys are kept safely with the spare key always stored in a different place. Car thieves often target the keys as the easiest means of stealing vehicles because manufacturers now achieve very high levels of vehicle security. Therefore, never leave keys in a conspicuous place in the house and certainly not in the hallway in reach of the letterbox.

All security systems fitted after manufacture should meet the appropriate Thatcham standard and be fitted according to a recognised standard, e.g. Vehicle Systems Installation Board (VSIB).

On return.... A full service and maintenance record must be available for inspection. This should include details of all servicing carried out on the vehicle. A full set of keys, including the master key and locking wheel nut keys, should be returned as originally supplied. If the vehicle was originally supplied with a security system, it should be intact and fully operational, including any key or remote control device necessary for its operation.

It is recommended that any damage be repaired as soon as possible after it occurs. All work must be completed to a professional standard, with any applicable anti-corrosion guarantees taken into consideration.

On return.... All painted areas are included in this assessment including painted bumpers, body mouldings and mirrors. There should be no signs of rust or corrosion. Obvious evidence of poor repair is not acceptable.

Damage to paintwork should be repaired as soon as possible especially where the damage has penetrated the base coat or has caused corrosion.

On return.... Small areas of chipping, including door edge chipping, are acceptable relative to the vehicle's age and mileage, provided that the base coat has not been penetrated and there is no corrosion. Minor dents (up to 10mm) are acceptable provided that the base coat has not been penetrated and there is no corrosion. Several dents on one panel are not acceptable. Light scratches and abrasions (up to 25mm) are acceptable, relative to the vehicle's age and mileage, as long as they have not penetrated the base coat and there is no corrosion.

All vehicle glass should be kept clean not only for safety reasons but also to enable any damage to be identified quickly and repairs put in hand. Any damage in the driver's direct line of sight or affecting any heating elements should be repaired immediately.

On return.... Light scratching is acceptable provided the moulding or trim is not broken, cracked or deformed.

Any damage to mouldings and wheel arches should be rectified as soon as possible.

On return.... Light scuffing and score marks are acceptable provided the moulding or trim is not broken, cracked or deformed.

Door mirrors should be kept clean and replaced if damaged.

On return.... Missing, cracked or damaged door mirrors are not acceptable. If adjustable and/or heated, they must work correctly.

Lamps and Lenses should be kept clean and replaced if damaged.

On return.... All lamps must work. Minor scuff marks or scratches are acceptable. Holes or cracks in the glass or plastic covers of lamp units are not acceptable.

You need to get permission from the Leasing Company before fitting a tow bar. All equipment must be fitted in accordance with the manufacturer's fitting instructions or guidelines.

On return.... The tow bar must be in good, rust-free condition with electrical connections working properly. A ball cover must be in place.

Care should be taken when parking and manoeuvring so as to avoid damage especially to alloy wheels, as these are easy to damage and expensive to replace. However, if damage does occur, it should be repaired, or replaced.

On return.... Dents or damage to wheels, including the spare, are not acceptable. The spare wheel, jack and other tools must be intact, stowed properly and in good working order. Some minor scuffing to the outside edge of wheel trims is acceptable, relative to the vehicle's age and mileage. Minor scuffing on alloy wheels is acceptable. Scoring and other damage to the wheel surface is not acceptable.

Tyre pressures should be kept at manufacturer's recommended pressures in order to avoid damage and undue wear. Under-inflation will cause excess wear on the edges of the tyre while over-inflation will cause excess wear in the centre of the tyre tread.

On return.... All tyres, including the spare, must meet the minimum legal requirements and comply with the manufacturer's recommendations of tyre type, size and speed rating for the vehicle. There must be no damage to sidewalls or tread.

It is important to keep the vehicle in good mechanical condition by keeping all fluids topped up and by immediately investigating any poor running symptoms or unusual mechanical noises.

On return.... The vehicle must be in good mechanical condition.

The following examples are conditions usually caused by vehicle neglect or abuse and are therefore not regarded as fair wear and tear: -

• Brakes - grooved brake discs or drums caused by excessive wear or metal to metal contact from worn out disc pads
• Engine - seized or damaged due to running vehicle with insufficient coolant, oil or with broken internal components.
• Manual Transmission - clutch slipping, noisy clutch or gearbox, excessively worn or ineffective synchromesh.
• Automatic transmission - noisy gearbox or torque converter, abrupt gear changes, loose gear linkage.

The interior of the vehicle should be kept clean. Any stains should be removed with a suitable proprietary cleaner as soon as practicable to avoid long-term damage. Regular smoking in the car leaves an unpleasant residual smell, causes staining and should be avoided.

On return.... The interior upholstery and trim must be clean with no visible burns, tears or staining. All seats originally supplied must be present. Wear and soiling through normal use is acceptable. Repairs that are not readily visible are also acceptable.

It is recommended that heavy items are always firmly secured and positioned centrally within the load area in order to minimize the effect on the vehicle's handling and to avoid damage. Carpets and the load area should always be protected from excessive soiling. Heavy items or inappropriate loads should never be carried on the seats.

On return.... Surface scoring and light blemishes to treads, sills and seals that reflect normal use are acceptable, but it is not acceptable for floor coverings or surrounding trim panels to be torn or split.

The driver should take care and avoid rough usage. If stolen, equipment and controls must be replaced with equipment of similar standard and specification.

The driver should always operate these systems with care, ensuring no damage occurs to the dash, control knobs, etc. If a replacement is required, due to theft, for example, it must be of similar standard and specification.

On return.... All original equipment, accessories and controls must be intact and operate correctly. If accessories such as car telephones and other non-standard equipment have been installed and then removed, any holes or other damage must be properly repaired. Aerials must be left in place or the hole must be properly repaired. A rubber insert is not acceptable.

Any suspected impact damage should be investigated and dealt with professionally, as soon as possible.

On return.... Any significant impact damage to the vehicle's underside is not acceptable.

Catalytic converter failure is preventable through; using the correct fuel, regular servicing and maintenance, immediately investigating any poor running symptoms and not towing or bump-starting the vehicle.

On return.... Catalytic converters not working because of obvious abuse or damage are not acceptable.

Oil and coolant levels should be checked weekly and maintained at appropriate levels between services. Oil leaks should be rectified at the earliest opportunity to avoid damaging the engine.