Has anyone ever handed a car back to Ford at the end of an agreement? If so, how did the vehicle appraisal go? I have read the booklet and the guide that lists what they deem acceptable wear and tear and what would fall outside it and be deemed chargeable. Being rather OCD with my car, I believe it to be well inside the acceptable guidelines. Stone chips on the bonnet are deemed acceptable unless they are too large. I have gone to the trouble of painting them with official Ford touch up paint to make everything look spot on.

I just wonder if they would be very picky and try it on when examining the car. Perhaps they would declare a minor scratch to need a full re-spray and charge some extortionate fee for it. Obviously I can challenge any such nonsense but I like to know what to expect from them.

Cheers

Excess mileage is the main thing they charge people for, so I hope you're under the allowed mileage.

Small scratches are fine if they're small enough to polish out.  Tbh I'd probably give it a polish and wax before going, will hide everything then lol.

Thanks. Yes I am well under the agreed mileage so no problem there. I will get it polished and vac it too before handing it back. I have also got some autoglym trim gel to polish up bits of the interior. There are some minor scratches but they are deemed acceptable in the booklet.

I just want to be mentally prepared in case they try it on so to speak.

To be fair if your looking after your car, polishing it up, no scuffs/scratches that are large then you wont face any issues. The biggest issues are mileage where people get stung by charges - however I guess some people hand them back dirty, not cleaned inside, no touch up and scuffed alloys....if your going to the effort of polishing it etc (and have done whilst owning it) then there shouldn't be any issues 

Most of the time, unless the car is a dog, the dealer will actually buy the car and pay off the finance themselves.

Sometimes you can negotiate with the dealer for a higher price than the remaining balance, although that is easier with a trade in.

Thanks for the input chaps

I never clean my cars before handing them back, although i've not handed in at the end of an agreement only in the middle. Sometimes it's better for the car to be a little dirty, may go some way to hide any scratches etc on the paint!