How Rivian’s Lease-End Wear and Mileage Charges Stack Up to the Competition

Rivian just published a refreshed guide outlining how it handles wear, mileage, and condition when you return a leased vehicle. Most of it matches industry norms, but there are a few details worth noting if your lease is ending soon.

Rivian’s lease-end process spells out what qualifies as “excessive wear”, from scratches, dents, and cracked glass to aftermarket parts or mismatched tires. Anything outside of normal use can trigger extra charges, and exceeding your mileage limit costs 30 cents per mile. Tires must have at least 4/32 inch of tread, match in brand and rating, and be comparable to the original configuration. The company also recommends scheduling a pre-term inspection to avoid surprises.

So how does that compare to others?

Tesla charges 25 cents per mile over your limit and expects the same 4/32 inch tread depth minimum. They even publish wheel damage examples and let you complete a digital self-inspection before turn-in.

Mercedes-Benz uses a detailed checklist across exterior, interior, and mechanical categories, with the same 4/32 inch tire rule. They also warn about aftermarket modifications and missing items like keys or charging cables. Many of their sample offers show 25 cents per mile for overage.

BMW follows similar guidelines but lets you buy additional miles in advance through its Mileage Adjustment Program. Tire tread must again be 4/32 inch, and any mechanical or cosmetic damage beyond “normal wear” can be billed at lease-end.

GM Financial and Toyota Financial Services both encourage early pre-return inspections. GM typically uses the 4/32 inch tire threshold and allows optional wear protection plans, while Toyota offers courtesy inspections and publishes examples of acceptable wear in its own lease-end documents.

Across all of them, the rulebook is remarkably consistent, 4/32 inch tread minimum, clean glass, no frame damage, and matching OEM-quality parts. The biggest outlier is Rivian’s higher 30-cent mileage rate, though it’s still within a reasonable range for luxury EVs.

If you’re closing out a Rivian lease, scheduling that pre-inspection about two months before your return date could save you a few hundred bucks. Fixing small paint chips, wheel rash, or replacing a worn tire now usually costs less than what shows up on the final invoice.