Family Car Leasing Explained
Let us help you decide if leasing is the right choice for your family
In this guide we hope to help you decide if leasing is the right choice for you and your family. We’ll cover the benefits, what you should look for in a family car and other things you’ll need to know about leasing.
Why lease a family car?
There are a number of reasons that you might decide leasing is the right choice for your next family car.
As leasing allows you to change vehicle every few years you can change the vehicle as your family’s needs change.
If you have a growing family and expect to need a larger car in a few years with the arrival of another child or extra boot space for the sports kits then leasing would be a good choice for you. Leasing agreements are typically between 2 and 4 years long so you can upgrade to a more spacious model on your next lease without worrying about the resale value of your current vehicle and whether this will be enough to afford a larger model.
Leasing doesn’t require you to pay a large sum of money upfront for the vehicle and the monthly leasing costs are a regular amount making budgeting easier for your family.
You can also add a maintenance package to help avoid any unexpected large bills from the garage. For a few extra pounds a month the cost of any necessary maintenance work, servicing, and MOTs will be included in the lease agreement.
Another financial benefit to leasing a family car is that the road tax will be covered by the funder for the duration of the lease. Please note that if the road tax increases from the amount it was first taxed for, the funder might ask you to pay the difference in price.
All lease vehicles are new and so depending on the length of your lease you won't need to worry about the MOT, as this isn't due until a vehicle is 3 years old. If your lease is longer than 3 years then it'll be your responsibility to complete the MOT, though if you opt for a maintenance package you won't need to pay for this.
Factors to consider when looking at a family car
The next few sections will look at more general points you’ll want to consider when looking for a new family car. They're not leasing specific but should still help you when deciding on the right vehicle for your family, and whether leasing it is the best choice.
Car seats
It's a legal requirement for children to use an appropriate car seat until they're either 12 years old or 135 cm tall. An important thing to bear in mind when looking at cars if you have 3 or more children, is whether there's enough room in the second row of seats for 3 car seats to be fitted. Not all cars will have enough room for a car seat to be fitted in each of these seats.
If you're driving with any children in the car then it's your responsibility to ensure that they're using the correct car seat for their age and weight. For more information on car seats take a look at our extensive overview in this guide on keeping your children safe.
Space for the whole family
When looking at a car you should not only consider if there's enough room for the car seats you need but also for the rest of the family. If you have older children, then you’ll want to ensure there’s enough leg and headroom in the rear seats for them to fit comfortably. It's important to remember that the measurements given might be with the front seats further forward so it’s worthwhile checking that there will still be enough rear legroom with the front passenger and driver seats in a comfortable position.
Another thing to look for is storage compartments in the rear of the vehicle. Large door storage spaces, pockets on the rear of the front seats and even hidden cubbies can be useful for you to store things within your children’s reach. On longer journeys you mightn't always be able to hand your children a drink or snack or find the book they want to keep them occupied but if these are stored within arms reach then they can safely get these for themselves.
Pushchairs, prams, buggies and boot space
Whether your children are young enough to need a pram or older with a large sports kitbag, you'll need a boot with plenty of room.
If your children are young enough to need a pushchair then you'll need to ensure the boot is wide enough for you to fit this in. You should look for a boot that's a few centimetres longer than the folded buggy so that you have space to move it in and out.
You'll also want to ensure there's enough space for other belongings as well as the pushchair and its accessories.
Car safety ratings
When driving with your family in the car we know that it’s important to be as safe as possible which is why we recommend looking at the safety rating and features of any vehicle you're considering purchasing.
All new cars are produced to a high safety standard and there are now a number of driver assistance systems available across manufacturers to help you prevent and minimise the impact of an accident.
You might want to upgrade to a higher spec of a particular vehicle if you’re looking for systems like parking assistance, blind-spot detection or lane-keeping assist. However, some of these are systems of convenience, not strictly necessary to keep your family safe.
Nearly all new cars on sale in the UK have been tested under Euro NCAP standards and you can always check the rating of a vehicle on their website here.
If you're thinking of leasing through Xcite Car Leasing then one of our Leasing Consultants would be happy to advise you on the Euro NCAP rating of the vehicle.
Other factors to consider when leasing a family car
One thing to keep in mind when deciding if leasing is the right choice for your family is that at the end of the lease agreement you must hand the vehicle back. As part of this handover process, the vehicle will be inspected for any damage or marks on both the exterior and interior so you might want to consider how likely your children are to accidentally mark or damage the interior.
If you decide you like your lease car and don't want to hand it back when you reach the end of your contract, some funders offer the opportunity for you to purchase the vehicle at the end of the contract though this isn't always guaranteed.
Although leasing doesn't require a large upfront payment, you'll be paying monthly for the vehicle, and if you need to end the lease agreement early, there'll be an early termination charge. It’s important to make sure you can comfortably accommodate this financial commitment.
If you have any other questions about whether leasing is suitable for you and your family then get in touch on 0330 221 0000.
For more on family leasing check out our guide to keeping your children safe in the car or head back to our guides homepage to learn more about leasing.