I'm looking at updating the family fleet, so a new family wagon and a work day commuter. Looking to lease this time - plenty of sites offering good deals on the net, but has anyone got any hot tips or recommendations for lease car providers?

Cheers,
FB

 

I used Lloyds TSB autolease a few years ago with no problems.
Lingscars.com gets good reviews but I've not used them other than for a couple of quotes. If the car you're after isn't listed just ask and they do get a quote back prettyy quickly.

 

Ensure you don't exceed mileage & don't return it battered; that's how they arse-rape you.

Lings seems competitive & Ling says she tries to avoid those smallprint honeytraps.

But basically, it's whatever shed they cannot shift that month; in Steve's case recently, it turns out rather a nice shed...

 

I've mentioned before how auto leasing will be the next bubble the banksters blow up:

Slightly off-topic but informative

 

Great article!

 

Ron... I never get past a Ron post.....Anyhow - FB

Ring them - and keep asking around as deals change daily. Ask what's 'hot' today.

I just leased a Mercedes via Freedom Vehicle Contracts Ltd.
After calling a few others and having low confidence in many of their abilities, this one sat well.

The whole process was painless, the girls who run the office are efficient, accurate and obviously all enjoy their work.
In fact as a new experience for me I have to say it was painless and quite enjoyable.
Communication was good by phone and email, at all times I was told what was going on and where I was in the process.
Simple ability to add a scanned signature, scan some documents and PDF / email then is all you will need to expedite.
Less than ten days after ringing, a new Mercedes is in my garage.
So there is my broker recommendation. Freedom Vehicle Contracts Ltd.

The car is actually leased directly by Mercedes Benz UK. I had no idea until I needed to sign some papers.
The supplying dealer was in Wolverhampton and their guy brought it down to me.
All the documentation is in the formal MB UK agreement.
Which was highly amusing as no MB dealer could match these rates directly - and yet the brokers.....

As mentioned the 'small print' regarding damage was a main concern.
Now, I look after my cars anyhow but I have heard 'stories'.
In fact EVERY LITTLE DETAIL is in the agreement, they even provide a measuring device for dents and scratches and list absolutely clearly what is/is not acceptable at return time.
And it's really quite fair and not unreasonable in any way.
Most people should have zero issues with the small print on a leased MB.
I cannot comment on other marques, but I would not expect anything radically different tbh.
Lex who provide our company cars, and GE Capital before that were also quite easy going about damage.

Watch the 6+23 or 9+47 type deals.
That 6 is six months up front - you don't get that back and it juts makes the monthly look better.
Allow for that and I would take the smallest deposit you can and keep your cash in the bank.
If not factor that up front cost across the rest of the term and see what it really costs.

Get GAP when it arrives - GAP for leased cars. One that can settle both ways - shortfall AND outstanding payments.
I use ALA and have for a few cars now. Probably less than £100inc will cover most things, and they do scratch/dent insurance too.

If it's for work - tell your insurers. Not worth the risk otherwise.
My business class 3 was peanuts extra at Admiral.
I had no issues with not being the owner, but I do have the V5. That's normally how it works.
Some insurers seem to baulk at that I have no idea why - best get some quotes.

Get a quote on two different mileages and go away and crunch the numbers.
If you think you do 10k per annum, get a quote on 8 and see what you could pay in excess mileage charges at the end.
Depends entirely on the deal, in my case I took the lower mileage with the expectation I 'may' have to pay some excess.
The reason being that the lease on 25k worked out EXACTLY the same as leasing at 20K miles, doing 25k and having to pay the 5k excess at 10p/mile.
So if you go under mileage you are just throwing money away in the monthly premiums, but check it out.
Some cost a lot more if you run over the mileage allowance. Mine doesn't.

Mercedes don't include RFL after year one. Many do but factor that in.

There is always a brokerage fee. Mine was £180 flat. I had many others wanting £300 +VAT so that seems normal.

New regs mean that there will be a flat £25 docs fee normally if the car is delivered (offsite docs fees)
If you collect and sign at a dealer its free of course.

Best deals NORMALLY on runout models but I got lucky. MB had a lot of pre-built or cancelled orders to shift.
So if you are not fussy on spec you could get a fantastic deal.
If you want to wait and customise its juts like buying one with lead times.

If getting quotes via a portal like www.contracthireandleasing.com check you are in PERSONAL mode or you need to add VAT on everything.

Of course you can do the usual dealer trekking for deals, but I never got near any broker rates like that TBH.

Good luck,
Steve

PS - I could have had the runout E220 saloon on 3+23 and 25k miles for £290inc VAT.
See that on 10k per annum and over three years and its so damned cheap its crazy to buy one.

 

Thanks all, especially Steve.......

I run a fleet of leased vehicles at work, so the concept isn't new to me I've read more lease agreements than I care to remember and know the big names, but I've never leased for myself, so good feedback about brokers is very valuable.

Cheers,
FB

 

 

We are looking for a cheap to run, cheap to insure runabout and I have been offered a VW Up 5 dr (base model) for £122 per month on a 3+23 basis. To me this sounds like a decent deal but I would appreciate your thoughts....

 

What's the normal deal if for whatever reason, you get part way through a lease deal and find you want to hand the keys back?

Presumably payment equivillent to the remaining monthlies?