How to choose the best car lease in 6 simple steps

The six simple steps that’ll help you pick out the car lease of your dreams

Choosing a new car can be stressful.

It’s likely the second biggest purchase (after a house) you’ll ever make, and the stakes can be high.

Will your chosen car suit your lifestyle? Will the kids like it? How quickly will it look dirty on the drive? All valid questions to ask yourself when it comes time to pick your next set of wheels.

And if you’re looking at a car lease, it can be even trickier.

With most car leasing companies, including us, being solely online businesses, there’s no opportunity to hop behind the wheel and take the car for a quick spin to see if you like the feel of it, and whether or not, like a dodgy trolley, it always steers slightly to the left.

But the biggest advantage of car leasing and opting to take your next one with a company like Carparison, is the sheer amount of choice on offer.

Unlike a traditional dealership, you’re not limited to one or two brands.

You can, almost literally, lease any new car you so desire.

But with all of this choice comes the need to make a decision. Which car is right for you? It can be a tricky question to answer.

No need to worry.

Our experts have been doing this for years (between our various teams, we have over 300 years of experience in the automotive industry), so they’re well equipped to help you out and make sure you get the car that suits your budget, your lifestyle – and your dreams.

There are also several considerations you can bear in mind while you’re browsing our website, that should hopefully help you start to narrow down exactly what you want and need. 

1. Choose your flexible budget

Having a flexible budget range, if you’re not totally set on the style of car you want, can be a good way to start narrowing the choice down.

You can search by budget on the Carparison website, which will automatically rule out a whole number of cars, and only show you the ones that are suitable.

Remember that as well as your initial deposit and the ongoing monthly payments, which might include a maintenance package for an extra cost, you’ll need to factor in insurance – so be sure to work this extra expense into your budget so you aren’t disappointed at the last hurdle.

But we have a whole range of cars at a whole range of prices, from £150-£250 right up to over £550.

2. Choose your lease terms

The terms of your lease will have a big impact on your budget, because they directly affect how much the car will ultimately cost you. 

How much mileage you do per year and how much you can put down upfront will both affect the monthly cost. The more you can pay initially, the less you’ll pay monthly. And with mileage, you want to be fairly accurate.

Picking a larger annual mileage limit will increase the ongoing cost, but if you underestimate how much you drive year to year, you could end up paying out even more on excess mileage charges.

The lease term will also affect the cost.

A longer lease term might be less month to month, but because the value of the car will depreciate further, it could end up costing you more over the long term, and there’s more chance that the car will have excess damage from extended use.

However, a three-year lease is just about perfect: it’s unlikely you’ll need to MOT the car (though you’ll need to check the specific terms if your car is pre-reg and not a factory order), and it’s just enough time to enjoy the car before you move on to the next.

After all, the beauty of leasing is that you’re not responsible for the car when your agreement is over.

You simply hand it back to your funder, and you’re free to take out a new agreement on a brand-new car once again

3. Your wants and your needs

When you’ve picked your budget, the next thing you want to narrow down are the things you want, versus the things you need.

Every manufacturer approaches their specifications differently. Some include driver’s aids like blind spot monitoring and creature comforts like heated seats as standard, while others have them as optional extras that you can pay for.

If having heated seats to make chilly winter commutes a little more bearable at 7 am when the last thing you want to do is get into a cold car, then you’ll either need to factor in the additional money if your desired car doesn’t come with it or look for another make or model.

But if you can do without the little extras, you can often save a lot of cash by opting for entry-level trims, which tend to be more affordable, but have less of the ‘fun’ kit.

4. Consider the cars you’ve driven before

Chances are, if you’re not a new driver, you’ve been behind the wheels of several different makes and models and have an idea of how different cars drive.

You might even have a preferred brand, which will make life a little easier, or you know that you really get on with French cars over German ones.

Driving is subjective, and it’s not always about the looks.

If you’re more comfortable driving a brand you’ve always driven, then there’s no need to look elsewhere. But if you’re wanting to try something a little different, or you’re looking for a car that’s a little more luxe than something you could afford outright, then leasing is exactly what you need.

A two-year lease can seem like a big commitment, but two years will pass by pretty quickly – and ultimately, it’ll allow you to drive a brand-new car for a fraction of the RRP cost. 

And you don’t have the hassle of selling it at the end.

5. What style of car will suit your lifestyle

Your lifestyle and your family set-up are going to be one of the biggest factors when it comes to picking out your car.

If you’ve got a family of five and you need a big old wagon to cart them around, then a Volkswagen Polo isn’t going to be any good for you – and will only result in a multitude of arguments every time you try and leave the house with the whole crew.

You’ll want to look more at the SUV or estate world – something like a Volvo XC40 or Nissan Juke wouldn’t go amiss. Even bigger, if your kids aren’t really kids anymore and need a little more space in the back for growing limbs.

But if you’re just looking for a daily runaround for yourself, you don’t want to be rattling around in a car that’s too big.

Something light and sporty will suit you, like a Ford Puma or Volkswagen Golf.

6. Look at what’s in stock

If you’re not fussy about the car, but want it as quick as possible, take yourself over to have a look at our in-stock lease deals.

Our relationship with funders means that we can get some of the best cars out there at a favourable price and delivered to your door within four weeks.

Sometimes within two weeks, depending on the car and the offer.

These cars will be specific models and trims, so aren’t so suitable if there are particular bits you need that aren’t included in the stock models. But if you can be flexible, you could save yourself some cash and be behind the wheel quickly if you take out an agreement on something that's in stock.