Q.   What precisely is personal contract hire?
A.
Personal contract hire (PCH), also called personal leasing, is where you lease a vehicle for an agreed length of time (usually between 2 - 5 years) for a set monthly fee.
With leasing you have complete freedom of choice over your vehicle's make, model and specs (colour, trim etc.) and your contract is tailored to you in terms of your estimated annual mileage, the length of contract you'd prefer and how you'd like your payments to be structured.
At the end of the lease, the vehicle is simply returned, checked over, and your payments cease, leaving you free to lease again, should you wish.
Q.   What are the benefits?
A.
There are many benefits to personal contract hire (PCH) / leasing, including cost effectiveness, smart use of your money, peace of mind and hassle-free enjoyment. The main benefits are:
- Drive a brand-new car every 2 to 3 years... enjoy all the benefits of the latest makes, models, technology and safety features
- Avoid the problems and expenses associated with ageing cars.
- Cost effectiveness... leasing usually offers both the lowest upfront and lowest monthly instalment options for driving a new car
- More choice and maybe drive a better car... people often find they have a much bigger choice of models available to them and can often afford a better car than they expected
- Easy on your savings... a much smaller deposit/initial payment is required compared with other options, leaving your hard-earned savings relatively untouched
- All in one fixed-cost motoring and no big bills... pre-set monthly instalments, all-inclusive manufacturer warranty, road tax and Road Fund Licence plus maintenance options means you always know exactly what you'll be paying out every month
- No depreciating asset... most cars lose 50-60% of value in the first three years, but with leasing, you avoid this financial loss because you don't own the car, you just drive it for the period of the lease
- No selling concerns at the end... with leasing you don't have the problem and concern of selling the car, you simply hand the keys back (subject to the terms of the contract).
Q.   I can’t see the exact model I want on the web site, does that mean you don’t offer it?
A.
We lease all makes and models of vehicle. If for some reason you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for, then please contact us on 01536 536 666 or email [email protected]
Q.   Are all the cars you lease brand new?
A.
Yes, all the vehicles we supply are brand new, unless stated otherwise. Sometimes we have particularly strong offers on what is known as a pre-registered vehicle. These are vehicles that, in order to qualify for a certain deal, must be registered by a certain date however these vehicles are also brand new.
Q.   What is the leasing process?
A.
There are 6 main steps to our leasing process:
Step 1: Choose your car… We have every leading make and model, along with many optional extras, enabling you to tailor your vehicle to your individual needs
Step 2: Place order… Once your credit is approved, your vehicle will be ordered for you by our sales team
Step 3: Sign documents… You'll then be sent several important documents which you’ll need to sign and return to us, all done through our easy to use customer portal.
Step 4: Take delivery… Whether you've chosen a car that's in stock (ready to go) or a factory order (built to your specification), we'll keep you informed with regular updates every step of the way between your order and delivery.
Step 5: Enjoy your car… Enjoy your car, knowing we’ll be on hand if you need help with anything.
Step 6: Choose your next car… Before the end of your lease, we’ll be in touch with plenty of time to spare, giving you ample opportunity to select and order your next new vehicle should you wish.
Please note, all of our processes are COVID secure and contactless.
Q.   Why is my annual mileage important?
A.
When drawing up your lease contract you will need to estimate your annual mileage. It is important that you estimate this as correctly as possible to help you avoid any excess mileage fees at the end of your lease.
Q.   Why does the price go up when I increase my mileage?
A.
One of the key factors that affects how your monthly rental is calculated is the vehicle's predicted future value. The more miles you cover during your contract, the less your vehicle will be worth when you hand the keys back. If you do more than your estimated mileage during your contract period, then the vehicle will be less than if you had kept within your mileage estimate, leaving the car worth less to the finance company than originally calculated.
Q.   What do you mean by 9+23 or 6 + 35?
A.
This refers to how the lease payments for a contract are going to be structured. These 'payment profiles' are adjusted to suit your personal preference, however the initial payment is usually either 3, 6 or 9 months' worth of lease payments.
In the first example above (9 + 23), we have a 24-month contract where the initial payment/ deposit amount is equivalent to 9 months' lease payments, once this one-off deposit fee is paid, it is followed by 23 x monthly payments. In the second example (6 + 35), we have a 36-month contract where the initial payment/deposit amount is equivalent to 6 months' lease payments, followed by 35 x monthly payments.
The rule of thumb is the higher the upfront payment, the lower the on-going monthly payments and vice versa. Either way, the total amount payable over the term of the lease will be virtually the same.
Q.   How quickly will the car arrive after I have placed an order?
A.
Depending on the type of vehicle you need, we can have a vehicle to you as fast as 10-14 days, these will usually be 'stock' vehicles - vehicles that have been built and are available for quick delivery.
If you have specific requirements for your vehicle (e.g. colour, spec) however and we are unable to source this vehicle from a manufacturer or dealer, then it may be necessary to place a factory order. As a rough guide, delivery of a factory order (a vehicle that is 'made for you') usually takes somewhere between 6 to 14 weeks depending on the manufacturer.
Q.   The prices seem very low, what’s the catch?
A.
There is no catch. Our reputation has helped us develop extremely strong relationships with manufacturers, motor groups and some of the most prominent finance companies in the UK. As a result, we're able to negotiate some of the best vehicle discount terms for our customers.
In addition, we offer a price match promise to always ensure we have the most competitive leasing rates in the industry.
Q.   Will you price match if I find the same deal at a better price elsewhere?
A.
Yes! We work hard to offer customers the best deals on the market. However, if you happen to see a better price for the exact same deal, then we will aim to price match it.
Q.   Can I buy the car at the end of the lease?
A.
No, our lease contracts are designed for the return of your car at the end of your contract, there are no options to buy or part exchange. If owning the vehicle at the end is important to you, we can offer you a Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) which gives you the option to buy. However, the finances on a PCP agreement are not usually as good value as a lease or Personal Contract Hire (PCH) agreement.
Q.   What are my responsibilities during the lease?
A.
If you do not opt for a maintenance contract you are responsible for servicing, maintaining and the MOT for your vehicle (if the vehicle is older than 3 years). If you ‘do’ choose to pay for the monthly fixed cost maintenance cover then we will do that for you. Other than that you simply need to insure the vehicle and add fuel/charge it! You will also need to stay within your estimated annual mileage allowance as well as care for your car so that when it is returned at the end of the lease, any damage incurred does not exceed Fair Wear and Tear Guidelines.
Q.   Can I add a personalised number plate?
A.
Yes, this is possible, however you will need to request the permission of the finance company as they remain the registered owner of the vehicle throughout your lease. If they agree, you will need to follow their stated procedure and pay the necessary fee. All of this should be done after (not prior to) delivery of your vehicle and you will need to liaise directly with the finance company.
Towards the end of your lease, you will need to arrange for the number plate to be removed from the lease vehicle. Again, you will need to liaise with the finance company directly, follow their instructions and pay a fee. Note that the number plate must be removed, and the original number plate affixed before the vehicle is retuned at the end of the lease.
Q.   What happens towards the end of the lease?
A.
6 months and then again 3 months before the end of your lease, we will either email or call you to take you through the process and explain your options should you wish to lease with us again (which we hope you do!).
If you would like to lease again, 6 months prior to the end of your lease is a good amount of time to start to start thinking about and ordering your next vehicle.
Q.   Should I clean my vehicle at the end of the lease?
A.
We recommend that you both clean and valet your vehicle prior to returning it. Whilst the vehicle will still undergo a full assessment to determine whether it meets the Fair Wear and Tear Guidelines, a clean vehicle will certainly help to present your vehicle in the best light.
Q.   What do I do if my vehicle is damaged?
A.
In this situation you should consult your finance company's Fair Wear and Tear Guidelines to gauge whether the damage will be considered as acceptable Fair Wear and Tear or not.
If the damage exceeds the accepted guidelines, the finance company can apply a charge, so any damage should ideally be repaired prior to the vehicle's return.
Q.   Why is there a charge if I exceed my mileage?
A.
As with owning a car, the more miles the vehicle has done, the less it will ultimately be worth. Therefore, if the customer has exceeded their estimated annual mileage they will need to pay an excess charge at the end of the contract.