A Simple Guide to Car Leasing
The age-old debate continues over whether it is better to buy or lease a vehicle, and given the increasing popularity of car leasing it seems a huge number of motorists have made their decision. There are many benefits of car leasing, and this guide is designed to give you a comprehensive overview of why car leasing makes sense, but also to advise you on the considerations you need to make in deciding which style of motoring is for you.
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So what is car leasing?
Personal car leasing is known as ‘Personal Contract Hire’ or PCH and this is where:
You have exclusive use of a vehicle for a pre-agreed lease period
You agree an annual mileage which you must not exceed
You pay a fixed monthly cost to the lease company, which can cover service & maintenance
You return the vehicle to the leasing company at the end of the lease period and are free to choose another new vehicle and start a new lease agreement.
Leasing compared to buying
A popular vehicle finance package is known as PCP, which is Personal Contract Purchase. This is effectively a long-term rental agreement, whereby after a period of paying monthly payments you are offered the option of paying a lump sum to own the vehicle outright. This then presents you with the issue of depreciation and potentially a situation of negative equity, in that you now own a vehicle which is not worth the amount of money outstanding on the PCP agreement. People considering lease or PCP often conclude that leasing is a cost-effective and low-risk agreement when comparing the two.
Benefits of car leasing
Cost-effective – you are only paying the cost of depreciation to the leasing company, not the cost of ownership
Hassle-free – you have one fixed monthly payment for the duration of the lease
Freedom – you can choose your lease term, your monthly payment and your vehicle
New vehicle – you have a wide choice of competitive deals on brand new vehicles and because leasing is cheaper than ownership, you can afford a better spec of vehicle than you could if buying
Manage fuel costs – adhering to mileage restrictions means you must budget and manage your mileage carefully, which should lead to fuel cost savings
No disposal – you don’t have to worry about selling or getting rid of the car at the end of the lease.
The car leasing process
Arranging a car leasing deal couldn’t be simpler, you simply choose a vehicle, place an order, sign the documentation, take delivery of the vehicle, enjoy driving it for the duration of the lease period, then return it at the end of the lease.
Considerations when looking at a car leasing deal
There are many different types of car leasing deal, and you need to think about whether a two, three or four-year leasing period would suit you best? You might also need to think about a 5,000 annual mileage restriction, 10,000 or 15,000? This can also lead to you considering questions such as new or used car leasing? And also, what are the benefits of leasing an electric vehicle (EV)? You might find this cheaper in the long run because of the cheaper charging costs compared to re-filling a car with petrol or diesel. There is also zero road tax to pay on EVs, and if you take a business lease you pay a much lower company car tax on an EV.
If you want to have a freedom of choice of brand new vehicles and a financial package tailored to suit you, Pink Car Leasing are the leasing experts you need to talk to. With over 30 years’ experience in the leasing business we can find the right car leasing deal for you and give you the benefit of our specialist leasing knowledge. Contact Pink Car Leasing today.