The 5 Checks When Returning a Salary Sacrifice Car

The 5 Checks When Returning a Salary Sacrifice Car

Before returning your salary sacrifice car it’s wise to find out the process required by your employer, since this can vary. Once you’ve confirmed the procedure, you’ll need to ensure the collection takes place in a timely manner on a date that is suitable, before the return deadline. Find out any specific criteria that your vehicle needs to meet and ensure you leave plenty of time to make any necessary arrangements.

On the day of the return, set aside enough time as some companies have one representative inspecting and another collecting the vehicle, with a wait in between. Time slots may also be estimated so be prepared. In terms of your salary sacrifice tax set up, it is worth checking with your employer whether they will handle all changes internally that may involve HMRC or if you need to do anything regarding this aspect. Once you understand the process, following our 5 checks when returning your salary sacrifice car should ensure no unexpected issues arise.

1. Implement the return criteria

As outlined earlier, there will most likely be criteria you need to meet that are specific to your vehicle, company and/or lease provider, which you will have found out by checking the process with your fleet management team. These may include making sure the car is charged to a certain level, for example. Check that any criteria are  implemented before the car is returned.

2. Make sure the car condition is acceptable

You will likely already be undertaking regular inspections of your salary sacrifice car to ensure it maintains good working order. If you do spot damage, check if it meets the accepted atandard to be handed back or whether you need to arrange repairs before handover. The car’s condition needs to align with the BVRLA’s fair wear and tear guidelines which your fleet manager or leasing provider should be able to provide.

Check there are no warning lights on the dashboard or any other issues that fall foul of the wear and tear guidelines. Make sure that if there are any, you speak to the relevant member of your company’s vehicle managment team regarding what to do about them before returning the vehicle or you could be penalised. Carrying this out several weeks beforehand so you can time the repairs to be completed roughly a week before handing the vehicle back is probably the best way to ensure no new damage is likely to occur before handover. It also gives you a few days leeway in case the work gets delayed by the garage.

Advisable checks include:

• Tyres (including wheels,wheel hubs and alloys)
• Seats (stains, burns and tears)
• Bodywork (dents, scratches and bumper condition)
• Vehicle equipment and accessories
• Windscreen and optical features
• Interior upholstery (door upholstery and seat coverings)

Check other aspects of the vehicle, including the functionality of lights and lenses, tyre tread and pressure and fluid levels. A second check a few days before handover can include topping up anything that might need one last refill like the washer fluid. Remember, with an electric car you don’t need to worry about topping up engine oil and the majority of EVs won’t require you to change or top up the coolant and can only be topped up by a qualified technician, so be sure to consult your handbook first.

3. Ensure maintenance or servicing completion

Make sure that any necessary maintenance work and the required servicing schedule has been carried out and if any such work is due, be sure to schedule it in good time  before the vehicle needs to be returned, leaving time for any larger issues that could unfold to be addressed.

4. Give the car a thorough clean

A couple of days in advance of handover, you will need to give the vehicle a thorough clean, both inside and out. Depnding on how clean you have kept it throughout the lease, you might choose a valet service to make sure it looks its best at handover.

5. Gather all necessary documents

Ensure you have gathered all of the administrative documents for the vehicle (where relevant, the contract, the logbook, the vehicle inspection certificate etc.) as well as any additional items you recevied with your car, such as charging cables, spare keys and manufacturers’ instructions.