Who Pays for Maintenance on a Lease Car?

Do car leases include maintenance?

Standard leasing contracts do not include or cover maintenance and servicing costs. This will mean you’ll have to cover the costs of servicing, repairs (outside of the manufacturer’s warranty), MOT tests and replacement tyres.

What’s included in a maintenance package?

A maintenance package can be added to your lease contract, allowing you to spread costs over the full course of the contract. The maintenance package will generally include:

• Servicing/repairs and parts that need replacing 
• Brakes, wipers, exhausts and other items.
• MOT tests - lease cars are new and don’t require an MOT for the first three years.  After that, an annual test is required. A maintenance package will include the MOT cost if the lease extends past three years. 
• Breakdown Assistance - roadside assistance 24/7/365 for the length of your contract. 

What’s not included?

A maintenance package will cover you for wear and tear items, MOT and servicing of your lease car. However, it does have areas and limitations which aren’t covered:

• Accidental damage, caused by driver error
• Stolen parts, items and accessories 
• Damage caused by vandalism
• Acts of God
• Misfuelling
• Body and paintwork damage
• Windscreen repair or replacement

How should I maintain my lease car?

Below are five simple steps to keeping your lease car in tiptop condition throughout its lease contract. 

• Service to Manufacturers’ specification 
• Wash and clean the vehicle regularly
• Check the tyres monthly (for damage / air-pressure levels)
• MOT when required (after 3 years, then every year thereafter)
• Touch in stone chips to prevent further damage/rust

What happens if I damage my lease car?

First, drivers should access the level of damage incurred on the vehicle. There is a level of acceptance under BVRLA ‘fair wear and tear’ guidelines; small stone chips and minor scuffs are acceptable but it is always advisable to touch in stone/paint chips to prevent them from rusting.  It is also advisable to get windscreen chips repaired before they turn into expensive cracks that can lead to needing a screen replacement. This small outlay will invariably stop an expensive bill down the line. 

With all our lease cars being new, undercarriage and deep-panel rust will be highly unlikely. With other damage to the body panels such as door/trolley dints, it is advised to have these removed by a specialist and have any curbed wheels repaired and refinished as well. 

Do lease cars come with a warranty?

All the cars we offer on our site are covered by a manufacturers’ warranty. The length or distance a warranty is valid for differs between manufacturers; KIA offers a seven-year / 100,000 miles warranty, for example, whereas BMW offers four years / 50,000 miles as their warranty.  

What’s covered by the manufacturer’s warranty?

A manufacturer’s warranty is protection against mechanical failure or manufacturing faults of a new car and these last a specified time or mileage from the registration date.

What is not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty?

Each manufacturer’s warranty is ever so slightly different and even some differ between models, so it is best to check the specifics of the warranty with the manufacturer; but, generally they will not cover:

• Accidental Damage
• Damage from acts of God
• Misfuelling
• Modifications  - Non Factory / Dealer supplied
• Other items suffering wear from modifications
• Vandalised and/or stolen parts and items on the vehicle.

The warranty is there to cover a general failure of a part/item when used in normal conditions. If you have any further questions about maintaining your lease vehicle, you can get in touch with our dedicated customer services team here.