Car Leasing Blog

Get asked this one all of the time.

Quite simply put, in the UK cars require a Ministry Of Transport (MOT) test every 12 months to ensure they are roadworthy.

There is an exception. If the vehicle is less than 3 years old, it does not require an MOT. I have absolutley no idea why the MOT believe a brand new car can not become un-roadworthy in less than 3 years (I’ve seen some great examples) but they do.

So.

If your lease is for 2 years on a brand new car, you will not need to put the vehicle through an MOT. However, on its 3rd birthday, the car WILL need an MOT.

So if the car is on a 3 year lease, there is a real chance you will have to put it through a MOT.

Servicing - What’s Included?

1. All servicing to manufactures schedule.
2. All normal wear and tear repairs. (This covers just about anything from a lightbulb to a gearbox).
3. All tyres. (are normally changed at 2mm and below).
4. Comprehensive UK breakdown cover should the manufactures cover expire. This is seamless and the cover is in place automatically.
5. The Road Tax will be supplied for the full term of the lease.

What’s NOT included

1. Damage to windscreen, headlamp glass, wing mirrors etc.
2. Damage or deep scratches to paintwork.
3. Any top up fluids or oils used between servicing

A fully maintained lease offers complete peace of mind and financial security as the monthly figure you pay incorporates the total cost of routine servicing and maintenance. This way all servicing, tyres (normally excluding punctures), brakes and exhausts are covered with no additional cost. Should you go over your mileage allowance the pence per mile penalty will also incorporate maintenance. Therefore you should have no unexpected costs over the duration of the lease.

This is extremely beneficial to high mileage users, typically 20-30k per anum.

Lower mileage users, up to 20k per anum, should also consider non-maintained contracts on their own financial merit. This is due to one main factor:

Recent changes in European law (Block Exemption) mean you have the right to take your vehicle anywhere you choose for servicing. Providing the servicing garage use OEM parts and adhere to the manufacturers servicing schedules.

This greatly affects lower mileage leasing customers as dealership prices can be higher than other smaller or local garages.

Therefore my advice would always be to measure up the money saved from having the vehicle maintained yourself, to the peace of mind of a fully maintained contract. Higher mileage users may find the convenience aspect of a maintained contract appealing, whereas lower mileage users would see benefit in the money saved.

When you take charge of a lease car, you have certain responsibilities to the contract hire company. Here is a rough guide.

• Ensure the contract hire company is aware of the intended use of the vehicle and is notified of any change of use during the period of rental
• Make sure the vehicle is used within the manufacturers weight carrying specification, thus preventing overloading
• Not allow the vehicle to be used for the conveyance of noxious or toxic substances, foodstuffs, fish, offal or any other offensive or pungent smelling goods without prior approval from the contract hire company
• Comply with the contract hire company’s and manufacturers’ service and maintenance schedule
• Submit the vehicle for servicing and repair during the hire period in line with the rental company’s and manufacturers’ maintenance schedule. This includes weight testing of load bearing equipment
• Seek written permission from the contract hire company before any alterations to the vehicle are made, eg. drilling holes to fit racks, mobile phones, beacons etc. All such alterations must be made good at the end of the contract.

Arm is hurting now, will continue this tomorrow.

The best way of answering this one is as follows:

The maintenance contract will usually cover anything that warranty and insurance dont, which can be catagorised into the following

• Routine Maintenance and Servicing
• Reasonable Replacement of Tyres due to wear and tear

And sometimes a form of fleet managment system. The common misconception among leasee’s is that the contract will continue to cover replacement tyres for punctures,etc. This is not the case. The maintenance company will normally allow for replacement tyres for every 15,000 miles or so throughout the contract.