How much does car leasing cost?

Car leasing offers drivers the chance to enjoy the latest automotive technology for a fixed monthly price and contract term. The exact cost will depend on several factors including your preferred car, annual mileage and lease duration. You will also need to consider additional costs such as an initial deposit, administration fees and maintenance.

What is the average cost of leasing a car?

The average cost of leasing a car is variable. Each lease is different, depending on your requirements. The make and model of the car, including the fuel type, will determine a significant part of the cost. Other factors, including road tax and expected annual mileage will also play a part in the final quote you receive.

Mileage

Your monthly lease payments will take your expected annual mileage into account. The more miles you expect to do, the higher the cost will be. As an example, a 24-month lease could start from £300.00 per month inc. VAT if you plan to drive 8000 miles per year. But if you’re likely to drive 20,000 miles per year, the cost could increase to £350.00 inc. VAT. These figures are just examples and aren't representative of actual pricing.

The minimum annual mileage offered by Rivervale is 5000 and the maximum is 50,000. It’s vital to be honest when predicting the number of miles you’ll drive during the lease period, as you'll be charged for excess mileage at the end of your contract.

Road tax

This is included within your monthly payments and you will receive written confirmation that the vehicle has been taxed. If the cost of road tax is raised during the rental period, you’ll be sent an invoice to request that you pay the difference. If it reduces, you’ll receive a cheque to reimburse you for the difference.

How much is car leasing a month?

Many factors will affect the amount you can expect to pay each month. The make and model of the car is significant in determining the fees to be paid. For example, leasing a top of the range model will cost you more than leasing a car at the lower end of the scale. Your chosen contract length also plays a part, as does the initial rental payment, which is detailed below.

initial rental

You’ll be required to make an initial rental payment at the start of your lease agreement. Some companies refer to this as a deposit, however, it is non-refundable. If you choose to lease a car with Rivervale, opting to pay a higher initial payment means your subsequent payments will be lower. For example, a 24-month lease with an initial payment of £750.00 inc. VAT could have monthly payments of £250.00 inc. VAT. If you choose to pay a higher initial rental, let's say £1500.00 inc. VAT, your monthly payments could reduce to £217.50 inc. VAT.

Contract length

Choosing a longer lease period will usually mean lower monthly payments. Don’t forget, if you choose to lease a car for longer than three years, you’ll need to factor in the cost of an MOT if you don’t opt-in for a maintenance package.

Admin fees

Many car lease companies charge customers administration fees labelled as documentation or processing costs. Rivervale Leasing does not charge customers any admin or processing fees - guaranteed. The only payments you make are the initial rental payment and subsequent monthly instalments for the duration of your contract.

Calculating Cost

Maintenance

When leasing a car with Rivervale, you can add an optional maintenance package within your monthly rental. This includes all regular manufacturer maintenance, servicing, MOT and replacement tyres. Choosing to opt-in for this package will remove the worry of having to budget for maintenance costs, particularly if you choose a lease period of 3 years or more. This is because they are built within the monthly rental, so the worry of unexpected maintenance costs is reduced.

Delivery

As the UK’s leading car leasing company for both personal and business clients, Rivervale are proud to offer free delivery to your home or work address in the UK.

What’s not included in my car lease price?

  • Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) insurance - this is an optional insurance product which you may wish to consider purchasing when leasing a car. If your lease car is damaged and classed as a total write-off, depreciation may mean that your insurance company won’t pay out the same amount as you owe to the finance company. GAP insurance is designed to cover the difference between these two figures.
  • Additional mileage – charges vary, but you’ll probably have to pay between 2p and 30p for each additional mile.
  • Wear and tear and damage not covered by the ‘Fair Wear and Tear Guide’. It’s sensible to check over your car about a month before your lease period is due to end. This will enable you to find and resolve any damage that won’t be covered under fair wear and tear. Your car will need to meet current MOT standards when you return it.
  • Fuel – you’ll need to pay for any fuel that you use, so you may wish to consider an energy-efficient vehicle.

Can you negotiate a car lease price?

With so many options to tailor your lease package, get in touch with the Rivervale team to ensure you get the best deal. With over 15 years’ experience, our friendly, knowledgeable team is on hand to explain the car leasing process and answer any questions.

The best way to negotiate is to have a clear outline of what you would like from your car lease deal. And if you’ve found a better deal elsewhere, contact the Rivervale team to discuss our price match challenge.

If you’d prefer to pay a higher initial rental payment and lower monthly instalments, we would be happy to discuss this with you. And if you’d like to pay a lower initial rental payment and higher monthly instalments, we can accommodate this too.

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