Is Car Leasing Worth It?

Some people may be turned off by car leasing simply because they’re not sure how it can possibly have value for them. Many may write it off as a business thing that they don’t really want to get into personally because they perceive it as an elitist world of executives and corporation board members.

Of course, the reality is far from such a myth! Car leasing is as much for the general public as it is for those who run their own companies. In fact, personal contract hire is on the rise as more and more people across the UK see it as a way to get a reliable, brand-new and up-to-date car without needing huge amounts of money or an expensive loan.

Are lease cars worth it?

If you are looking to drive a brand-new car, with a full warranty, the latest technology and safety equipment, a budget plan to help your personal finance, no sudden charges or repair bills and reliable support in both breakdown and emergency situations, then yes – lease cars are very much worth it!

But what about the finances? Is it better to buy or lease a car?

Depreciation

There are a few factors that show how it is financially better for you to lease a car, but at the top of the pile sits the monster that is depreciation.

Depreciation is the loss in value of your vehicle over time. There are many factors that can affect the value of your car, from the wear and tear to the number of miles it has driven. There is the well-known idea that the moment you drive your car off the forecourt, you immediately halve its value, and while the numbers are wrong (it takes some time to lose half its initial value!), the concept is right. For every day that you drive a car, its value lowers.

The AA suggests that a car will lose 60% of its value within the first three years. That’s a loss of £30,000 on a £50,000 car or £9,000 on a £15,000 vehicle. Either way, it’s a lot of money!

One of the top benefits of car leasing is that depreciation is not your problem and you don’t need to worry about it. When leasing a brand new vehicle, you are enjoying driving it, not looking to sell it in the future!

Of course, the leasing company has done what they need to in order to take that into consideration before determining the cost of the lease, but with a competitive market and car leasing comparison sites, the best deals around are those for leasing.

Budgeting

When you sign up to a personal leasing contract, you give yourself the opportunity to calculate your actual car costs and take them into account with your general budgeting.

Owning a car comes with all sorts of financial pitfalls, including the threat of unexpected repair bills. Waking up one morning, getting in the car to go to work only to find it doesn’t start can lead to a day of lost earnings and trips to garages that accumulate to a bill for hundreds, and sometimes, thousands of pounds.

With a lease and maintenance contract (at a small additional cost) it can all be solved with a single phone call. The car is taken to the designated repair station and you can continue with your day as usual – a replacement vehicle will be issued to make sure you are not put out by the inconvenience of the car repair.

All this at no extra cost to you – it’s already factored in as part of your monthly payment!

Initial cost

With leasing, there is an initial deposit amount (commonly known as initial rental payment) that is typically three-to-six times a normal monthly payment. Typically, this will fall somewhere between £600 and £2,000 depending on your vehicle and the contract terms.

But that’s it – it’s all the capital you need!

When you buy a car, you will need a lot of up-front capital. Either you are buying the car outright, in which case you will need many thousands of pounds, or you will be taking out a level of car finance, which again is likely to have a large initial payment as well as higher-than-leasing monthly costs and a huge final ‘balloon’ payment to close the contract.

Car leasing is cheaper both with the low, fixed and regular monthly payments and, against most car finance contracts, in the initial cost too.

Car leasing special offers – when the out-of-reach comes within your grasp!

For many, the idea of driving a brand-new top-of-the-range car is simply a daydream.

The best lease car deals make that daydream a reality.

Because of the financial structuring of a car lease deal, vehicles that are completely out of budget, with their high showroom costs and expensive extras, suddenly become viable.

For example, take a £35,000 car like the BMW 4 series 420 coupé - through leasing it can be yours for a few pounds over £300 per month + VAT on business contract hire. That means driving a brand-new, maintenance free, trouble-free, luxury car for less than the repayments needed for an average £10,000 personal loan.

Or the Range Rover Sport SUV 2.0 P400e PHEV – an £85,000 top-of-the-range hybrid SUV that can be driven away this week and never give you any trouble for around £850 per month on a personal lease contract.

Of course, it’s not all about the top of the range luxury models, leasing also provides an easy way to get low-cost city cars for under £200 per month.

What are the pros and cons of leasing a car?

Here’s a quick list to show you when leasing is a good idea:

Pros

• Drive a brand-new car with full warranty
• Latest safety technology
• No worries about sudden repair bills or other financial extras
• Ease of budgeting
• Affordable monthly payments
• No concern about resale value
• Get a car that is otherwise out-of-reach
• Upgrade with ease once your contract ends
• Additional support for breakdowns, servicing, replacement vehicles and more

Cons

• You don’t own the car
• Annual mileage will be limited, and penalties applied for excessive mileage
• Modifications may not be allowed

Is leasing a car a good idea in the UK? Where should I go to find the perfect lease car?

For all your leasing needs whether for an inner-city runabout or a luxury SUV for the countryside, call us at Complete Leasing today!

We are specialists in finding the right car to suit you, with a nationwide network of car dealerships and daily updates for any last-minute deals, we’re sure to be able to find you the perfect lease vehicle.

So, give us a ring, or use our short contact form to let us know exactly what you are after and have one of our representatives call you back at a convenient time.