Guide to
Leasing

How does leasing a car work?

A car lease is an agreement between the funder and a customer which allows you to drive a brand-new car for a fixed term. You pay an agreed initial payment plus regular monthly payments at a set amount for the term of the contract. You return the car at the end of the car lease contract.

Should I lease or buy a car or van?

Leasing has always been a popular option as people look to avoid vehicle depreciation and one-off large repair bills. Essentially, leasing a car or van allows you to spread the cost effectively. People may also find it’s an affordable way to get a higher value vehicle than they could afford if they were to buy it outright.

Why should I lease a vehicle from AMT?

We’ve been established for over 30-years, and in that time, we have built up extensive knowledge of the leasing marketplace and have developed strong relationships with manufacturers, dealerships, and funding companies Partners. Our financial standing and size gives us strong buying power – we purchase stock vehicles and larger volumes of vehicles at very competitive prices which means we can offer highly competitive lease deals to our customers. We can also offer some in-house funding if credit is an issue. For example, if you’ve just started a company and would struggle to get credit from a funder.

Who is the registered owner and keeper of a lease vehicle?

If you take out a contract hire agreement the finance company is the registered owner and keeper.

How long is the vehicle contract hire or lease period?

Our contracts range from 12 to 60 months depending on the vehicle and contract chosen. If you want to try a new car for a period before committing to a 12 month+ car lease contract, we can offer short term leasing from 3-months to 12-months, inclusive of maintenance, vehicles available immediately from our wholly owned premium and specialist fleet.

What’s the difference between contract hire and leasing?

There isn’t much difference between contract hire and leasing – essentially, they mean the same thing. Contract hire is generally the term used when describing a business leasing agreement.

Should I take out a personal leasing or business leasing contract?

Businesses don’t pay VAT on leasing contracts, so this can be a good way to reduce your costs. However, if you have a limited company, depending on the company car tax implications, you may prefer to lease a car personally. If you’d like some advice on what’s best for your circumstances, just give us a call.

Can I take my chosen vehicle for a test drive?

Generally, we can’t offer test drives as we don’t have a traditional forecourt like a dealership. However, we do have relationships with dealers around the UK who we may be able to recommend for test drives. We also have our own fleet of rental cars across four AMT Auto vehicle rental branches. So, if you live near one, we may have the vehicle you want on our fleet. Just ask us how we can help you with test drives and make sure you come back to us when you know what you want so we can get you the best deal.

Can I get a part exchange for my car?

We can offer a part exchange service. Just complete our online form or speak to one of our account managers who will be able to help you.

Is maintenance included on a leased vehicle?

Maintenance is an optional cost and includes all servicing, tyres, brakes, exhaust, battery and labour. For further details please ask a member of the team.

What happens when I need a lease vehicle serviced or repaired?

If you opted to include maintenance in your lease contract, you will have received a maintenance contact number from the finance company. From there, you can book the vehicle into a local approved garage.

What are my options at the end of the leasing contract?

This depends on the type of contract taken but usually, you can either hand the car back, extend the contract, or purchase the vehicle from the finance company or third party depending on the funder.

What happens at the end of the car lease contract?

At the end of the vehicle lease you can either arrange for it to be collected, or you can extend the contract on a monthly basis depending on the funder.

Can I cancel my vehicle lease early?

Contact AMT to request an early contract termination.

Can I buy my lease vehicle when my contract ends?

This option is available on some of our finance options. One of our account managers can provide you with more information if this of interest to you.