What is car leasing with maintenance?

19/10/2021

What is car leasing with maintenance?

If you are asking, 'What is car leasing with maintenance?', then the best way to understand this is that it brings peace of mind motoring.

Everyone who has owned a car understands that there are unexpected costs to maintain and service their vehicle.

And if you haven't budgeted for these costs, then it's likely that any repair bill will be an unwelcome surprise.

However, when it comes to car leasing, you can control these bills by opting to lease your vehicle with the maintenance costs included.

Here, the Tilsun Leasing team explains more.

 

What is a car leasing maintenance package?

A car leasing maintenance package will vary between leasing firms and car manufacturers.

Usually, the money you pay every month will cover the annual servicing and consumables such as the oil, tyres and brake pads.

Some maintenance packages also include a breakdown recovery scheme.

You will need to check what is included in the maintenance package because some car leasing firms offer more comprehensive packages than others.

Some will also offer a range of packages to meet your needs and it's always worth discussing whether a particular maintenance deal is for you with a car leasing company.

It's worth pointing out that when you opt for a car leasing maintenance package, you are not covered for damages that need to be repaired after an accident, driver error or negligence.

You will also not be covered to repair damages caused by theft, windscreen washer fluid (including Adblue), as well as scuffed alloy wheels and missing hubcaps.

Also, should you miss-fuel your vehicle - that's putting the wrong fuel in - then any damage caused will also not be covered.

 

Are car leasing maintenance packages worth it?

For those people who like to know how much they will be spending every month, then a car leasing maintenance package is worth it.

And since it can cost hundreds of pounds to service a brand-new car, the ability to spread that cost over a year will make financial sense for many.

Put simply, a car lease maintenance package brings peace of mind when it comes to dealing with, wear and tear issues that will be considered normal for the duration of your contract.

Also, the amount you pay every month will vary according to the car you choose since premium marques will be more expensive to maintain.

Maintaining and servicing a leased car

While you will never own your leased car, you are still responsible for looking after it which means maintaining and servicing it properly.

It's also likely, you will need to check with the car leasing company whether this work will need to be carried out by an authorised agent or by a franchised dealer.

And with a contract hire vehicle, you'll need to put right any damage or defects that occur when being used normally.

You may need to refer to your car leasing company's 'fair wear and tear guidelines' to ensure that you aren't handed a big bill when it comes to repairing more serious damage.

If you are leasing a car for more than three years, then you will need to have an MOT carried out. It's also worth checking with the car leasing company if they have an approved list of MOT centres for this purpose.

 

Car lease maintenance - what you need to know

One of the big advantages for leasing a car in the UK is that this is a cost-effective and popular way to drive new cars.

Most people find leasing a flexible way of driving a car, but you are always in charge of the type of contract that you will sign.

You should consider carefully the pros and cons of having a car leasing maintenance payment added to your monthly payment.

You could work out how much it would cost normally to maintain and service your lease car, rather than paying for everything upfront.

 

What will a car maintenance package include?

As mentioned previously, car leasing maintenance packages will vary between leasing companies but usually include:

  • Car lease servicing
  • The package will take care of any maintenance costs and consumables that need replacing or repairing including the windscreen wipers and tyres.
  • Oil check-ups
  • The garage will check and then top up, if necessary, the oil in the car.
  • MOT and lease cars
  • Since lease cars are new, there's no need to have an MOT certificate in the first three years of ownership. However, once a car is three years old, you'll need it to be MOT tested once a year and the maintenance package will cover this cost.

 

Fair wear and tear when leasing a car

It's also worth exploring what fair wear and tear means when you lease a car.

Most car leasing companies will be using the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association's fair wear and tear guidelines when it comes to inspecting their vehicle when the contract ends.

Some car leasing firms also give a copy of this guide when your contract begins.

It's important to appreciate that a car leasing firm will not be expecting your vehicle to be returned in mint condition - that's because they know that damage will occur when being driven.

It's always best to err on the side of caution, and if you suspect that you may be handed a bill for serious damage to your leased car, then you need to have it repaired before handing the vehicle back.

How much does a maintenance package course?

We mentioned earlier that the cost of a car lease maintenance package will vary, and this will depend on:

  • Your annual mileage

If you travel lots of miles, then the package will be more expensive. That's because there's a greater chance of wear and tear issues.

  • The type of car

If you drive a premium vehicle, such as Mercedes, Audi or BMW, then they tend to have higher servicing and repair costs - certainly pricier than cheaper marques.

It might also be worth considering a maintenance package if you are driving the maximum allowable mileage in a leased car.

That's because you're adding a degree of protection to have minor repairs fixed rather than facing a large bill when the contract ends.

For others, budgeting is important and when you add the cost of the maintenance package to your monthly payment, you may believe that it's not worth the extra money.

Don't forget too your new lease car will also have a manufacturer's warranty, usually for three years and a set number of miles so if there are any unexpected electrical or mechanical problems, then the manufacturer will fix them.

In the meantime, you should carry out basic maintenance such as checking the oil and keeping the car damage free and filling it with the correct fuel.

 

What is car leasing with maintenance?

For those who want to know what car leasing with maintenance is, hopefully, this article will have explained it. Since car leasing is a flexible way to drive a new car and if you are interested in having the maintenance and servicing costs paid for upfront, then you should ask how much it will be for your particular vehicle and then work out whether you can have the work done more cheaply. In any event, it's worth spending time speaking with the team at Tilsun Leasing to find out whether car leasing with maintenance is for you or not. Call them today on 03330 040 888.

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