For Company car drivers
Vehicle return
In the menu below, you can find information about the vehicle return process to ensure it is as simple and smooth as possible for you. What can you expect on the day of the return, and what should you prepare in advance?
Certain parts of the information on this site were prepared based on the official guidelines of the Hungarian Leasing Association, adapted into a web format.
Contact us
The return preferably takes place at one of the following MOL Mercarius locations:
TENGERSZEM UTCAI SERVICE POINT
1142 Budapest, Tengerszem utca 59/a
GYÖMRŐI ÚTI SERVICE POINT
1103 Budapest, Gyömrői út 115.
MOL MERCARIUS
DEBRECEN
4032 Debrecen, Külső Böszörményi út 8.
MOL MERCARIUS
SZEGED
6728 Szeged, Dorozsmai út 6.
Do you have a question?
Call our central number!
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 08:00 AM - 16:30 PM
Recommended preparations
When returning the vehicle, it is important that the car is in as clean a condition as possible to ensure that any external and internal damages can be clearly identified.
Before returning the vehicle, make sure that it is in proper condition:
Car cleaning
Wash the bodywork before the inspection and clean the interior (including upholstery if necessary).
Car deodorizing
Eliminate any unpleasant odors (e.g., tobacco smoke, animal or human-related smells).
Emptying the car’s compartments
Check all storage compartments in the car and remove all personal belongings.
Data deletion
Don’t forget to delete any personal data stored in the vehicle’s navigation or media system.
Cleaning the car exterior
Any stickers, labels, or advertisements on the bodywork or windows must also be removed.
Removal of accessories
If there is a GPS tracker or any other device not included in the contract installed in the vehicle, make sure to remove it before returning the car.
On the day of return
The vehicle return process, including a detailed condition assessment and documentation, typically takes about 15 minutes. Therefore, please plan for this time rather than just a simple key handover!
Fuel level at return
At the time of return, the vehicle must have at least a quarter tank of fuel.
Valid technical inspection
The vehicle must be returned with a valid technical inspection. If the vehicle does not have a valid inspection, the costs of transporting it to the inspection center will be charged to you.
Roadworthy condition
The vehicle must be returned in a roadworthy condition.
Engine and warning lights
The engine must be able to start, and no warning lights should indicate a fault. If these conditions are not met, further inspections may be carried out to clarify the vehicle’s condition and to account for the related costs.
Important: After the vehicle is returned, it is no longer possible to settle CASCO or damage coverage services retroactively, nor to replace lost keys or registration certificates. Any costs arising from these will be your responsibility.
Requirements for returning the vehicle
At the time of vehicle return, both the person handing over and the person receiving the car are jointly responsible for inspecting the vehicle’s condition and accessories. Please actively participate in checking the following items:
Presence of mandatory accessories:
- valid registration certificate, registration vignette, and gray license plate (for bike racks, if applicable),
- user manual, service and warranty booklets (if in paper format),
- all keys and copies, including the ignition card,
- user manuals and warranty booklets for any aftermarket accessories,
- radio code cards,
- SD, CD, or DVD discs for the navigation system (for security reasons, delete saved locations such as your home address),
- all removable audio devices,
- removable additional equipment installed on the vehicle (e.g., tow bar, rear sunshade, parcel shelf, hubcaps, headrests, mats, charging cables, etc.),
- keys for the bodywork, roof rack, and tow hitch,
- safety equipment belonging to the vehicle (jack, wheel wrench, warning triangle, first aid kit, etc.)*,
- the spare tire must be in the vehicle and comply with legal requirements,
- if the vehicle has a tire repair kit, it must be operational (plug + 12V compressor for cigarette lighter)*.
*If you receive a puncture repair kit, the car jack and wheel wrench are not included among the mandatory accessories.
Areas to be checked:
Glass surfaces:
Check all lights, lenses, windows, and mirrors for cracks, chips, or holes.
Tires, spare wheel, and tire repair kit:
Check for any damage, tears, or missing parts, and ensure that all bolts and wheel nuts (wheel locks) are present.
Many manufacturers do not provide a spare tire but instead supply a tire repair kit containing a puncture sealant and a 12V compressor.
– If the vehicle comes with a tire repair kit, it must be in usable condition upon return.
– If the vehicle has a spare tire, it must also be returned inside the vehicle and in proper condition.
Interior:
The upholstery must be clean and free of unpleasant odors, and it must not have burn marks, tears, or stubborn stains.
Dashboard and center console:
All functions and devices must work properly, and no error codes should be displayed. Surfaces should be free of damage and cracks.
Body elements (including sills and roof):
Under proper lighting conditions, check for dents, damage, or scratches on the bodywork.
Assessment of damages
This guide helps you understand the basic requirements the car must meet at the time of return.
Naturally, the vehicle’s condition is influenced by its age and mileage, but there are certain damages that are no longer considered acceptable (e.g., missing parts or broken glass surfaces).
Vehicle exterior surfaces
1.) Bodywork and paint
- Scratches up to 10 cm in length, if they can be removed by polishing
- Scuffs and wear marks up to 2 cm, if they can be removed by polishing
- Dents up to 2 cm in size, with a maximum of two per panel
- Stone chips affecting less than 25% of the panel, without corrosion
- Stone chips that were properly repainted before the onset of corrosion
- Breaks and scratches longer than 10 cm
- Scuffs, wear, and dents larger than 2 cm
- Any stone chips, scratches, or wear that cannot be removed by polishing
- More than two dents per panel
- Corroded dents, scuffs, or scratches, or paint damage where bare metal is visible and corrosion may start
- Stone chips affecting more than 25% of the panel surface
- Defective repainting showing color mismatch
- Improper repair
- Complete or partial absence of decals that are an integral part of the vehicle
- Discoloration caused by external factors
- Residues, adhesive marks, or contamination remaining from the removal or absence of advertising decals
- Damage caused by corrosive substances
2.) Grille and bumper
- Scratches up to 10 cm in length, if they can be removed by polishing
- Scuffs and wear marks up to 2 cm, if they can be removed by polishing
- In the case of a textured or unpainted bumper: scratches and impact marks up to 10 cm, and scuffs and wear marks up to 2 cm
- Dents up to 2 cm in size, with a maximum of two per grille and per bumper
- Discoloration caused by external factors (e.g. weather conditions)
- Breaks and scratches longer than 10 cm
- Scuffs, wear, and dents larger than 2 cm
- In the case of a painted bumper: any stone chips, scratches, scuffs, or wear that cannot be removed by polishing
- Broken, cracked, or deformed grille, bumper, or its components (e.g. sensors)
- More than two dents per bumper or per grille
- Damage resulting from improper use of chemicals
3.) Tires, alloy or steel rims, hubcaps
- Tires with a tread depth of at least 3 mm for summer tires and at least 3.5 mm for winter tires
- On the outer face of alloy or steel wheels: a maximum of one scratch, scuff, or wear mark not exceeding 10 cm
- On the side of alloy or steel wheels: a maximum of one scratch, scuff, or wear mark not exceeding 10 cm
- On hubcaps: scratches longer than 10 cm or scuffs larger than 5 cm (e.g. curb damage)
- Tires with a tread depth below 3 mm for summer tires or below 3.5 mm for winter tires
- Scratches, scuffs, or wear marks longer than 10 cm
- Deformed tire (e.g. as a result of hard braking)
- Bulges on the tire or sidewall damage (e.g. cracks, tears, or missing material)
- Damage to the tread or the bead
- Tires with parameters (brand, tread pattern, size) differing from our records
- Tire punctured by a foreign object
- Broken or deformed alloy or steel wheel
- Corrosion on alloy or steel wheels
- Return without the original alloy or steel wheels, tire repair kit, and/or spare wheel
- Missing quantity or broken hubcaps
4.) Glass surfaces and lighting
- Stone chips measuring 1–2 mm, provided they are not located in the “A” zone of the windshield
- Stone chips on the surface of the headlights, fog lights, or turn signals, provided the glass is not cracked and the component is functional
- Small stickers on the windshield as required by local regulations
- Minor damage to the registration sticker
- Scratches
- Matte surface
- Broken glass or headlight
- Any break or crack in a headlight that impairs its operation; all bulbs must be functional
- Aftermarket sun visor strips or tinted bands must be completely removed from the windshield if they were not installed by a professional, or if they are torn or have started to peel off at the corners of the windshield
- Breaks or cracks larger than 2 cm and/or located in the “A” zone
- Major damage to or absence of the registration sticker
- Protruding from the bodywork but not damaged or missing
- Showing surface scuffing but not missing
- Damaged
- Missing
6.) Mirrors and exterior fittings
- Painted mirror frames: wear and scratches up to 5 cm, if removable by polishing
- Textured or unpainted mirror frames: wear, scratches, and impact marks up to 5 cm
- Vehicle must be returned with an intact tow bar and towing hitch
- Properly installed, fully functional, and undamaged headlights and reflectors
- Headlights must fully comply with legal requirements and, if required by law, be documented in the vehicle’s paperwork
- Painted mirror frames: wear and scratches larger than 5 cm, or any wear and scratches requiring repainting
- Textured or unpainted mirror frames: wear, scratches, and impact marks larger than 5 cm
- Deformation or breakage of the mirror and/or mirror frame
- Any reflector whose installation or removal has caused structural damage to the vehicle
- Damage resulting from the removal of the tow bar
Vehicle interior areas
1.) Interior parts
- Dirt on the seats, interior trim, upholstery, and floor mats that can be removed with general cleaning
- Wear and indentations on the seats indicating general use
- Discoloration of the panels as a result of daily use and wear
- The phone holder may remain in the vehicle
- Dirt on the seats, interior trim, upholstery, and floor mats that can only be removed with specialized cleaning
- Tears, wear, scratches, cuts, or deformation in the interior trim, upholstery, or floor mat materials
- Holes in the dashboard resulting from the removal of equipment
- Cuts, grooves, or fraying on the steering wheel
- Breakage (including on the key) or missing parts (including in the engine compartment)
- Unpleasant odors (e.g., tobacco smell) that can only be eliminated with specialized equipment
- GPS device not removed
2.) Trunk damage
- Dirt on the interior trim or upholstery that can be removed with general cleaning
- Wear indicating general use
- Discoloration of the panels as a result of daily use and wear
- Dirt on the interior trim or upholstery that can only be removed with specialized cleaning
- Tears, wear, scratches, cuts, or deformation in the interior trim or upholstery material
- Holes on surfaces or missing upholstery resulting from the removal of aftermarket-installed equipment
- Breakage or missing parts
Frequently asked questions
When do I need to schedule the vehicle return appointment?
The date must be mutually agreed upon no later than the 5th working day before the return.
Where can I return the vehicle?
The vehicle can be returned at the MOL Mercarius sites in
What do I need to do before returning the vehicle?
- The car must be washed before the body inspection.
- The interior must be cleaned (upholstery cleaning, odor removal).
- All personal items and data must be removed (navigation destinations, phone contacts, media content).
- Stickers, advertising signs, and any aftermarket markings must be removed.
- Aftermarket GPS and non-factory devices must be removed without leaving permanent marks.
What happens if I do not prepare the car properly for return?
MOL Mercarius Fleet Solution will wash the vehicle and perform a detailed inspection. The costs of any detected damages and cleaning will be charged to you.
What documents must be handed over with the vehicle?
How many keys do I need to return?
What should be done with the stickers before returning the vehicle?
All non-factory stickers must be removed without leaving marks or damage. If you do not remove them, you will bear the removal costs.
How much fuel should the vehicle have upon return?
Is it necessary for the car to have a valid technical inspection upon return?
Can I claim CASCO or damage coverage after returning the vehicle?
What condition must the car be in at the time of return?
The vehicle must be in roadworthy condition:
- The engine must be able to start.
- No warning lights should indicate faults.
- All functions and equipment must be operational.
What happens if the vehicle is not roadworthy?
Further inspections may be carried out, and the cost of repairs or settlements will be charged to you.
What happens if the vehicle is not roadworthy?
Further inspections may be carried out, and the cost of repairs or settlements will be charged to you.
What documents must be returned with the vehicle?
- Registration certificate, registration sticker, gray license plate (for bike racks).
- User manual, service and warranty booklets (paper-based, if available).
- All keys and copies, starter cards.
- Radio code cards.
- Navigation system media (SD/CD/DVD – saved addresses must be deleted).
- User manuals for aftermarket installed devices.
What accessories must be returned?
- All removable audio equipment.
- Detachable factory accessories (e.g., parcel shelf, hubcaps, mats, headrests, charging cables, etc.).
- Roof rack and tow hitch keys.
- Safety equipment (jack, lug wrench, warning triangle, first aid kit, etc.).
- Spare wheel or tire repair kit in usable condition.