Frequently Asked Questions

There are many benefits to leasing, including cost effectiveness, smart use of your money, peace of mind and hassle-free enjoyment. The main benefits are:

1. Drive a brand-new car every 2 to 3 years... enjoy all the benefits of the latest makes, models, technology and safety features
2. Avoid the problems and expenses associated with ageing cars...
3. Cost effectiveness... leasing usually offers both the lowest upfront and lowest monthly instalment options for driving a new car
4. 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
5. Easy on your savings... a much smaller initial payment is required compared with other options, leaving your hard-earned savings relatively untouched
6. * Please ask for more information. Manufacturer provided breakdown cover may vary depending on term, manufacturer and/or funder. Full manufacturers warranty may vary subject to term and/or pre-registration of the vehicle. MOTs are subject to the term. Road tax may vary subject to finance agreement type/product.
7. 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 borrow it
8. 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

* Please ask for more information. Manufacturer provided breakdown cover may vary depending on term, manufacturer and/or funder. Full manufcturers warranty may vary subject to term and/or pre-registration of the vehicle. MOTs are subject to the term. Road tax may vary subject to finance agreement type/product.

More and more people every year are choosing to lease rather than buy their new vehicle and the growth in popularity has been phenomenal, with personal leasing now accounting for 1.6 million vehicles in the UK.

Yes, the two are the same thing. Leasing/Personal Contract Hire (such as Select Car Leasing) is a long-term rental arrangement where you lease a vehicle of your choosing for an agreed period (usually 2-5 years).

You make an initial payment followed by fixed, monthly payments. At the end of the lease term you simply hand back the keys.

For a more detailed explanation of leasing and PCH click here.

Yes, Personal Contract Hire (PCH) is quite different to Personal Contract Purchase (PCP).

Click here to read a comparison of the different forms of finance available

There are many benefits to leasing a vehicle, including cost effectiveness, smart use of your money, peace of mind and hassle-free enjoyment. The main benefits are:

1. Drive a brand-new car every 2 to 3 years... enjoy all the benefits of the latest makes, models, technology and safety features
2. Avoid the problems and expenses associated with ageing cars...
3. Cost effectiveness... leasing usually offers both the lowest upfront and lowest monthly instalment options for driving a new car
4. 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
5. Easy on your savings... a much smaller initial payment is required compared with other options, leaving your hard-earned savings relatively untouched
6. 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
7. 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 borrow it
8. 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

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: 0118 920 5130 or alternatively email: enquiries@selectcarleasing.co.uk and we’ll be able to help you.

Yes, we lease all leading makes and models, and offer all manner of options including over 16,000 trim options to choose from.

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.

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.

A lease is a financial agreement and you are required to be at least 18-years-old (in some cases 17 years old) when you sign up for the agreement.

This requirement is the same whether you are applying for PCH (Personal Contract Hire such as Select Car Leasing), PCP (Personal Contract Purchase), HP (Hire Purchase) or a Personal Loan agreement.

Select Car Leasing is the UK’s largest and most trusted car leasing provider giving us access to unique buying relationships with the most reputable suppliers in the UK. This allows us to provide our clients with exclusive access to the limited supply of vehicles in these unprecedented times.

To assist in securing this limited supply, orders with a lead time of three months or more are subject to a Fully Refundable Order Confirmation Fee (OCF)*

The OCF is tiered depending on your new vehicles value** and paid using a Worldpay link along with our usual Arrangement Fee.

*Once delivery of your brand-new factory order vehicle has been booked and prior to your initial payment being made, we will raise a credit note to you for the same value as the OCF you paid us. This will then be paid into your bank within 7 working days.

**Values are based on the P11d (taxable list price) value of the vehicle and tiered as below:

• P11d less than or equal to £25000 = £200 plus VAT
• P11d between £25001 and £50000 = £300 plus VAT
• P11d between £50001 and £75000 = £500 plus VAT
• P11d greater than or equal to £75001 = £750 plus VAT

No, your initial payment must come from *your bank account (and be cleared funds)

*This is the bank account that has been submitted as part of the finance application and is the account where the direct debits will be paid from.

Yes, you are eligible to apply for a lease car, however you will need to be at least 18 years old in order to sign the financial agreement, possess a full UK driver's licence and prove credit worthy.

The ID documents you will need to provide as part of the processing of your contract will depend upon your credit score. Most people are required to provide proof of residency, proof of income or benefits and a proof of identity, such as passport or driving licence.

Our lease contracts generally range anywhere from a minimum length of 24 months through to 60 months.

If you need a vehicle for a shorter length of time, then we also offer short term rental agreements which range anywhere from between 3 and 24 months.

Click here for more detailed information on our short-term leasing options.

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. Many people know their average yearly mileage, however if you are unsure, you can refer to any recent MOT certificates and these will detail for each year how far you regularly drive in a year.

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.

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 amount is equivalent to 9 months' lease payments, once this one-off 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 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.

There is no catch. Select has been leasing vehicles for over 10 years and 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.

The difference in our business versus personal leasing rates is because businesses are obliged to pay VAT, and this is reflected in the price shown. Aside from this, in most cases, there is no difference. Where there are exceptions, this is usually because one of the finance companies we work with is offering a special business rate on a specific vehicle.

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.

One of the key factors that affects how the finance companies calculate their prices, 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.

All our vehicles are distributed either directly through the manufacturers, via franchised main dealers or through vehicle holding and preparation centres.

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.

With leasing (as with owning), you are responsible for servicing, maintaining and the MOT for your vehicle (if the vehicle is older than 3 years). 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.

If you'd like to know more about our peace of mind maintenance packages, please give one of our expert Leasing Consultants a call on: 0118 920 5130 or alternatively email: enquiries@selectcarleasing.co.uk

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.

For more details, please contact your finance company directly.

6 months and then again 3 months before the end of your lease, your Select consultant 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. If you would like to discuss your options before then, please give one of our expert Leasing Consultant’s a call on: 0118 920 5130 or alternatively email: enquiries@selectcarleasing.co.uk.

In terms of preparing your vehicle to be returned, we recommend you start the process at least 12 weeks before the return date of your vehicle. Click here to view our step by step guide to getting your vehicle ready to be returned in the best condition possible.

Yes, you should start to think about what you need to do at least 12 weeks prior to the end of your lease date, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time. To help you, we’ve put together a step by step End of Lease Guide, click here to read this Guide

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.

Most of our customers do not incur penalty charges at the end of their lease, however you should be aware of the potential for these.

The first form of charge relates to exceeding the estimated annual mileage allowance. As with owning a car, the more miles a vehicle has done, the less it is worth, so if a customer exceeds their estimated annual mileage they will need to pay an excess charge to the finance company at the end of the contract to reset the balance.

The second form of charge relates to where there is vehicle damage that exceeds the finance company’s Fair Wear and Tear Guidelines. We recommend that you become familiar with these guidelines, both at the start of your lease, as well as refamiliarizing yourself with them when preparing your vehicle to be returned at the end of the lease.

For more detailed information, we recommend that you read and follow our End of Lease Guide click here

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.

For more detailed information, we recommend that you carefully read our End of Lease Guide

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.

While each person’s request is handled on a case-by-case basis, in the vast majority of instances a lease customer must have a permanent address in the UK in order to secure finance on a vehicle lease deal.

So, even if you plan to be in the UK for a lengthy period of time, if you don’t have a permanent home here, and you instead live permanently in a foreign country, a lease deal is likely to prove problematic.

As well as having a UK address, a lease customer will also need to show some other documents in order to convince a lender to fund the vehicle. That includes identification and proof of home address via a utility bill, bank statement or equivalent.

You must also prove your employment history going back three years, as well as details of your current monthly income and expenditure.

If you’re a business customer, you’ll need to prove your annual turnover figure, your trading address, your business VAT number if you have one, information about your firm’s directors, and some lenders might also require details of your up-to-date accounts as they stand right now.