The Complete Guide To Car Leasing With Maintenance

Add a maintenance package to your leasing contract and discover a number of benefits that will help keep your car in good working order. Many drivers take up the option as it makes the servicing and maintenance of the car much easier. If you are weighing up applying for a car lease, read our complete guide to car leasing with maintenance to find out if it can help you.

Can I lease a car with maintenance?

You can choose a maintenance package with both personal and business lease deals. This is an add-on included in your contract which ensures the car is covered for servicing, routine repairs, plus breakdown cover and accident assistance.

How much does car lease maintenance cost?

There is no standard cost for the optional maintenance package. The price will depend on your chosen vehicle, how long it’s leased for and the annual mileage limit. However, a maintenance package can be better value over time, with fixed costs that also make it easier to manage your money.

What’s included in car lease maintenance?

In order to make an informed decision about whether a car lease with maintenance included is right for you, here is what we include in our package.

1. Servicing

Leasing a car also means you are agreeing to maintain the condition of the vehicle in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations. It’s down to you to arrange this. However, a maintenance package ensures all required servicing is covered. This tends to be a preferred option by many drivers as it removes not only the cost, but the stress of making sure the car is serviced to the required standard, without worrying about breaking the contract

2. MOTs

New cars registered in the UK don’t need an MOT for the first three years, but after this point they need to be tested annually. If you are leasing a car for more than 36 months you will need to book an MOT test. Our maintenance package covers this, so you do not have to find the extra money to have it completed. This is applicable to both personal and business hire, providing excellent overall coverage throughout the full duration of the lease.

3. Tyres

The number of miles you travel every year in your new car will have a direct effect on the condition of your tyres. Low-mileage drivers are less likely to experience high levels of wear and tear on the car’s tyres, while the opposite is true for those who are travelling a lot. Either way, there’s a good chance the tyres on the vehicle will have to be replaced at some point during the lease. It is also a legal requirement in the UK to have the depth of tread on your car over a certain limit. Having car maintenance means the driver can have premium quality tyres fitted onto the car as quickly as a few hours after the fault is first reported. In all contract agreements at the stage of returning a car it is required that the car has premium quality tyres on or you may be charged. Some of the agreements will also cover punctures, please check with your account manager before placing your order.

4. Oil

Also included in our lease car maintenance package are oil checks and top-ups. This is something that can sometimes be overlooked while using the car, as we refuel our vehicles with petrol more often than the oil.

However, oil is the lifeblood of the engine, and without it, the engine would quickly stop working. Not only does it lubricate the engine, but it works against heat and friction: two of the biggest threats to any car.

Take up a maintenance package so you don’t have to worry about forgetting to check or change the oil, as we take care of it for you. All of this would be covered at service intervals, leaving your engine in great working order.

5. Brake pads

It almost goes without saying that making sure your brake pads are in good shape is vitally important. As with any equipment in a car, brake pads will eventually wear down over time. This makes the car less efficient, less responsive, and generally, more dangerous to drive on the road. Brake pads that are left unattended can also cause further damage inside the car that could prove to be extremely expensive.

Brake pad checks and replacements are included in our maintenance package, which saves you money while reducing your concerns about the safety of the car.

6. Breakdown recovery service

Breakdowns can happen to almost anyone at any time. That’s why recovery service features in our maintenance package, as there is nothing worse than being caught by surprise and left stranded somewhere on a hard shoulder.

Including it in your contract means you have 24-hour assistance, should it be needed. That means no matter where you are, we can get a mechanic out to fix the problem. If it can’t be resolved there and then, we’ll arrange to have it taken to a garage to be repaired. The manufacturer will sometimes include this for the first 12 months of your agreement but in a maintenance package it is included for the duration of your contract.

7. The car is collected and delivered back to you at your location for MOT and servicing

Everyone leads busy lifestyles and finding the time to leave work to go and collect your car after it’s been serviced or undergone an MOT is not always easy. That’s why your service provider can not only drop the car back to a preferred location. The service centre may also collect the car before it has even been looked at by their mechanics. 

What’s not included in car lease maintenance? (E.g. fuel)

While our maintenance package provides ongoing support for general servicing and repairs for the car, there are a number of things that are not included in the package, which includes:

• Repairs that are caused as a result of an accident (bent panels, dents, etc.)
• Stolen or vandalised wheels and/or tyres
• Any repairs or replacements that are due to negligence or driver error
• Damage caused by misfuelling (if the wrong fuel was put into the car)
• Items that are missing or have been broken (such as missing hubcaps, scuffed alloys, etc.)
• Excessive body and paintwork damage that is not classed as normal wear and tear
• Anything that needs replacing due to theft
• Additives such as Adblue or windscreen-wash fluid

What are my responsibilities when leasing a car with maintenance?

When leasing any car, it is the driver’s responsibility to ensure it remains in good working order throughout the duration of the contract term. This also means ensuring the car is serviced as and when required and any MOT checks are performed when needed.

The set intervals for when you will need to service your leased car will depend on the manufacturer and will be included in their handbook upon the delivery of the vehicle (or provided digitally). Of course, if you are not sure about the best way to manage the servicing requirements of a lease with maintenance included, then you can always contact your dedicated Account Manager who will be able to help.

What happens if I scratch a leased car?

If you have scratched the car, it will be reviewed at an inspection at the end of your contract. If the scratch is deemed beyond the expected wear and tear, you will need to either repair this yourself or pay the leasing company for the damage.

It is expected that any car will begin to show signs of general wear and tear over the course of the contract. When it comes to scratching a leased car, there are occasions when this can be deemed as acceptable. However, this will only be confirmed when the car is inspected for damage.

All professional leasing companies use the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) Fair Wear and Tear guide – read the full policy here.

Is car lease maintenance worth it?

When applying for a car at Leasing Options, we always take the time to ensure your requirements are being addressed first and foremost. Our advisors will make suggestions they think can benefit your leasing experience, but ultimately, you are always in control of what type of contract you commit to.

If you are unsure, you can always be given an option to see what a quote looks like with maintenance cover included, and how much it costs without. However, remember you need to keep the car in good condition, which includes routine servicing and repairs.

An important point to remember is that the cheapest option may not always have more advantages for you in the long run. Always weigh up the pros and cons, and if you are unsure about anything to do with a maintenance package, or anything else, our team are always more than happy to help. Contact us and we’ll find a quote for you today.

You don’t just need to consider maintenance when driving a new vehicle – insurance is required, too. Read more about leasing with insurance to learn how the process works, or see the rest of our guides for more.