Playing your part
Caring for your car and protecting its value is easy, but to make it even easier we’ve laid it out for you all in one place.
Your responsibilities
Keeping to your kilometres
As part of your Vehicle Buyback Contract, you have Allowable Kilometres, which means the maximum distance that your Vehicle can travel during the Contract Term before an Excess Kilometre Charge applies as stated in the Contract Schedule.
You can go beyond the limit, but it will incur an Excess Kilometres Charge that will be deducted from your Buyback Amount. If you travel more than the Maximum Kilometres, your buyback contract will come to an end. The Allowable Kilometres and Maximum Kilometres are detailed in the contract schedule.
Meeting fair wear and tear standards
Fair wear and tear is the wear and tear that can be reasonably expected in the life of a vehicle that is properly maintained and cared for.
In general, it just means taking good care of your car, completing scheduled services with an authorised repairer, and if the car is damaged significantly, that you get it repaired by a suitably qualified repairer.
We’ve set out the complete guide below.
A guide to Acceptable and Unacceptable
Fair Wear and Tear
This Fair Wear and Tear Guide has been developed to assist our customers further understand how to comply with the Minimum Acceptable Condition Requirements of your Vehicle Buyback Contract.
The Minimum Acceptable Condition Requirements are contained in the terms and conditions of your Buyback Contract. The requirements are only applicable if you exercise your option and choose to have us purchase your vehicle in accordance with the Vehicle Buyback Contract terms.
This guide aims to provide you with examples of acceptable and unacceptable wear and tear that is the basis upon which your vehicle will be assessed against the Minimum Acceptable Conditions. It can be used as a guide to help you keep your vehicle in an acceptable condition and should be read in conjunction with your Vehicle Buyback Contract.
YOUR OBLIGATIONS
The following list of obligations apply to vehicles returned to Auto Next at the end of your contract and apply equally to all vehicles regardless of model, age or kilometres travelled.
Maintenance – Regular maintenance and servicing should be carried out by an authorised repairer in accordance with the vehicle manufacturer guidelines, using approved service parts and lubricants only. Any defects or damage occurring during normal vehicle use should be rectified as soon as possible.
The Service and Warranty Booklets (including the full service record) and any other documents relating to vehicle equipment should be retained and made available if the vehicle is to be returned to Auto Next at the end of the contract period. All documents must be in the vehicle upon return including any details of radio codes.
Appearance – The vehicle should be returned at the end of the contract period in a suitably clean condition to allow for a proper inspection of the paint, body and interior.
Additional Equipment – Equipment such as car telephones that have been installed are to be removed, and any holes or damage should be repaired to a professional standard. All standard equipment, together with nonstandard or ‘customised’ fittings originally supplied with the vehicle, must be returned at the end of the contract period.
Badges and Labels – Non-standard badges, labels or advertising fitted to the bodywork or glass of the vehicle should be removed, with any damage caused by their attachment or removal fixed. Any paintwork colour fade due to the attachment of advertising will result in an adjustment to the Guaranteed Buyback Amount. Advertising should never be painted directly onto the vehicle.
Keys and Security – A full set of keys and remotes must be available and functioning. Return of the master key which controls the vehicle’s engine management system is mandatory. If the vehicle was originally supplied with a security system, this should be intact and fully operational, including any key or key fob necessary for operation. Any additional, non-standard security system should be fitted according to a recognised standard.
Mechanical Condition – The vehicle must be regularly serviced, properly maintained and kept in sound mechanical condition. The following examples are conditions usually caused by vehicle neglect or misuse and therefore are not regarded as fair wear and tear:
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Brakes – Grooved brake discs caused by metal to metal contact.
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Engine – Seized due to running vehicle with insufficient coolant and lubricating oil, or with broken internal components.
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Transmission – Slipping, erratic gear changing, clutch slipping, noisy transmission or ineffective synchromesh.
The following table highlights the minimum standards required for Vehicles returned to Auto Next at the end of your contract.
Interior
Includes: carpet, upholstery, seats, roof liner, floor, door trims, dashboard, centre console, luggage area, cargo area etc.
The interior should be clean and tidy with no visible burns, tears or permanent staining to the seats, headlining or carpets. Wear and soiling through normal use is acceptable, as are any repairs that are not readily visible.
Acceptable
Moderate scratches or markings reflect normal usage
Repaired console holes
Normal odours, tobacco smells
Fading caused by normal exposure to sunlight
Removable stains and singes that have not holed fabric material
Cargo area contains less than 8 dents, each having a diameter less than 70mm and less than 3mm deep; and scraping to no more than 25% of the surface area.
All original controls must be intact and operate correctly.
Unacceptable
Torn or ripped fabric and stitching
Immovable stains, singes or burn holes
Tears and splits to the trim panels, rubber seals, floor covering and linings
Damage to the seat structure
Unauthorised odometer changes
Missing or broken controls or accessories
Holes caused by the removal of accessories
Exterior
Includes: bonnet, bumper bars, grille, mirror housing, paint, panelling, protective moulds
Any damage must be repaired as and when it occurs. All work should be completed to a professional standard, with any applicable anti-corrosion guarantees taken into consideration.
Acceptable
No more than 5 scratches per panel or 15 scratches per vehicle.
No more than 10 chips per panel.
On any 25% area of the bonnet, no more than 40 chips, of which 20 must be less than 3mm in diameter and the remaining less than 2mm in diameter.
No more than 2 dents per panel, or 12 dents per car. Such dents must be no greater than 40mm in diameter or 2mm in depth.
Marks in bumper bar covering an area less than 10cm² and no more than 1mm in depth; or
Dents in bumper bar covering an area less than 20cm² no more than 3mm in depth and no more than 3 per bumper bar.
Less than 4 marks in mirror housing or protective moulds, each having a total surface area less than 10cm² and less than 1mm deep.
Less than 4 marks in mirror housing or protective moulds, each having a total surface area less than 10cm² and less than 1mm deep.
Unacceptable
Scratches through to the metal, which are longer than 25mm or wider than 1mm.
Chips with a diameter greater than 3mm.
Dents greater than 40mm in diameter or 2mm in depth.
Colour mismatch between panels, or poorly fitting panels.
Prominent paint touch ups or major paint flaking.
Rust or corrosion.
Poor paint or panel repairs.
Spoils from bird/tree droppings.
Exterior damage caused by the attachment/removal of stickers/decals or accessories.
Cracked or deformed bumpers and broken or missing mudflaps.
Damage resulting from hail.
Body buckling, distortions or missing vehicle badges.
Window glass cracks or damage within the driver’s sight line is not acceptable.
Holes or cracks in the glass or plastic covers or lamp units
Unrepaired or poorly repaired aerial holes (or aerial must be left in place).
Mechanical and vehicle underside
Vehicle must be in sound mechanical condition
Acceptable
Minor dents and deformation, such as stone damage, is acceptable as long as it has not caused major corrosion.
The exhaust system should be properly suspended and in efficient working order, with no gas leaks or evidence of blowing from the exhaust system joints and in undamaged condition.
Some minor oil misting or dampness around seals or gaskets is acceptable, providing oil drips are not present.
Unacceptable
Grooved brake discs caused by metal to metal contact.
Engine seizure caused by running the vehicle with a lack of servicing, insufficient coolant, lubricating oil or with broken internal components.
Transmissions that are slipping, erratic gear changing, clutch slipping, noisy transmissions or ineffective synchromesh.
Battery cannot be capable of being charged or operate efficiently in all respects.
Significant damage or distortion to chassis components is not acceptable.
Oil leaks.
Damaged exhaust system.
Poor repairs.
Significant impact damage.
Wheels and tyres
Includes: rims, trims, tyres
All tyres and rims, including the spare, must meet motor registry requirements and comply with the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations of type, size and speed rating.
Acceptable
All four wheel trims must be intact, with no more than minor scuffing due to everyday use.
Minor scrapes and scratches covering no more than 15% of the surface area.
Unacceptable
Dents or damage to the rim or main body of the wheels.
Scrapes and scratches on the wheels (including rims and trims) that cover more than 15% of the surface area.
Unroadworthy tyres that do not meet motor registry requirements.
Damage to sidewalls or tread caused by ‘kerbing’ or other heavy misuse.
Missing or damaged mudflaps.
Missing or damaged spare wheel.
Missing or damaged vehicle jack.
Mismatched tyres, wheel rims or trims.