Cheap car leasing
Find the cheapest long-term car rentals
A brand new car is never MoneySaving, but if your heart is set on one and you're comfortable renting it for a set period (without the chance to own it), then car leasing – also known as Personal Contract Hire or PCH – is worth considering. Here we've broken down the basics so you can work out whether car leasing is right for you.
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What is car leasing?
Leasing a car is no different from leasing – or renting – anything else. For example, if you rent a house or flat, you pay a deposit, then you get to use it for an agreed period during which you pay a set amount each month. Once the contract ends, the property reverts back to the landlord.
And it's the same with car leasing. After agreeing how many miles you will drive each year, you'll pay a fixed monthly amount, often with a larger initial payment to act as the deposit.
Thankfully, most deals display this clearly. For example, a 24-month contract listed as 6+23 would mean the first monthly payment is six times the usual amount (so you'd pay £900 upfront in the first month, then 23 monthly payments of £150).
Most car leasing deals are for between two and three years on brand new vehicles, though it is possible to get agreements ranging from one to four years. Anything above this is rare.
You'll never own the car (or get the option to buy it) and at the end of the lease, it goes back to the finance company. It's inspected and, just like with a property, you'll need to pay out if you've damaged anything – though normal wear and tear is usually accepted. You'll also face extra charges if you've exceeded the agreed annual mileage.
There are two main types of car leasing: personal car leasing and business car leasing. This guide focuses on the former, though most of it applies to business car leasing too.
What's the difference between car leasing and PCP?
How does leasing a car work?
You'll usually lease a car from a finance company or sometimes direct from a manufacturer. Leasing used to be always arranged through a car dealership, but many leasing providers now operate online.
The deal they offer, and how much you pay, is based on the make and model you choose, how many miles you will do and how long you will keep the car.
The car remains the property of the finance company throughout, but as a brand new car quickly depreciates in value – accelerated further with time and higher-than-average mileage – it will be worth much less when you hand it back.
Most leasing companies sell the car on after you return it, so the leasing pricing model works by charging you an amount that covers the loss in depreciation (that's the price it bought the car for, minus what it predicts it can sell the vehicle for after the agreed term). It'll add on a bit for profit too.
Yet, as lease companies usually buy multiple cars at a time, they're often able to pay far less for a brand new car than individuals, so the amount of depreciation is usually lower. This can mean leasing deals for certain models can be competitive, offering a cheap way to get behind the wheel of a new car.
To lease a car in the UK, you'll need to:
- Be over 18. Even though the legal driving age is 17, you can't lease a car until you're officially an adult. This is because a car leasing agreement is a type of legally binding contract, and it's against the law for under-18s to sign contracts not deemed 'necessary'.
- Own a valid driving licence. See if yours is still valid using our driving licence renewal guide.
- Have a 'fair' to 'good' credit score. What a 'fair' to 'good' credit score means in practice depends on the credit reference agency you use, as each has its own scoring range. Learn more about this and how to find out your score for free using MSE's guide to checking your credit report.
- Give personal information. Including name and address, employment details and financial information, such as bank details.
- Provide documents. You'll also need to show the car finance company or manufacturer a form of ID, proof of address and a signed finance agreement.
- Get car insurance. This is required once the lease is agreed. See more on car insurance below.
What are the different types of car leases?
As touched upon earlier, there are two main types of car leasing: personal car leasing and business car leasing. Let's look at the main differences between them:
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For an individual. It's an agreement for one person, as opposed to a company.
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Payment responsibility. The lease agreement is in the individual's name, meaning they're responsible for the monthly payments.
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Tax implications. Personal lease payments are typically not tax-deductible.
- Low mileage limits. Individuals tend to get lower mileage limits on car leases than businesses seeing as they typically will cover lower distances.
Business car leasing
- For a business. Business car leasing is intended for companies and their employees who need cars for business-related activities.
- Payment responsibility. The business is typically responsible for lease payments, with the agreement in the company's name.
- Tax implications. Businesses are usually eligible for tax deductions on car lease payments, as the cars are considered a business expense. They also tend to get higher mileage limits, as explained above.
- Limited personal use. To reclaim VAT on a business car successfully, personal use must be kept to a minimum.
Not the car finance option you were looking for? Check these out...
Personal car loans | Hire Purchase | Personal Contract Purchase
Also see: Compare personal loans
How much does it cost to lease a car?
The average cost of leasing a car varies massively, with a ballpark estimate being anywhere between £100 and £1,000 a month. How much it sets you back depends on aspects including:
- The car you buy. It almost goes without saying, but a high-end car from the likes of Audi or BMW is going to cost more per month than a more budget-friendly Fiat or Vauxhall vehicle.
- The initial rental. How much you spend upfront will massively affect your monthly costs. The more of the total lease cost you cover initially, the less you owe overall, lowering your monthly repayments.
- The length of the contract. If you opt for a longer lease agreement, the total cost of your car hire will be spread out over a greater period, resulting in lower monthly repayments. However, this does mean that you'll be tied down to a contract for longer.
- The agreed annual mileage. The higher annual mileage you agree to, the larger your repayments will be, because big miles speed up the car's depreciation. As a result, the finance company or manufacturer leasing it to you won't be able to fetch as much when selling the car later down the line.
In addition to the monthly lease payments, you'll also be liable for costs such as car insurance and any damage or excess mileage charges at the end of the contract.
As cars almost always depreciate, you could say they're never a good investment. But if you buy a car you'll at least be able to sell it and get some money back when you want to change it. It's different with leasing as you know from the outset that you'll be left with nothing at the end of the contract.
The key question is therefore whether the amount you'd pay over the duration of the lease is higher or lower than the amount you'd lose by owning the car and reselling it over the same period (so the price you'd buy it for plus any interest costs if you needed to borrow, minus the price you'd expect it to sell for).
If it's lower, leasing would be cheaper than buying, plus you won't have cash tied up in the car as you'll just need to keep up with monthly payments. If it's higher then you'd be better off buying the car.
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What are the benefits of leasing a car?
Whether leasing a car is right for you will come down to your personal circumstances – we go into some of the key considerations in the alternatives section below – but here are some of the main benefits of leasing a car:
- Lower monthly charges. Lease payments are generally lower than other forms of car finance.
Fixed payments. Monthly lease payments are fixed, making it easier for you to budget.
Smaller deposit. Car leases typically involve a smaller down payment in comparison to buying a car using other methods.
- Reduced ongoing costs. Since many leased cars are under warranty for the lease term, you're likely to have lower repair and maintenance costs compared with owning a vehicle outright. Also, lease companies often cover road tax costs, and, if the car is less than three years old, you won't need to MOT it, saving this additional outlay.
- Access to newer cars. Leasing gives you flexibility to grab the latest models with the newest features and tech every few years – without a long-term commitment.
Of course, leasing a car does come with drawbacks too. These include being unable to own it outright, fees for things such as excess mileage and excess wear and tear, and often being more expensive overall than buying a car in the long-run.
What are the alternatives to leasing a car?
This guide focuses on leasing, though before you go on, do check these alternative types of car finance to assess if they'd suit you better.
Broadly speaking, there are six main ways to pay for a car. The table below has the key differences at a glance, then we run through the alternatives to leasing in more detail, with links out to our other car finance guides where relevant.
Finance type | Typical length of agreement? | Initial deposit required? | Who owns the car? | Mileage restrictions? |
None – cash savings | N/A | N/A | You | No |
0% credit card | Up to 23 months | No | You (though you'll still need to repay the debt) | No |
Personal loan | Usually 1 to 7 years | No | You (though you'll still need to repay the debt) | No |
Personal Contract Purchase | Usually 1 to 5 years | Yes (i) | The finance company, unless an optional final balloon payment is made | Yes (ii) |
Hire Purchase | Usually 1 to 5 years | Yes (i) | The finance company, until the final repayment is made, then you | No |
Leasing/Personal Contract Hire | Usually 1 to 4 years | Yes (i) | The finance company, at all times | Yes (ii) |
Sadly, there's no 'one-size-fits-all' answer to which wins (as much hangs on whether you want to own the car and other factors). However, we've included more information on each alternative to car leasing below, to help you work out which is right for you.
- Cash savings – the cheapest option for most cars
The clear winner if you want to own the car fully from day one, as you'll avoid paying any interest or taking on debt. Though if you're looking to buy a brand new car – which on average loses about 40% of its value by the end of the first year – and are likely to change it in the next few years, it's worth considering leasing or a Personal Contract Purchase deal. With these, the overall cost of ownership can work out cheaper.
- 0% spending credit card – no interest if you can get a big enough credit limit (and the dealer accepts cards)
Depending on the price of your new car, a 0% spending credit card could be the next cheapest way to borrow. You'll own the car outright (like paying in cash) plus you'd be covered by Section 75 protection. However, you'd need to check whether the car dealer accepts payment by credit card, as not all do.
Unfortunately you usually won't know what credit limit you'll get before applying, and you should budget to pay the debt off before the 0% period ends, as the interest rate rockets after then. The longest cards typically offer up to 21 months at 0% interest – see our 0% spending cards guide for more information.
- Personal loan – usually cheapest if you need to borrow and want to own the car outright
This won't be at 0%, but may allow you to borrow more and over a longer period than you'd get on a credit card. Repayments will be structured for you to clear the debt at the end of the term, which is usually between one and five years.
Using a loan to buy the car means you'll own it outright. See our Cheap loans guide for the best buys and full help.
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) – can be good if you want a new car every few years, but often more expensive overall than a loan
This is a popular way to get a new car, especially if you frequently change vehicle and want to pay for it monthly. It's basically a loan, though usually cheaper each month as you won't be paying off the full value of the car. You also won't own it at the end, unless you choose to.
You'll pay a deposit and then monthly instalments over a set term. There's usually a mileage allowance, but provided you stick to that and don't damage the car, you can either return it and walk away at the end of the agreement, or pay what's known as a 'balloon payment' to own it.
As the dealer will be making money from the finance deal, you may find it offers larger discounts or contributions to the deposit on new cars. For used cars, it may mean you can haggle more off the sale price. Always be careful and make sure to calculate the total cost you'll need to repay after all interest has been added. This will then show the 'true' value of the discount. See our Cheap Personal Contract Purchase guide for more information.
- Hire Purchase (HP) – an option if you're struggling to get a cheaper loan, though the lender owns the car until you've made all the repayments
This works in a similar way to a loan – as you're borrowing and paying off the full cost of the car – though here you won't own it until you've made the final payment. Instead the car is owned by the finance company as it uses it as security against the loan (like a mortgage), so if you fail to pay, it can seize the car.
This security can mean an HP deal will be easier to get than normal loans, though you'll usually need to pay a deposit (often 10% or more of the car's price). You'll therefore need to consider how to fund that.
Like with PCP above, the dealer will be making money from the finance deal, so it may offer larger discounts or contributions to the deposit on new cars. For used cars, this may mean you can haggle some money off. Always be careful to calculate the total cost you'll need to repay taking into account all interest. This will show the 'true' value of the discount. See our Cheap Hire Purchase guide for more.
Car leasing need-to-knows
If you think car leasing is right for you, here are the need-to-knows to understand before opting for a new agreement.
How do I compare car leasing deals?
To help find the best car lease deals, there are a host of comparison sites, which scan hundreds of offers from dealers and brokers across the UK. There are two types of deal:
- Stock cars, where the car is already in the UK and is usually delivered within a few weeks (and cannot be customised).
- Factory orders, where there's often a few months' wait as the car is yet to be manufactured. This is best if you're looking to change the spec or add optional extras such as a panoramic roof.
Don't be put off if the cheapest dealer is miles away, as it will arrange free delivery to your home address and you'll be able to take the car to any franchised dealership for servicing or if anything goes wrong. If you'd still rather use a local dealer then it's worth taking the best quote along to see if it will match or beat it.
How to find the cheapest car leasing deals
You can search hundreds of car lease deals online by entering a specific model or by putting in your budget, preferred contract length or type of car you're after, such as SUV or convertible. To help find the best deal, follow these pointers:
- Compare using the TOTAL COST over the entire contract. Don't be distracted by low monthly payments – this often disguises a large deposit. It's the total cost that matters. Multiply the monthly payment by the number of months in the deal, plus any larger deposit and fees. So for a 6+23 £150 a month deal with a £199 processing fee, you'd pay a total of £4,549 over two years (29 x £150 + £199).
You can then compare this against other lease deals over the same term or different types of finance. Plus, if this is higher than the amount you'd expect the car to lose in value if you bought and sold the car yourself, then it's likely not a great value deal – and vice versa.
- Play around with the contract length – some deals are only available on certain terms. There's no set rule for which period is cheaper (for example, we've seen two-year deals work out cheaper per year than four years).
- Be realistic with your expected mileage. Here, more miles will almost always return a more costly deal – though you need to set an allowance you can stick to or you'll just be stung with charges at the end.
Here are our top-pick comparison sites, chosen for their ease of use and listed in alphabetical order – it's best to combine them for the broadest range of deals.
Comparison site (in alphabetical order) | Why we like it |
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AutoLeaseCompare.com* lets you sort by monthly cost and total upfront cost, as well as by average monthly cost and total cost overall, which factor in any upfront costs part of the deal. This makes it easier to see exactly how much you'll pay over the course of the lease. |
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LeaseLoco.com* first lets you home in on cars within your monthly budget, then lets you filter deals based on your preferences. It has a 'Loco Score' to help you figure out if the deal's good value for money, but offers no way to sort by total cost. You'll need to manually add the initial payment to the monthly payment multiplied by the lease length to get this figure, so it's trickier to compare. |
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Leasing.com* shows all car deals for your budget (or by make/model) plus you can sort by total cost for true ease of comparison. It also has a nifty value rating to give an idea of how the lease compares with the depreciation of buying and selling the same car over the same period, which can be handy to identify standout special deals – though it's not an excuse to exceed your budget. |
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Moneyshake.com* allows you to sort by monthly cost or total lease cost which gives a fuller picture of what you'll have to pay including fees. However, you’ll need to enter your contact details in order to proceed with taking out the lease, as this is done over the phone rather than online. |
What happens once I've found a car leasing deal?
You can contact the lease provider through the comparison site, though it's also worth checking to see if it's any cheaper by going direct. You can usually just search for your chosen provider's own site, and check the deal there.
You normally can't do the whole process online, so you'll often need to send an enquiry on your chosen car, or ask for a call back. The provider will then take your details, run a credit check and take payment for any processing fee that's applicable. You'll then be notified once the vehicle is ready and be sent registration details of the car so you can sort comprehensive car insurance. You'll then just need to arrange a convenient delivery date.
When the car is delivered, take your time to inspect it inside and out, and make sure it is free from damage or marks. If you find anything, ensure it's noted down before signing to accept it, otherwise you'll be responsible for it when returning the car.
Want to complain about your car finance provider?
If you think your car finance agreement was mis-sold to you, see our dedicated guide on how to reclaim car finance.
Alternatively, you can also complain if your car finance provider has taken the wrong amount in payment, treated you unfairly or its service has been atrocious. It's always worth trying to call the lender first to see if it can help, but if not...
Car leasing Q&A
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