Leasing as a Young Driver
Guide to leasing as a young driver
If you’re a young driver looking for your first car and are considering leasing instead of buying, then read our guide below which looks at what you’ll need to consider and explains the leasing process to help you make an informed decision.
How old do I need to be to lease?
In order to lease a vehicle you need to be at least 18 years old.
Just like any other finance, a lease is a financial agreement and so there's a credit check as part of the application process. You can skip down to the leasing process section for more information on this.
You'll also need to have a full driving licence in order to lease a vehicle.
Deciding if leasing is right for you
Choosing your first car can be a daunting experience and if you’re considering leasing then this can cause additional worry. Here at Xcite Car Leasing we like to make the leasing process as easy as possible for you and are here to help every step of the way.
If you’re concerned about the leasing process then we’ve got a great guide on why you shouldn’t be scared to lease and you can take a look at this here.
Or if you want a little more information about Xcite Car Leasing then take a look at why you should lease with us or head over to our Meet the Team page to see who could be helping find your dream lease car.
Leasing a vehicle's a great alternative to purchasing a car if you don't have as much money to spend upfront which is why more and more young drivers are choosing to lease their first car rather than buy it.
With leasing, when you’re ready for a change you don’t need to worry about the vehicle value having depreciated as you don't own the vehicle. At the end of your lease you simply return your car and choose your next vehicle. All our lease vehicles are new cars. Not only does this mean you get to drive a brand-new car that looks great and drives well, but there are a lot of other advantages too.
With a new car you won’t need to worry about taking it for a MOT until it's 3 years old, and if your lease is for less than 3 years you won’t need to MOT it at all. A new car also comes with the manufacturer’s warranty. Again, depending on how long your lease runs, this may last for the duration of the contract.
When you lease a car, the lease funder covers the cost of road tax for the duration of the contract, so you won’t need to worry about this either.
Mileage
When you lease a vehicle, you need to set an annual mileage allowance and as a first-time driver this can be difficult as you have nothing to base this choice on.
Although you agree to a set mileage at the start of the lease, many funders will look at amending this for you once you've had the vehicle for a year, if you realise that you need an increase / decrease.
Please note that changing the mileage allowance may change the monthly payments as well. Your funder will provide you with a quote for any changes and this won't be processed until they receive signed documents from you to confirm the change.
Lease length
It’s important to remember that when you lease a vehicle you agree to do so for a set period of time, usually between 24 and 48 months.
If you need to end the lease earlier than the contracted time, you'll need to request an early termination. The exact cost of an early termination charge depends on a number of factors, including how long is left on your lease and the value of the vehicle at the time.
Maintenance
Another aspect that’s important to consider when getting a new vehicle is the maintenance of the car. If you decide to lease then you might also want to consider adding a maintenance package to your lease agreement.
A maintenance package will usually cover your servicing, maintenance, tyres and any MOTs your vehicle might need during your lease agreement. You can see a full breakdown of what each of our main funders offer as part of their package here or if you decide to lease with us we can go through the details of the maintenance package with you.
You don't have to have a maintenance agreement as part of your lease, it's entirely up to you. However, if you decide not to add a maintenance package it'll be your responsibility to service the vehicle in line with the manufacturer and funder’s guidelines and complete any necessary maintenance work. If you decide on a lease that is for 3 or more years you’ll also need to arrange MOTs.
With a lease, you'll need to return the vehicle at the end of the contracted term and the car will need to be returned in line with the BVRLA’s fair wear and tear guidelines. As you won't own the vehicle, if you want to make any modifications to the car you'll need to check with your funder that you're allowed to do so.
Budgeting
Whether you decide to lease or not, deciding on your first car and running it requires some budgeting.
If leasing is the right choice for you then you need to remember that there's an initial rental payment as well as the regular monthly payments. The initial rental can be higher to reduce the amount of your subsequent monthly payments or you can opt for a lower initial rental with higher monthly payments.
Along with paying for your car you'll also need to factor in a number of other payments when deciding if you can afford a new car.
You'll need to pay for the vehicle to be insured and as a young driver the cost of this could be quite high. Please note that if your insurance provider requires you to have a tracking box installed as part of your policy you'll need to check this is allowed with your funder.
Unless you decide to go for an electric vehicle you'll also need to take into account the cost of fuel when budgeting.
Servicing and maintenance is another aspect that needs to be included in your budget. If you decide to add a maintenance agreement that will be included as part of your monthly lease payments. However, if you decide on a non-maintained lease then you'll need to allow funds for the cost of any servicing or maintenance work the car might need over the course of the lease.
Other costs could include parking permits or daily parking fees and if you drive in London you’ll need to factor in the congestion charge.
Car accessories
There are a number of accessories that you might want to consider if you are looking at your first car. We’ve rounded up our top 5 essential picks below:
Reversing camera
To help with parking in tight spaces you might want to invest in a reversing camera if your vehicle doesn’t have one installed. A reversing camera is a camera that's mounted on the rear of the vehicle and a viewing screen mounted on the dash helping you see any blind spots behind you.
If you fit your own camera then when it comes to the end of your lease you can simply remove and transfer it to your next car.
Mobile phone holder
Many cars are designed to be connected with your mobile phone, letting you play music, use map apps and even call and text without taking your hands off the wheel so you may not need a Bluetooth connection set. However, you'll probably still want to invest in a mobile phone holder so that if you do need to use it as a Sat Nav you can see the screen without endangering yourself and others.
Blind spot mirror
If your new car doesn't have a blind spot detection system then as well as a reversing camera you might want to invest in a couple of blind spot mirrors for your wing mirrors. These will help expand your field of vision so you have less of a blind spot.
De-icer / ice scraper:
In the winter months, a can of de-icer and an ice scraper are essential for those frosty mornings. As soon as you get your first car you’ll want to invest in a set to keep in your boot.
Hand vacuum
Keeping your car clean can be a challenge but one way you can do this is by investing in a handheld vacuum.
There are several models on the market to choose from so you’ll be sure to find one within your budget that helps you keep your car crumb and bacteria free.
There are, of course, plenty of other accessories that you might choose to fit your car out with but we think these 5 are the essentials you'll definitely want to invest in.
The leasing process
Once you’ve decided that leasing is right for you then you'll need to choose your car and the lease terms; contract length, mileage allowance and whether to include a maintenance package.
After you've decided on this, the next step is the application for finance. We'll need you to complete an application form, sometimes called a proposal form.
On the form we will ask for:
- Your full name
- Your date of birth
- Your contact telephone numbers and email address
- The number of dependents you have
- Your marital status
- Your nationality
- 5 years of address history, including your residential status at each property
- Your employment details including the business name, address and how long you’ve been with the company
- Your bank account details (please note these will be sent to the funder for the direct debit details of your lease), including sort code, account number and time with the bank
- Your income and expenditure
Once we have this information, we'll send it onto the funder for approval and there'll be a credit check as part of the process.
Credit
Most funders ask for a good to excellent credit score in order to approve your finance application.
For young drivers this can be an issue if they've little to no credit history. Funders prefer lending to established borrowers as they can assess the risk based on their repayment history.
Please note that approval isn't solely based on your credit score, other factors are also considered.
You can improve your credit in a few ways before applying for a lease. These include:
- Managing a bank account
- Setting up direct debits
- Paying your bills on time
- Registering on the electoral roll
Some funders may let you take out a lease with a guarantor if you don't have enough credit history. Please note that if you do decide to take out a lease with a guarantor they'll also need to have a credit check completed as part of the approval process and they'll be responsible for payments should you be unable to pay them.
The finance company may ask for some additional information, either at this stage or when they issue your finance contracts. They usually ask for a copy of your driving licence and proof of address; either a bank statement or utility bill dated within the last 90 days. If any additional information is required we will let you know.
Once the application has been approved we'll let you know and send you an order pack to confirm you'd like to place the order with us.
After you've signed this, our Customer Services Team will help you with your finance documents and arranging delivery of your new vehicle. They will be there to answer any questions you may have.
Other things to consider
If you have any more questions about leasing then you might want to check out our FAQs or one of the other guides on our Guides Homepage. Or you can call us on 0330 221 0000.