# End of lease advice needed

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/end-of-lease-advice-needed/40582>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** damage, dodge, repair, caliber\
**Created:** [December 10, 2009, 6:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/end-of-lease-advice-needed/40582 "2009-12-10T18:18:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mtlwriterguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@mtlwriterguy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mtlwriterguy)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 6:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/end-of-lease-advice-needed/40582/1 "2009-12-10T18:18:33Z")

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Hello from Montreal, Canada! I’m driving a leased 2008 Dodge Caliber with almost 14,500 kilometres(about 9009 miles) on it. I got one of those oddball 2 year, highly discounted leases Chrylser was offering at the time, which will be coming to an end in April 2010.  
  
  
  
 I like the car overall, but with a child it’s just too small for our needs, so I’ll probably be giving it back. However, it has a fairly deep scratch on the passenger side, which extends over both the front and back doors and has a tiny trace of rust. Never having leased before, does it make more sense for me to get it fixed at a bodyshop before giving the car back? Or should I just return it as-is and take the hit from Chrysler?

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**Author:** ![UncleTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9a140/32.png) [@UncleTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/UncleTurbo)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/end-of-lease-advice-needed/40582/2 "2009-12-10T18:26:32Z")

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Get an estimate from a body shop to fix the scratch. It’s hard to give an opionion without more information.

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**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 11:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/end-of-lease-advice-needed/40582/3 "2009-12-10T23:42:45Z")

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Try some Megiurs Scratch X and see if it clears it up enough. It has worked for me and hopefully the eyes of your dealer.

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**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 11:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/end-of-lease-advice-needed/40582/4 "2009-12-10T23:52:31Z")

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Well…I’d agree with UncleTurbo that an estimate would be a good idea.

But I’d also be tempted to pick up a bottle of factory-matched touch up paint - basically a little nail polish sized bottle. These can be gotten to match the factory paint code that you’ll find on a label on you door pillar. It will not give you body shop results, but it may be enough to get it back in without issue. I’d play with it on a small spot just to make sure it won’t make more of mess. Of course, its also winter now so you might need access to a heated garage.