Evening all,

Me again, after some advice (following the fantastic advice on cameras for my son, whose birthday it is today and he's made up with his new camera, so thank you all!.

I have historically had company cars but am thinking of switching this up and leasing my own car. Does anyone on here have any contacts in this world or even work in this world as it seems to be a complete minefield and so far, what I want doesn't seem to exist.

The criteria is a family car, Petrol or Hybrid, 20,000 miles per annum (including business miles) and ideally with a maintenance plan. I've currently got a Tiguan, but previously had a BMW 330e Touring so something along those lines if that makes any sense whatsoever?

I don't know if sticking with a company car is the better solution but I keep being told leasing myself is better, so any help at all would be most welcome.

Thanks all,

Cheshire

Stick with a company car on that level of mileage, with as low a co2 emissions as you can find.

Personal leases at 20k miles a year will be massively expensive

Just had a car on a 3 year lease which went back last week. It served its purpose but I wouldn't do it again. They really do pour over it when they come to collect it, trying to add on charges for minor bumps and nicks. Supposed to be fair wear and tear but their definition and what a normal person would think are quite different. But at the time I got it I didn't want to get a loan and it allowed me to get a brand new car which I wouldn't have been able to afford otherwise.

But like Bow said, if you want 20,000 miles a year I imagine it would be very expensive. Mine was a Mazda CX5 so a family sized car. £390 a month but that was only for 8,000 miles a year. I did more so will have to pay the excess mileage charge of 12p a mile.

Thanks all, seems I might be better off not bothering with a private lease car then?

just recently signed up for a lease for a new Renault Scenic E-Tech (see the EV thread). Got that for £436/month without maintenance (that was another £127/month on top - which is why I didn't bother) and thats for 3 years for an annual mileage of 22k mile, and the excess of 8p per mile. I honestly couldn't afford a new car any other way at the moment, unless I went for a PCP deal - which I'm not ready to do for an EV.

I used Select Leasing, but there are so many options out there, shop around. Be aware that the offers are likely to change at short notice depending on the residual values - I had one quote increase by £100+ per month from one day to the next.

welsbyswife wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 15, 2025 7:37 pm

They really do pour over it when they come to collect it, trying to add on charges for minor bumps and nicks.

Our kid had one poured over for two and a half hours by a guy armed with a camara, iPad and a clipboard.

Clovius Boofus wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 16, 2025 12:32 pm

Our kid had one poured over for two and a half hours by a guy armed with a camara, iPad and a clipboard.

Sounds like the same chap who came to collect mine. Was clearly taking great pleasure in trying to find things. Pointed out a dent to me that I couldn't even see after he had mentioned it. To be honest, that's the main reason I won't lease again. Not a nice experience.

welsbyswife wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 16, 2025 2:35 pm

Sounds like the same chap who came to collect mine. Was clearly taking great pleasure in trying to find things. Pointed out a dent to me that I couldn't even see after he had mentioned it. To be honest, that's the main reason I won't lease again. Not a nice experience.

Same here, he got me down on the floor and said I had to let the sun catch the rear bumper at a certain angle to see a scratch...... He was also going to charge me for 4 tyres as he said they were 'out of spec winter tyres' - I had to point out the words 'all weather' on the tyre wall. This was VW / Audi and will not be leasing from them again.

welsbyswife wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 16, 2025 2:35 pm

Sounds like the same chap who came to collect mine. Was clearly taking great pleasure in trying to find things. Pointed out a dent to me that I couldn't even see after he had mentioned it. To be honest, that's the main reason I won't lease again. Not a nice experience.

Our kid is the same. Also told me that he used to wince every time he was on a motorway and heard a bit of gravel or whatever. In the end, he was glad to get shut and get back to driving what he can truly afford to own. Less stressful.

Yep, I'm looking for a car to buy now. To be honest, I couldn't care less about bumps and scrapes as long as the car gets me from A to B. That's if I own it! Different matter when leasing!!

I’ve had the complete opposite when hading back lease cars. They've missed all sorts - misaligned panel, scratches, dents, broken parts inside

here's the BVRLA guide for the industry in relation to scratches and dents etc - seems strict, but nothing you cant manage.

welsbyswife wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 16, 2025 2:58 pm

Yep, I'm looking for a car to buy now. To be honest, I couldn't care less about bumps and scrapes as long as the car gets me from A to B. That's if I own it! Different matter when leasing!!

got a 9 year old Honda Civic Diesel with 165k miles on the clock - FSH with another year of extended Honda Warranty to go (wont cover wear and tear, but does cover things like electric windows and the car electronics etc)

Still a good car, but I need to know its reliable, which its beginning to feel like its not anymore (but probably still is!)

Rick_Muller wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 16, 2025 4:42 pm

here's the BVRLA guide for the industry in relation to scratches and dents etc - seems strict, but nothing you cant manage.

BVRLA Wear and Tear.png

I have a copy of this and mentioned it to the bloke checking the car. Was surprised when he said No dents are allowed at all because that is clearly contrary to what the guidance says. Anyway, his line was that he only submits his report and it is up to the leasing company what to do with it and if I disagree I need to take it up with them. Which I will!!

There are some great deals about on new as the new car market is screwed and dealers are hell bent on earning quarterly target bonuses at the expense of unit margin

Some are giving you up to £5000 deposit contribution and a number 0% finance so you could keep your own money in savings buy the car on finance and will then own the car outright which you never will do on lease.And if like me before retiring was paying £450 a month tax on the company vehicle and my free petrol
Worth thinking about

Sutton-Claret wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 16, 2025 2:44 pm

Same here, he got me down on the floor and said I had to let the sun catch the rear bumper at a certain angle to see a scratch...... He was also going to charge me for 4 tyres as he said they were 'out of spec winter tyres' - I had to point out the words 'all weather' on the tyre wall. This was VW / Audi and will not be leasing from them again.

I had one lease car and someone opened their car door into it in a supermarket car park. I had it fixed by a repair firm that works for insurance companies. Audi/VW said it wasn’t up to their standard and made me pay to have it redone. Never had a lease since and my wife refuses to have a lease car. You can’t be driving around worrying about someone else scratching your car all the time. Better to buy second hand and buy well.

I had a Tesla 3 on a 3 yr lease- it went back last Christmas. The guy who came to inspect/ collect it, looked like he was doing a thorough job, but missed the only 2 little blemishes, ( 1 on the front bumper, 1 on the rear quarter panel ). He said the car was immaculate, which it mainly was, and said it was a credit to me. I’m now a month into a 2 yr lease on a Skoda Elroq. Fabulous car.