Leasing a car and what you should know about it

A lease is a form of financing for your car (Learn more about the financement). The lessee (you) pays a monthly amount to the lessor. An increased first instalment ('deposit') is often required. The leasing contract is concluded for a fixed term. Usually 3 to 5 years. After expiry, the car usually has to be returned or you have the option to buy the car at a pre-defined residual value. It is important to know that leasing is not an instalment. The car does not belong to you at the end of the contract - unless you pay the outstanding balance and thus acquire ownership. In addition to the loss in value (amortisation), your monthly payment also includes an interest component.

Leasing makes sense when you want to drive your car for 3 to 5 years. Or you can't or don't want to tie up so much capital at once. Calculate how much a leasing could cost you (Go on our cost calculator)

With full-service leasing, maintenance and tyres are included in addition to amortisation and interest (as with conventional leasing). This of course increases the monthly instalment somewhat, but the scope of services is also higher.

This is contractually regulated. If you want to buy your leased car at the end of the contract, you must make this known before signing the contract. Some providers allow this, others do not. So make sure you find out before you sign the contract. (Learn more about how to end a leasing)

In a lease transfer, an existing lease is transferred to a new lessee (Learn more about transferring a leasing). The new lessee takes over the monthly leasing instalments in future. He is thus the new owner of the leasing contract. Such a transfer is usually associated with additional costs.