First time car lease tips

Looking to lease a car for the first time? These are our top tips for a successful first car lease.

Car leasing is a great way to get behind the wheel of a brand-new car, without breaking the bank. But knowing where to start can be daunting.

With so many options, it can be difficult to even know whether leasing is the best option for you – and where to find the best car lease deals.

Fortunately, we’re here to help make your first lease a rousing success.

We’ve compiled our best helpful tips on car leasing right here, so you can slide into the driver’s seat knowing there are no unexpected bumps in the road ahead.

What is car leasing?

If you ask us, the best place to start is always with the basics.

Think of your car lease as a property rental – key word here being rental. When you lease a car, you agree to pay a set monthly price (one-off initial payment) to have and drive a brand-new car for a set term.

Pretty swish, right?

But when that term ends, you return the car to the funder. While some vehicle financing options give you the opportunity to purchase the car at the end, leasing won’t.

It’s not supposed to.

If you’re after affordable car ownership, there are plenty of ways to go about it. But if you want the flexibility to change vehicles in line with your needs, or freedom from depreciation worries, or even just to stay on top of the latest tech, then leasing is the way forward.

And it’s catching on.

Consider your needs

Before you start, have a think about what it is you want and need from your next car.

Leasing is a fantastic way to get your hands on a new car at a fraction of the price you’d pay in retail.

And you get more flexibility too – flexibility to choose the car of your dreams at the price that’s right for you. And it doesn’t stop there.

Choose your initial rental, your monthly costs and your annual mileage, so your lease is customised to your lifestyle.

And as a bonus?

You’ll be getting access to the latest vehicles, tech and safety features available on the market.

So, if you’re not fussed about car ownership, want to avoid hefty upfront costs, and fancy freedom to change things up every few years, then yes, car leasing is right for you.

Don't underestimate your mileage

In leasing, mileage counts for a lot.

When you sign your contract, you’ll be agreeing not to exceed a set mileage before handing the car back at the end. In other words, you have a total mileage allowance for your lease.

From 5,000 miles to those who do upwards of 30,000 miles a year, there are loads of options to suit you and your lifestyle.

And your mileage allowance will affect the price of your monthly rental.

But don’t try and skimp on miles to save the pennies. If you exceed your mileage allowance at the end of your contract, charges will apply.

So, whether you’ll be poodling around locally on the school run, or you think you’ll be tearing up the motorway every week, it’s important to make an accurate estimate of your mileage when you compare car lease deals.

Take out a maintenance package for a longer term

The annual service always seems to roll around when it’s least wanted – and most inconvenient for our wallets.

And while you’ll never own your lease car, you are responsible for maintaining it while it’s in your possession – including servicing and any required MOTs.

But with a vehicle maintenance package, you can spread the pain instead of taking it in one hit and pay for servicing as part of your monthly rental.

And it can help minimise any running costs you might have to worry about down the line, if you’ve taken out a longer lease.

Sounds good? We think so too.

Think about GAP Insurance

Alright, we hate thinking about insurance too – and dealing with it is one of the world’s deadly dull, but necessary evils.

But, GAP insurance is a shrewd investment for the worrywarts among us. 

Who wants to lie awake at night wondering if that distinct bang we just heard was our neighbour driving into the back of our car?

Or if there’s a prowler on our driveaway about to take advantage of keyless entry to make off with our new lease car?

(Speaking from experience here).

This is where GAP insurance really is worth its weight in gold. It works alongside your comprehensive car insurance to protect you and your wallet in a worst-case scenario where your vehicle is stolen or written off.

Because—and this was a nasty shock to find out—comprehensive doesn’t always cover it in full. GAP insurance pays out any difference between the current market value of your car and its original value.

So that’s really handy if the current market value is less than the sum of your remaining lease payments, or early exit fee.

Basically, you’ll be protecting yourself from any unexpected losses made on your car.

Do a thorough inspection on delivery

This is one we literally cannot recommend enough.

Seriously.

We know it’s an exciting moment and sometimes, the temptation to bask in the glow of a brand-new car on your doorstep is hard to resist. But delivery is your one chance to flag any scuffs, scrapes or damage you might see. 

Because while we expect our dealer partners to deliver your new car in perfect brand-spanking-new condition – and damage incurred en-route to you is really rare – these things do happen occasionally.

Sadly.

(It is really rare though). 

And if you don’t flag it when the car arrives, you could be held accountable for any damage present at delivery at the end of your lease.

Not ideal.

So, it’s crucial that you get out of your house slippers and do a walkaround. Take a cuppa if you must. Just make sure that if you do see imperfections, you get them noted on your handover paperwork before you sign it

If in doubt, whack the old phone out and take photos of anything you’re not happy with too.

After all, you wouldn’t drive off the forecourt without a proper look at your new car, would you?

Take care of your vehicle

It goes without saying.

We’re saying it anyway for the people in the back: take good care of your lease car!

Much like you’d be annoyed if you lent out a lawnmower only to get it back with bent blades and water damage, the finance company is not going to be best pleased if you give their car back in a state best left to the imagination.

So, get it cleaned regularly. Try not to scrape the hedgerows on the school run every day. Park off-road if you can.

But most of all, remember that no one expects your car to be pristine after three or four years of hard living. That would be unreasonable.

The BVRLA fair wear and tear guide outlines what kind of wear and tear is allowed and what’s considered below standard.

You shouldn’t be charged for anything that falls under that fair wear and tear allowance.

So, look after your car – but don’t be too precious about it.

Plan for the end of your lease

It’ll come around before you know it.

One minute your shiny dream car is being unloaded on your driveway, and the next, you’re saying sayonara.

We say, out with the old and in with the new – and with leasing, it pays to plan ahead.

Because you’ll be returning your car, you won’t be making any money off it for a replacement vehicle.

If you plan on leasing again, you’ll need to keep this in mind, so you’re not faced with a sudden expense you haven’t budgeted for. Prices and stock also change as time goes on, so it’s worth doing a car lease comparison to work out what you can afford to pay each month.

You can also look at the best value lease cars to narrow your options down. 

If you have a new car in mind for your next lease, you’ll already be one step ahead when you’re contacted by our retention team.

By making decisions early and planning ahead, you’ll prep a smooth transition from your current vehicle to a new car of your choosing.

It’s a win-win all around.

Follow these tips and you're in for a breezy, easy first car lease.