See our FAQs below:
Vehicle Contracts was established in 1999 to offer business contract hire and personal contract hire. By offering these two leasing products we provide our customers with some of the most competitive rates available on the market.
Our experience and knowledge have helped us to form strong relationships with dealers, manufacturers and the leading finance and leasing companies. Our commitment to volume allows us to negotiate maximum discount, enabling us to offer the lowest rates and some of the most competitive special offers on the market.
Having been established for over 20 years, we can offer you specialist and honest advice on all aspects of leasing and contract hire. We take pride in our customer service scoring on average 4.8 out of 5 stars for our all-around service from start to finish.
Vehicle Contracts has agencies with the following industry-leading banks and finance companies:
These facilities allow us to search the whole leasing industry to find the right vehicle and finance package for you.
Find out more about Vehicle Contracts on our about us page.
Leasing can be a cost-effective and hassle-free way to get behind the wheel of a new car or van. Vehicle Contracts have produced three videos that you can view that gives you a formal guide to business contract hire and personal contract hire together with a short video on what to expect on delivery and handover:
There are many why leasing a vehicle is so cost-effective:
Yes, a full UK driving licence is required. You will also need to be at least 18 years old to sign the financial agreement and be creditworthy.
Car leasing has a wide range of benefits that you may not have even considered:
Contract hire has always been a popular way of running a car for personal or business usage, however, due to heavy depreciation and the unexpected repair costs associated with car ownership, more and more private individuals are looking at the option of car leasing.
The cost of the initial rental is usually lower than the deposit for a brand-new vehicle and certainly can be cheaper than saving up to buy the car outright. The ongoing lease cost tends to be lower too and it's fixed each month, so you know what you're paying and budgeting.Vehicle leasing means you can drive a new car or van every two to five years. You generally avoid MOTs and road tax is covered for the full duration of your contract.
Your lease car is delivered to your door. Even better, you don't have to worry about selling it when you're finished with it - you can just hand it back at the end of your lease and pick another new car lease, subject to status. You also have the added inclusion of the manufacturer's warranty and a guarantee is provided with all new cars delivered.
For guidance, we have a short video explaining car leasing.
All of our business contract hire rates are displayed exclusive of VAT while our personal contract hire rates will be VAT inclusive. In most cases, there is no difference in pricing once VAT is added.
There are a few exceptions where the most competitive rate on a certain vehicle will be with a finance company that only underwrite business contracts. In this instance, the best personal rate will be offered with another finance company.
As a car gets older, it depreciates in value and the more miles it has on the clock, the greater the depreciation. Therefore, when you take out a car lease, you agree to a set annual mileage allowance for the duration of the lease. The cost of depreciation is built into the fixed monthly cost within your lease agreement.
The annual mileage allowance is there so that the finance company funding your car lease can estimate a resale value on the car once the lease period is over.
If this rate is exceeded, a fee will be charged to compensate for the depreciation of the vehicle
When you are discussing your car lease agreement, one of the most important things on the agenda is the annual mileage. It is vital to choose a mileage allowance that reflects your driving habits because if you exceed your chosen mileage, you will be required to pay an extra amount on a pence per mile basis. This is calculated based on how many additional miles you have done at the end of the agreement.
Your choice of mileage allowance is completely down to you. If you exceed the mileage allowance on your lease vehicle, any mileage over the agreed amount is charged at the agreed excess mileage rate per mile.
For example, if the excess stated in your agreement shows its 5p per mile, and you exceeded your mileage allowance by 1,000 miles, you would be charged £50 at the end of your lease 5p x 1000 miles = £50.
When getting a car lease quote with Vehicle Contracts, you will be able to see the excess mileage charge on your contract before committing to anything.
There may be changes in your circumstances during the lease period such as moving home or changing jobs, which may affect the amount of daily or weekly mileage that you may do and if this is the case, it is a good idea to contact the finance company to see if a mileage extension is available to you.
Yes, normally the vehicles we supply are brand new. However, if you request an "ex-lease" product with us, then these vehicles are normally 18-24 months old.
Sometimes there are particularly strong offers on "pre-registered vehicles" which have already been manufactured but not sold, and are therefore still classed as brand new.
Vehicles are usually driven to their destinations by professional drivers or delivery agents. In some cases, the vehicle may be transported on low loaders but this is not usually the case.
The vehicle is usually delivered with a quarter of a tank of petrol - please note, this is not a contractual obligation.
Your new car will be delivered by the manufacturer rather than by us. This is because they will be producing the car brand new so it is their responsibility to deliver it to you.
An independent logistics company will deliver all re-leased cars.
Depending on the type of vehicle you require, we can usually deliver dealer stock vehicles within ten to 14 working days. If you have specific requirements and we are unable to source our vehicle from dealer stock, then it may be necessary to place a factory order. As a rough guide, a factory order can take between six to 14 weeks to arrive depending on the manufacturer chosen.
Please be aware, the lead time can be greater than this for in-demand vehicles or those with a limited allocation.
Yes, we supply cars for business fleets. Whether a business is looking for an individual vehicle, a fleet of vehicles or a collection of different cars, our staff are on hand to help. Whilst the cars may be part of a fleet, they are treated as individual cars throughout the process.
This means you can choose a deposit, how long you wish to lease them for and what the annual mileage allowance will be for each car, we can also offer pool mileage cover for a medium to a larger fleet of vehicles to spread out the cost.
We are a car leasing broker and advise that when you know what allowance you can expect to receive, then please familiarise yourself with the makes and models that interest you. When you have narrowed down your search to just a few vehicles, that's the time to call the office. We will always offer very knowledgeable and specialist advice on the best way forward to suit your requirements.
On a contract hire agreement, the finance company will be the registered owner and keeper of the vehicle.
All lease agreements arranged by Vehicle Contracts include road tax either for the duration of the contract or for 12 months. The length of time tax is covered will depend on the type of contract taken.
For all contract hire and personal contract hire agreements, the funder will provide vehicle tax for the duration of the agreement, as they will remain the registered owner of the vehicle. If the cost of the vehicle tax goes up during the term of the agreement, or any extended term, the customer may be liable to pay the amount of the increase.
To tax a vehicle, the registered owner or keeper must have the VED reminder letter (V11) or registration certificate/logbook (V5C). For contract hire or personal contract hire agreements, as the finance provider is the registered owner and keeper of the vehicle, they are responsible for providing the vehicle tax for the duration of the agreement.
If you are on a contract hire or personal contract hire agreement and want to check that your vehicle has been taxed, you can check your lease vehicle has up-to-date vehicle tax by visiting the DVLA website.
Once your vehicle has arrived at the dealership and all necessary checks have been completed, we will contact you to arrange delivery and to confirm your vehicle registration with you. It is at this point that you can arrange your vehicle insurance in anticipation of delivery.
Your new lease vehicle needs to be insured from the day of the delivery and must remain insured until your vehicle is collected by the finance provider. This must be a fully comprehensive insurance policy and the certificate must show your name, registration number and must be dated on or before your delivery date.
For personal lease agreements, the hirer obtaining finance must be the main policy holder on the insurance certificate.
For business lease agreements, the insurance certificate should be in the company name or a director's name. If an employee is required to drive the vehicle, a letter on company headed paper may be requested confirming that the employee is authorised to drive the vehicle and confirming their position in the company.
For business contract hire and personal contract hire agreements, the finance company is the registered owner and keeper of the vehicle. You will need to make your insurance provider aware of this when setting up your policy.
We have put together a short video explaining what to expect upon delivery of your new leased vehicle.
You will have been advised about six months before the end of your contract that your lease is due to finish shortly with our renewals team taking the time to discuss your replacement options.
Whether you decide to hand the vehicle back for a newer car, extend the contract, or purchase the vehicle from the finance company is up to you, subject to terms, but also dependent on the contract that was taken out at the start of the leasing term.
Vehicle Contracts may be able to arrange collection of your existing vehicle on your behalf, provided your lease agreement was originally arranged with us.
If you are renewing your next car lease with Vehicle Contracts, where possible, we will also try and arrange collection of your existing vehicle on the same day as delivery of your new vehicle to make the transition as smooth as possible for you. For those not renewing their lease contract, please arrange collection of your existing vehicle with Vehicle Contracts at your earliest convenience or direct with the supplying funder.
Please ensure you give at least 7-14 working days' notice to book your collection. Your collection can be arranged up to 30 days ahead of your required date. If your preferred collection date is more than 30 days ahead, please contact us closer to your renewal date. Please note that a settlement fee may apply if the collection date requested falls before your final monthly direct debit.
To book collection of your vehicle, please provide the following information:
Upon receipt of your collection request, confirmation of the collection booking will be sent by return email usually within 24 hours of your request. If you have not had confirmation within 48 hours of sending the request, please call the Vehicle Contract or the finance provider if you have arranged the booking with them directly.
One working day before the date of collection, the collection agent will attempt to call you to confirm the booking. Failure to confirm collection with the agent may result in a failed collection, for which a charge will be applied.
If a collection cannot be completed due to no contact or a general unroadworthy condition of the vehicle, a charge will be applied. The average charge is around £69+ VAT but this varies depending on the finance company.
Please note, the finance company requires two working days' notice to cancel a collection otherwise an aborted collection charge will be applicable.
All of our vehicles are HPI checked. This ensures you will have no surprises when it comes to outstanding finance or a vehicle that has been involved in a nasty accident.
Car leasing and finance options are financial agreements and will legally require you to be 18 years old when you sign up for an agreement.
Subject to obtaining the funder's permission, there should be no problem with adding a cherished plate to a leased vehicle.
Please be advised that Vehicle Contracts is unable to arrange for the cherished plate to be added to your vehicle before delivery as this can delay the delivery process. Therefore, we advise that you arrange this with the finance company directly after you have taken delivery of your vehicle.
It is also worth noting that the finance provider may charge an administration fee for this service and that the cherished plate must be removed from the vehicle before it is returned at the end of the contract.
Vehicle Contracts offer 12-month contract hire and personal contract hire agreements on used lease vehicles supplied by ARVAL.
Ex-leased vehicles have a huge range of benefits including:
Ex-leased vehicles come with:
We can offer highly competitive quotations on all makes and models and endeavour to always keep our website as up to date as possible. If you can't find your exact requirements, then please give us a call on 01675 466433 or email: info@vehiclecontracts.co.uk.
Unfortunately, the answer is no. Our panel of finance companies will not lease out cars for "hire or reward purposes".
Depending on the finance provider, you may be allowed to take the vehicle abroad for a specified period. Before arranging your trip, you will need to contact the finance provider to discuss your options.
Along with the standard documentation, leased vehicle drivers will require a form VE103B. This is essentially authorisation from the finance provider which allows the driver to take the lease car abroad.
The VE103B will contain the details of the vehicle, name and address of the driver and gives permission from the finance provider for the driver to be using the car abroad. This is a legal document and acts as an alternative to the V5C. This form must be ordered in advance of your trip.
The amount you're permitted to borrow will ultimately depend upon your credit score, the size of the deposit and your ability to make regular repayments on time along with any other debts you may have.
You do not need to be in full-time employment to lease a car, however, you must have a regular form of income or benefits such as a disability allowance or a pension. This will provide financial proof you can afford the monthly payments.
This all depends on the agreement type. If you are a business looking for vehicles, then you can look at multiple lease agreements for the business subject to the business credit criteria and finance approval/s. If you are an individual looking at a personal contract hire, then you can arrange a lease for two to five years.
This is dependent on the manufacturer's availability. You can quickly have a vehicle delivered to you within seven to 14 days. These would be classed as 'stock' vehicles that have been built and are readily available for quick delivery.
If we cannot source your vehicle from a manufacturer or dealer, we would look at placing a factory order. Factory orders have different lead times, depending on the manufacturer, however, it usually takes somewhere between six and 16 weeks.
Occasionally, it may be longer with certain manufacturers but our sales team will advise you of current lead times.
You can choose new car lease agreements on either 2, 3, 4 or 5-year terms. We also offer short term 12-month contracts on ex-leased cars as well.
Returning your lease car is dependent on your finance provider. Vehicle Contracts may be able to assist in arranging the collection of your existing vehicle, provided your lease agreement was originally arranged by us.
If you're already a Vehicle Contracts customer, we could arrange collection of your existing vehicle on the same day as delivery of your new vehicle - please contact us to discuss further. It is also dependent on the current finance provider, but we will try to make the process as smooth as possible for you.
Most finance providers require at least seven to ten working days' notice to book your collection. Alternatively, your collection can be arranged up to 30 days ahead of your required date should you wish to arrange things a bit sooner.
If you prefer to arrange collection that is more than 30 days ahead of your contract end date, then please contact us.
Please note that an early termination fee may apply if the collection date requested falls before your final monthly direct debit.
To book collection of your vehicle, please provide the following information:
Collection days are usually Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. Collections are not available on bank holidays or weekends. The collecting agency driver can collect from any mainland UK address and the vehicle must be handed back with full-service history and valid MOT.
If a collection cannot be completed due to no contact/availability being available on the day or general unroadworthy condition of the vehicle, a charge will be applied. The average charge is around £75+ VAT but this varies depending on the finance company.
Please note, the finance company requires at least two working days' notice to cancel an arranged collection, otherwise, an Aborted Collection Charge will be applicable.
In the unfortunate case that your lease vehicle has been declared a total loss such as a write-off or stolen, then you must inform the finance provider and your insurance company immediately. As in most incidents, your finance provider will require written confirmation from your insurance company that the vehicle is a total loss before providing an amount for settlement of the vehicle contract.
Please note that your finance provider will not enter negotiations with your insurance company - you are responsible and it must be done by yourself.
If you're involved in an accident that's a leased car, you'll need to tell your insurance company immediately. Even though you may not be making a claim, not making them aware of any accident can mean that your cover is invalidated.
Although you can make a claim and receive an excess if the damage to the car is expensive, the cost of your premium may go up. Be mindful to cancel your insurance policy for a leased car if it is written off, unless you get a courtesy car temporarily, in which case your insurer may let you transfer the policy over to it.
If you pay monthly and don't have a replacement vehicle, cancelling your cover will save you losing money.
For a fixed monthly cost and complete peace of mind, you can take out a maintenance package as an optional product. This will cover the cost of all scheduled servicing, replacement or repair of tyres, batteries, wipers, bulbs and other perishable items during your agreement.
Maintenance packs do not cover any repairs or replacements which are a result of accidental damage. A non-maintained package also doesn't cover the MOT.
Yes, maintenance packages are available on our ex-lease cars.
Leasing with Vehicle Contracts, you can take comfort that you will enjoy the many benefits of driving a brand new car, particularly those linked to reliability.
Our lease deals include the full UK manufacturer's warranty, usually, three years but some manufacturers offer longer, so you can rest assured that if something goes wrong with your vehicle within this period, you shouldn't have to pay to fix any faults. Some limitations may apply to certain vehicles.
It is also handy to know that most car manufacturers include breakdown cover as part of their standard warranty so if you ever do come unstuck, you can call on their help.
If you don't have a maintenance package included in your lease agreement, you may still be covered for breakdown as part of the manufacturer's warranty. Breakdown cover typically varies from one year to five years and usually starts from the date of vehicle registration.
If your new car is still covered under warranty, you may also be covered for breakdown recovery. Search for the manufacturer below to find out the length of the breakdown cover included and the contact number you need to call in the event of a breakdown in the UK.
Rest assured, there is no catch or hidden fees. Vehicle Contracts work very closely with all manufacturers, large motor groups and a panel of finance companies. We have over 20 years of experience and have a commitment to volume that enables us to negotiate the strongest vehicle discount terms that we pass on to our customers.
In addition to this, we can select the leading and most competitive finance option from one of our panel of finance partners. Put these two together and we obtain the most competitive leasing rates available from our panel of funders direct to you.
Costs are dependent on the length of your contract agreement and your annual mileage allowance. A combination of both factors will calculate a cost.
We have costs available to view on our website covering mileages from 5,000 - 30,000 over a two, three or four-year period. Anything you can't find please contact us for a bespoke package to suit.
Yes, all vehicles come with a manufacturer's warranty. The length of time this warranty covers will be dependent on the manufacturer. These range from two years to seven years.
Please check with your sales advisor or the manufacturer's website for guidance
You will be responsible to pay for any repairs to your leased vehicle if it's involved in an accident or any damage to the vehicle. Any work carried out must be done at a garage that is approved by the leasing provider.
Leaving any damage until the day when the vehicle is due to be collected could result in an expensive charge to get it fixed.
This method refers to the payment profile. The first example would be for a 36-month contract where the initial rental is equivalent to 9 monthly rentals. This is then followed by 35 further monthly rentals.
The second example is a 24-month contract where the initial rental is equivalent to 6 monthly rentals, followed by 23 further monthly rentals. These payment profiles can be adjusted to suit your personal circumstances but are usually multiples of 3 i.e. 3+, 6+, 9+ or 12+.
The higher the initial rental, the lower the monthly payments and vice versa. Either way, the total amount payable over the term will be virtually the same.
Leasing is designed for changing your car after two, three or four years, however, some finance companies do give you the option to purchase the car towards the end of the agreement.
The way the finance companies calculate their prices is heavily based on the vehicle's predicted future value. The more miles you cover will mean that at the end of the contract your car will be worth a lower price or vice versa, and so the vehicle's projected depreciation will be greater or lesser.
Options available are generally calculated on a one, three, six, nine or 12-month advance payment. We do have a low initial rental option which can mean you don't have to pay a large amount upfront for a new vehicle.
Whilst a deposit helps to lower your monthly payments, it is not a requirement on a lease agreement. If you don't want to pay a deposit, all our cars have a no deposit option. You will have to pay higher monthly payments as a result, but if you can afford to do that, then it shouldn't be a problem.
You will receive a welcome pack from your finance provider around ten working days after your car has been delivered. This will list the dates that the payments will be taken by direct debit. Please note that the payments will not be taken before delivery.
Yes, all leasing and finance agreements require credit checks. As a customer you will undergo a credit check, a finance approval will be based on acceptance, based on credit history, they will carry out a mandatory credit search.
If you are worried you will not be accepted due to poor or bad credit, please contact us to discuss.
Most finance companies will respond to a credit application placed with them within 24 to 48 hours. Applications can take longer if additional information is requested.
You should receive a decision on your application within 24 to 48 hours of your enquiry. However, in the main, you will receive a decision sooner rather than later with most decisions being made within the first hour.
Unfortunately, if your application is declined, there is nothing that we can do. Please refer to an online credit agency for your personal updated credit report. Alternatively, you can appeal to the finance company directly.
Most funders require a good to excellent credit score to be accepted for car finance. It is worth noting that no lender uses your personal credit score alone to decide if you're approver or decline.
Often, many other criteria come into play such as your ability to make regular payments on time and any other debts including loans that you may have.
If the car is not up to your satisfaction upon arrival due to incorrect specification or damage, you can reject it there and then. For personal contracts, you have a 14 day cooling-off period from the date of the signed agreement to change your mind. Please note, cancellation charges may apply.
We have a panel of finance funders we use, including direct agencies with Lex Autolease, Hitachi, ALD Automotive, Santander, Arval as well as funding options available through the vehicle manufacturers
Our panel of finance companies will require applicants to have a good to excellent credit score. If you have a bad to poor credit rating, then the likelihood is your application would be declined.
Some of our funders will allow a guarantor or a joint application but this is dependent upon the decision of the finance company.
Business users who are VAT-registered can currently reclaim a minimum of 50% of the VAT payable on each contract hire payment. This is assuming that the vehicle will be used for both business and social use.
You may be able to reclaim the whole amount of the monthly VAT if the vehicle is used solely for business use. Please contact your accountant to see if you meet the criteria.
If you decide that you wish to have the contract maintained, then VAT registered business users can claim back 100% of the VAT. Commercial vehicle users can also claim 100% of the VAT back. Private individuals can't reclaim any of the VAT on the monthly price.
Recoverable VAT only applies to VAT-qualifying agreements such as business contract hire and finance lease.
The amount you can borrow depends on how good your credit score is, how much a deposit you wish to put down and how affordable the car is. Enquire with us and our staff will walk you through the process to see how much you can afford to borrow through our panel of funders.
If you have a problem paying your next finance payment, then you should go straight to your finance company for support. The finance company relevant to you is whom you normally make payments to.
The short answer is yes, you can end your finance early, however, terminating your leasing agreement early is not available on all contracts and is fully dependent on the finance provider. If you're thinking of early termination of your contract, please get in contact with one of our sales advisors on 01675 466433 for more information.
We charge a one-off admin fee that enables us to produce the relevant vehicle documentation and reserve the vehicle in your name.
An electric car is a vehicle that runs solely on electricity and therefore produces no exhaust emissions. They solely have an electric motor that is powered by batteries, which you charge by plugging the car into a socket.
Hybrid cars will combine conventional fuel with an electric motor and batteries. Although recognised as not as "green" as fully electric cars, hybrids generally consume less fuel and produce less CO2 than conventionally powered cars.
Drivers of electric cars usually decide on installing a home charging point because of usage ease, its benefits and safety features. It could be treated the same as charging a mobile phone, fully charging overnight, and topping up in the day if necessary.
While it is not necessary to charge every day on some electric vehicles, many drivers plugin each time they leave their car out overnight. By choosing overnight charging, electric car drivers can take advantage of some cheap night-time electricity rates and drive for as little as 2p per mile.
The benefits of overnight charging also ensure that the car's battery is fully charged each morning for the day ahead. You don't need to unplug the battery once it is full - charging will automatically stop with a dedicated home charger.
Alternatively, drivers can also make use of charging facilities at their workplace or public destinations to top up their charge.
Most UK residential properties use a single-phase power supply, which means the majority of home charge points charge at either 3.7kW or 7kW. Drivers usually choose a home charging point because it's faster and has built-in safety features.
You can charge using a regular domestic three-pin socket, but a dedicated home EV charger is currently the better option. EV home chargers typically deliver around 7kW of power.
In contrast, most vehicle manufacturers limit the current drawn from a standard domestic 3 pin socket to 10A or less, which equates to a maximum of 2.3kW. A 7kW home charger, therefore, delivers approximately three times as much power and is approximately three times as fast as using a domestic socket.
To fully charge an electric vehicle at home costs on average around £5. To charge an EV to around 80% at a public rapid charger point, on average costs between £7 to £10.
Please note, this varies depending on the charge level, charging speed, location, tariff, energy cost and battery capacity. However, we can say for certain that charging an EV undercuts fuel costs for a petrol or diesel car.
The charging time of an EV is dependent on the size of the battery and the type of charger - which is defined by the power in kW.
There are three types of EV charging:
Please note, even when rapid charging on a long journey you often won’t need to charge for this long. As a guide, 15 minutes of charging on average will give you a 30–40-mile range.
Rapid DC chargers usually provide up to 50kW of power, while rapid AC units are rated up to 43kW.
Yes, you can, the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) provides the Plug-in Car and Plug-in Van grants for vehicles that emit 75 g/km of CO2 or less and are capable of zero-emission travel.
For electric cars less than £35,000, a grant of 35% of the cost to a maximum of £2,500. The Plug-in Van Grant offers 35% of the cost of small electric vans that are less than 2.5 tonnes, with CO2 emissions of less than 50g/km and can travel at least 60 miles without any emissions. Up to a maximum of £3,000 and 35% of the purchase price. A maximum of £6,000 of the purchase price can be claimed up to a maximum of £2,500 and for vans 20% of the purchase price up to £8,000.
The vehicles need to be approved by the government and there are different categories of vehicles which affects how much the grant is. The grant will already have been accounted for in the lease cost of the vehicle, so you don’t need to apply for it; we take care of it all.
Yes, currently, the government provides domestic electric vehicle charge point grants for people who own or lease plug-in vehicles. This is for 75% of the cost of the unit and installation, to a maximum of £350.
The government also provides grants for charge points at business premises. It is a voucher-based system that provides a grant of £300 for each socket up to a maximum of 20 across all sites for each application.
All charge points must be supplied and installed by an OLEV approved supplier.
Manufacturers currently have a five to eight-year warranty on their battery, depending on the manufacturer and mileage. However, as battery technologies progress, the prediction is that an electric car battery will last from ten to 20 years before they need to be replaced.
Here are current guides below regarding EV mileage predictions from the manufacturer
You have three choices:
With the EV models currently available in the UK, electric cars deliver between 45 miles and 323 miles of range with the average range clocking in at 193 miles. Please note that ranges do differ according to times of the year due and weather conditions.
Tesla continues to dominate the list of electric cars with the longest range. Luxury cars, such as Porsche, BMW, Audi, Jaguar, Mercedes, etc., usually deliver more miles per charge than your standard cars. The average range on a luxury electric vehicle is 249 miles, while the average range on a standard car is 40% lower at 152 miles.
Here below is a list of the top ten cars currently with the best range in 2021:
There are many benefits to leasing an EV car, not just doing your part for the environment.
Firstly you have low fuel costs, zero emissions, tax savings, government incentives, easy home charging and lower maintenance costs to take into consideration.
Also, until December 2025, cars with zero emissions are exempt from the London Congestion Charge with other cities expected to follow suit.
Another benefit to consider is noise pollution, leasing an EV means they are quieter to drive than petrol or diesel vehicles.
EVs can typically be more expensive to buy than an equivalent petrol and diesel model, but leasing is often the cheapest way into a new car. Also, you should take into consideration that electric and hybrid cars are much cheaper to run than petrol and diesel cars, so overall savings can be made.
Leasing can make what is usually a more expensive car more attainable.
The government says that company car drivers choosing a pure electric vehicle will pay no benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax in 2020/21. Instead, it has installed two new BIK tables for company car drivers; a table for those driving a company car registered after April 6, 2020, and the other one for those driving a company car registered before April 6, 2020.
The 0% rate will also apply to company cars registered from April 6, 2020, with emissions from 0-50g/km and a pure electric mile range of 130 miles or more. Both will then increase to 1% in 2021/22 and 2% in 2022/23.
Pure electric company cars registered before April 6, 2020, will also increase to 1% and 2% in subsequent years, 2021/22 and 2022/23. However, company cars registered before April 6, 2020, with emissions from 0-50g/km and a pure electric mile range of 130 miles or more attract a 2% BIK rate in 2020/21 and stay the same for the two subsequent tax years.
From 2023/24, fleets will have one BIK tax table again as the rates are realigned.
There are many advantages of leasing an EV or a Hybrid versus buying. The main reason is that you never own the vehicle, so you don’t need to worry about the car declining in value or having to sell it. You are more likely to hand the vehicle back before you experience any long-term maintenance issues.
You can also benefit from contract lengths available of two, three or four-year contracts, meaning you can keep up to date with the latest technologies available in the latest electric vehicles. We are seeing that technologies are rapidly changing in the electric vehicle industry with vehicle ranges getting even greater so they’re able to go further and further.
Most manufacturers supplying the UK market have an EV model available or have prototypes ready to launch.
In 2021, the below have electric vehicles available to lease:
This is your choice; it really depends on which type of car you require that suits your specific lifestyle and your routine car journeys.
You should take into consideration the mileage range, fuel costs, insurance, and general upkeep of each fuel type before making your decision.
Below, you’ll find the specific benefits of leasing EVs and hybrid cars:
EV leasing - the best option for lowering emissions, batteries are constantly improving, charging is quick and reliable and more.
Hybrid leasing - helps lower emissions, you’re not limited to battery range, comparable range to traditional fuels and more.
We've outlined a few key leasing terms to help you understand the leasing process. This includes terminology unique to leasing as well as a variety of phrases that are generally used throughout the automotive industry.
The cost of leasing a car is partially determined by how many miles the driver plans to drive each year. Your leasing contract will typically include an annual mileage range of 5,000 to 50,000 miles.
As stated in the contract, the agreed-upon mileage is allowed each year without incurring additional fees.
The arrangement fee or processing fee is applied to cover the cost of processing the finance application and dealing with the contract documentation.
Benefit in kind is a taxable benefit obtained by employees in addition to their salaries such as a company car allowance and fuel allowance. Benefit in kind can also be referred to as notional pay, fringe benefits or perks. These benefits have monetary value, so they must be regarded as taxable income.
Customers who fall under one of the following categories—self-employed, sole traders, LLPs, partnerships, limited companies, or business owners—are eligible for business contract hire. Most BCH clients must, if at all feasible, have been in business for at least a year. Prices for business contract hire are indicated on our website as plus VAT.
For more information, visit our guide to business car leasing.
The phrase "car leasing" or "van leasing" refers to a variety of contracts and periodic agreements. In these contracts, the driver generally does not own the vehicle but instead leases it for a monthly fee. Contract leases and financing leases are common examples. Some types, like contract purchases, give you the option to buy the car when the deal is through.
While it's good to be concerned about the environment, in the context of vehicles, CO2 emissions are crucial since they, along with the kind of fuel you use, influence your tax rate.
In a contract hire, a business or person hires the vehicle and uses it for a predetermined amount of time. Through Vehicle Contracts, you can lease a car for a predetermined amount of time—typically 24, 36, or 48 months—and a set annual mileage. The client makes a down payment (initial rental) as well as recurring monthly instalments. The car is returned to the company at the end of the contract term or period.
The length of your contract impacts the size of your monthly payments, just like annual mileage. The common terms that are offered are 24, 36, and 48 months.
Whether you live in a city or a rural area, if you want to lease a car from Vehicle Contracts, we will try to deliver it right to your door, but there are certain restrictions.
All customers located in England, Scotland, and Wales will receive free delivery. Please be aware that additional delivery fees might be necessary for several Scottish locations depending on the dealership who supplies the vehicle. For more information, please contact your leasing consultant.
Delivery will be reliant on the financial provider for clients in Northern Ireland. Others may permit transportation between the UK and Northern Ireland in accordance with new import restrictions, while some will insist that the car be purchased locally. Prior to delivery being scheduled, customers who want to meet a delivery driver at a port on UK mainland must complete the proper importation paperwork with a reputable shipping company. For more information, please contact your leasing consultant.
Depreciation is calculated by the reduction in value of the vehicle as it is used due to wear and tear and the annual mileage covered.
The calculation is the difference between the purchase price and the estimated value, and the end of the contract based on the contractual mileage (excess mileage will also be charged on top).
The UK and other EU nations support the widely acknowledged European New Car Assessment Programme, which evaluates the safety of new cars. Although evaluation is not required, a high Euro NCAP rating is a useful marketing tool.
You would typically be charged for any additional miles you drive if you go over the set mileage. Typically, this comes in a pence per mile calculated format.
A group of vehicles is referred to as a fleet, and fleet management is the task of overseeing a company's fleet of vehicles, including financing, servicing, and maintenance.
Data on the number of miles per gallon (MPG) is available from Vehicle Contracts website. It goes without saying that fuel is not included in the leasing (or purchase) price, so keep this in mind when deciding which vehicle type to lease. For more help on choosing a fuel type that’s right for you, please visit our guide to choosing a fuel type.
You make the initial payment for your leased car at the start of the contract agreement. Typically, it is 3, 6, or 9 months of your monthly rental. The amount of the monthly rental payments will be less with a bigger initial payment.
In the UK, vehicles are assigned to one of fifty insurance groups. A high-performance vehicle is more likely to land in band 50 than a Fiat 500 since the groups are meant to be in escalating order of cost.
Please be aware that some insurers don't follow these suggestions and instead base premium calculations on their own data.
In order to make it simple to compare the manufacturer's list price with the various leasing options, we clearly indicate it on our deal pages. The price of options, delivery fees, VAT, and a Road Fund Licence are included in the Manufacturer's OTR and can be supplied on request. For more information, please contact your leasing consultant.
The initial rental payment amount, followed by the number of ongoing monthly instalments, is displayed for example as: 3 35, 6 35, 9 35, 3 23, etc.
Similar to business contract hire, personal contract hire—also known as personal leasing—operates with slightly higher charges that are advertised with VAT included (business contract hire excludes VAT as the prevailing rate). It is created especially for personal clients.
The figure used to forecast a vehicle's value over time is called residual value.
Salary sacrifice is an arrangement where employers may make available to their employees – the employee permits to reduce their earnings by an amount identical to their pension contributions. In exchange, the employer then agrees to pay the total pension contributions. For more information on what this is all about, please visit our guide to salary sacrifice.
On our leasing special offers page, you can get amazing offers and you can easily locate high value offerings at discounted prices at Vehicle Contracts.
The phrase "van leasing" refers to a variety of contracts and periodic agreements. In these contracts, the driver generally does not own the vehicle but instead leases it for a monthly fee. Contract leases and financing leases are common examples. Some types, like contract purchases, give you the option to buy the car when the deal is through.
