Residual Value or Balloon Lease (same thing, different name)
This type of Finance Lease is very similar to Contract
Hire with one very important difference - the customer bears the risk of depreciation
not the Leasing Company. The monthly payments are fixed for a predetermined
length of time 2,3,4 or 5 years and reflect the anticipated total mileage. Again
the customer only pays for depreciation and interest not the whole value. At the
end of the agreement instead of handing back the vehicle as is the case with Contract
Hire, the customer has to make a final payment which is set at the beginning of
the contract and reflects the vehicles anticipated value. The customer then sells
the vehicle and keeps any profit but has to accept any loss.
This type of Lease is popular with vans and light commercials particularly where
the vehicle may be subjected to harsher treatment or uncertainty over the anticipated
total mileage.