Vehicle Return Standards

For exisiting finance customers

If you return your Truck at the end of your agreement, our third party collection agent Drive Direct will collect your vehicle. They’ll complete a safety appraisal to make sure that your vehicle is safe to be driven away please remember that this is not a damage inspection. A damage inspection will take place when your vehicle is returned to the Defleet site, and if there is damage on your vehicle that falls outside our Vehicle Returns Standards, we’ll send you an invoice of the damage charges. We don’t expect your truck to be in totally perfect condition when it’s returned, which is why we’ve put together a list of our Vehicle Return Standards. These will help explain the difference between acceptable wear and tear and unacceptable damage, simply click on any of the categories below.

Body Paint

Acceptable

  • Decals and signage -any customer decals, glue and/or sign writing must be removed, and the vehicle free from any marks or damage once taken off.
  • Paint Chips – Paint chips 8mm long and less in diameter, maximum of 4 per panel, 6 per door edge and 8 on any forward facing panel.
  • Previous Repairs – Previous repair up to an acceptable standard.
  • Scratches – 25mm or less, maximum 4 per panel.

Unacceptable

  • Previous repairs – Previous body repairs and paint rectification if there is evidence of poor colour match, ripples, preparation marks, visible overspray, masking lines or excess dirt in paint.
  • Dents – Dents on roof or swage line.

Component Conditions

Acceptable

  • Replacement Equipment – Fitted with all original equipment or with any replacements to a good industry standard.
  • Regulated Lifting Equipment – Any lifting equipment fitted to the vehicle, i.e. tail lifts or hydraulic loaders, must comply with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) and have a minimum of 3 months unexpired service and weight test upon return.
  • Drivetrain Leakage – Free from any major leaks or defects in the driveline, mechanical, electrical, electronic, compressed air, air valve, hydraulic components or systems.

Unacceptable

  • Major Leaks and Defect – Major leaks or defects in the driveline, mechanical, electrical, electronic, compressed air, air valve, hydraulic components or systems.

Wheels, Tyres & Alloys

Acceptable

  • Truck tyres minimum tread 6mm.
  • Alloys and wheel faces – Minor scuffing or damage to the vehicle alloy or wheel face.
  • Tyre Sidewalls – Scuffed sidewalls which can be cleaned.

Unacceptable

  • Tyre Sidewalls – Any gouge, crack, cut, torn or plugged tyre side walls.
  • Wheel dents – Wheels must be free from dents.
  • Worn tyres – Tyres with excessive wear not matching age or mileage of your vehicle.

Bumper & Body Moulding

Acceptable

  • Scuff Marks – Scuff marks which do not adversely affect the overall appearance of your Mercedes-Benz.

Unacceptable

  • Split bumpers/Moulding – Discoloured, loose, cracked, distorted, gouged or split bumpers and mouldings that require replacement.

Glass

Acceptable

  • Windscreen Chips – Chips on windscreen, which are less than 5mm, providing they do not obscure the drivers line of vision. Repaired chips must be outside of the A zone.
  • Watertight Screens – Windscreens to be secured and watertight.

Unacceptable

  • Chips greater than 5mm or repaired within the drivers A zone.
  • Unsecure windscreen which is not watertight.

Interior

Acceptable

  • Fair wear and tear – normal levels of wear and tear is allowed.
  • Seat cover repairs to a high standard.

Unacceptable

  • Stains or discolouration of a permanent nature.
  • Seat cover tears – tears, cuts, rips and holes through seat covers.
  • Interior Moulding – Broken or damaged interior mouldings.

Vehicle Tools, Documentation and Service History

  • All returning vehicles must have a full tool kit, including lifting jack (where the vehicle is supplied or fitted with a spare wheel). If any tools, including the lifting jack, are missing from a returned vehicle, these must have been deleted by prior arrangement.,/li>
  • All vehicle documents, including the registration document (V5); the current MOT certificate; and for some customers, the plating certificates VTG 6T and 7T, must be provided along with the Tachograph calibration certificate(s), or a completed mileage verification form supplied by the returning customer, within seven days of the vehicle’s return. After seven days, any vehicle documents not provided with incur a charge.
  • Vehicles must be returned with complete service, repair and maintenance records (equivalent data in the form of a computer printout will be accepted), from a Mercedes-Benz Approved repairer.

    • Your End of Agreement Timeline

    Now is the time to start thinking about the return of your Mercedes-Benz truck. This is designed to help prevent any avoidable charges you may be faced with, and what we consider acceptable and unacceptable damage.

    Notification of Charges

    If your truck has unacceptable damage, or parts missing, we’ll send you an invoice for these charges after the inspection. This invoice will also include any excess mileage, insufficient service history and extra days’ rental if applicable. On the collection of the vehicle if there is any damage which has been caused that was not present during the pre-inspection this will be reviewed and charged accordingly. If you have had repairs carried out during this time, we would recommend that you keep a copy of the relevant invoices.

    Arrange a Collection

    To arrange a date for Drive Direct to come and collect your truck, please email customerservice-DTFSUK@daimlertruck.com To discuss any queries regarding the vehicle return standards or for vehicle document enquires please contact your local dealer.