# End of lease options - to repair or not to repair? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Tags:** damage, used, repair, honda\ **Created:** [May 3, 2009, 2:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/end-of-lease-options-to-repair-or-not-to-repair/29950 "2009-05-03T14:44:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SwissMs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@SwissMs](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SwissMs)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 2:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/end-of-lease-options-to-repair-or-not-to-repair/29950/1 "2009-05-03T14:44:48Z")
I’ve got an 05 Honda Accord with lease payments that are too high for me these days. The 4-year lease is up in about 5 months, but I’m thinking about turning it in early and buying something cheaper (= older, crappier, with higher mileage). Here’s my question: is it better to repair anything that’s wrong with it - a broken side view mirror and a scraped/dented bit from rounding a corner in a parking garage too closely - before I turn it in, or does it end up being cheaper if the dealer charges me for that? What are my other options? Would it be revalued at a lower price because of the body damage when I turn it in? ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 4:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/end-of-lease-options-to-repair-or-not-to-repair/29950/2 "2009-05-03T16:05:14Z")
Read the lease agreement. I’m sure it will have something to say about body damage. ---
**Author:** ![SwissMs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@SwissMs](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SwissMs)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 4:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/end-of-lease-options-to-repair-or-not-to-repair/29950/3 "2009-05-03T16:23:13Z")
Okay, I am aware that it does. My question is: Are the penalties/repair costs from the dealer generally higher than what a body shop would charge if I repaired the car myself before turning it in (all of it was self-inflicted)? ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 6:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/end-of-lease-options-to-repair-or-not-to-repair/29950/4 "2009-05-03T18:01:06Z")
You’d have to get a couple of estimates to answer that question. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 7:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/end-of-lease-options-to-repair-or-not-to-repair/29950/5 "2009-05-03T19:33:33Z")
You should discuss it with the lessor after you get the estimates to see what they will charge. ---
**Author:** ![UncleTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9a140/32.png) [@UncleTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/UncleTurbo)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 12:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/end-of-lease-options-to-repair-or-not-to-repair/29950/6 "2009-05-04T00:19:49Z")
I think most people that lease cars get them repaired before turning them in. The rates for body shop repairs are less than the penalties and fee’s charged when when the car is turned back in. ---
**Author:** ![irlandes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5e925/32.png) [@irlandes](https://community.cartalk.com/u/irlandes)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 8:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/end-of-lease-options-to-repair-or-not-to-repair/29950/7 "2009-05-05T20:15:14Z")
That side-view mirror depends upon if the entire assembly is broken, or just the glass. Last trip to Mexico, my left mirror got broken glass but the frame/assembly was unmarked. I took it to the place that installed my cracked windshield last year, and they put in new glass for the total sum of $10. Unbelievable.