Looking after your leased vehicle

Over the last few years, leasing a vehicle has become increasingly popular, as new cars at temptingly low monthly prices are easily accessible and well within the average budget.  Many drivers are now opting to lease instead of purchasing their own vehicle outright as it offers several advantages.

However, it's important to note that you don't get to own the car at the end of the personal or business contract hire contracts.  Some other finance plans, such as PCP or Contract Hire, provide customers with the option to purchase the car at the end of the agreement.  If you're not sure which is the best finance option for you, please give one of our experienced and friendly leasing consultants a call on 02392 245570.

In case you need to return the vehicle at the end of your finance agreement, it's important to make sure you look after the vehicle throughout the duration of the contract.

We have listed some tips below to help guide you in keeping your leased car or van in tip-top condition.

For more information on what your vehicle will be checked for (by the finance company) at the end of your personal or business contract hire agreement, please see our 'End of Contract' guide. 

What you need to know and do about looking after your leased vehicle 

Advice about caring for your leased vehicle, including maintaining and servicing it, can be obtained from us, the finance provider, the vehicle handbook, a local dealership or the vehicle manufacturer’s website. 

Ensure the vehicle is maintained regularly

We recommend that you get your leased vehicle regularly serviced to ensure that vital checks are carried out on the car’s safety components, such as the suspension and braking system. 

Regular servicing will provide you with peace of mind that the vehicle is in a legal and roadworthy condition when you drive it.  Looking after the car or van according to the vehicle manufacturer’s servicing schedule is a commitment under your leasing contract. You could be liable for a penalty fee if you cannot supply evidence confirming that the car has been maintained throughout the lease period.

Regular servicing can also help detect issues early on that could later become costly to fix and which you could be liable for.  For example, engine oil is required to lubricate and protect the moving parts inside the engine, and you should regularly top up it up.  The engine could seize up and set you back thousand pounds to replace or repair with no oil.

When is a service due? 

You should be aware of some vital mileage and age milestones, called service intervals, so you must check the vehicle operating manual. 

The vehicle’s operating manual should confirm:

• How often your leased vehicle needs to be serviced.
• When the car or van's replaceable parts might need replacing.
• How regularly maintenance tasks need to be carried out, such as oil changes.

There will be jobs that need to be actioned at each service interval.  

Some of the latest cars have service interval information and a countdown facility on the dashboard. 

If you have purchased a maintenance package, please note that it is up to you to make the necessary arrangements to have the vehicle serviced regularly.

Choosing a garage or repairer  

In the first instance, you can contact the finance provider or us for information on where you can get your leased vehicle serviced economically and to the appropriate standard, including any warranty needed for the work. 

Usually, it's best to take your vehicle to the local dealership in your area.  Alternatively, if you choose an independent garage, you should first check that it operates to a published code of practice.

Always obtain a detailed breakdown and costing of all the work undertaken so you can see how the garage calculated the total cost. Ensure the garage includes all parts, labour costings, re-calibration, and VAT and supply a receipt and warranty for the work carried out.

You should check that the garage will carry out the service following the manufacturer’s guidelines and only use original parts or those of ‘equivalent quality’.  

Please ensure the service booklet is date-stamped by the garage as confirmation that service has taken place. If no service booklet is available, make sure you keep detailed receipts showing all the work carried out during your lease. 

Watch out for messages on the dashboard

Most vehicles have dashboard warning messages about a broad range of topics, including issues with the engine, oil and coolant levels, tyre pressures and the braking system.

Your vehicle’s operating manual will confirm what each warning message means and what action you should take to get the issue resolved. It is crucial to take these warning messages seriously to ensure your safety and ensure the vehicle keeps on running efficiently.

The warning messages with red lights are especially urgent if you are driving, as they indicate you need to find a safe place and stop the engine immediately. It might not be possible to continue your journey safely and without harming the vehicle.

Repair chips, scuffs and scratches

Please arrange to have minor damage rectified and missing or broken items replaced before the vehicle is returned. It's your responsibility to ensure the work is carried out to a professional standard by a competent repairer and make sure they provide a transferable warranty for the work.

Check your tyres regularly

It is essential to care for your vehicle’s tyres. If your tyres are in bad condition, they could blow out or lose traction on a busy road in poor weather.

Please check the vehicle's recommended tyre pressures by consulting the operating manual or going to Kwik-Fit's Tyre Pressure Search tool.

Tyres under or over pressure wear out unevenly and need replacing sooner. Replacing tyres can be costly because they all need to be of the same quality and rating as initially supplied with the vehicle.

For more information on tyre replacements for leased vehicles, please visit here.

Check for windscreen damage

Chips, holes and cracks should not hinder the motorist’s line of sight. If the windscreen doesn't meet current MOT standards, you need to replace it so that you aren't charged for the replacement. If the windscreen is replaced or repaired, you must ensure it's recalibrated according to the vehicle manufacturer’s specification so that any advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) continue to work on the vehicle.

Have a current MOT certificate

If your car or van is three years old or more, you need to ensure the MOT certificate is current and arrange for the MOT to be actioned annually.  Without a valid MOT, it is an offence under the Road Traffic Act 1972 to drive the vehicle on public roads, and you could be fined or prosecuted.

Look after the carpets and upholstery

When the vehicle needs to be returned, the finance company will expect the car or van’s interior upholstery to be spotless and odourless with no scratches, tears, stains or burns.  Floor covering in the luggage and passenger areas should not be torn, split or holed.  We recommended that you purchase a set of in-car mats to help protect the condition of the carpets in areas of heavy wear.

For more 'End of Contract' information and what condition the vehicle should be in when it's returned back to the finance company, please view our 'End of Contract' guide.

If you have any questions regarding the above, please call us on 02392 245570 and one of our leasing consultants will be pleased to help you.