Businesses Saved by Vehicle Leasing

Van leasing is currently helping many businesses to stay afloat during these difficult times. Many businesses have been forced to look carefully at their cash flow and capital expenditure. Van leasing provides businesses, large and small, with the commercial vehicles that they need with payment methods that they can afford.

Van leasing and contract hire have become increasingly popular as businesses recognize the benefits of leasing over outright purchase. These include:

• Fixed, known monthly payments enabling businesses to accurately forecast their finances;
• Low initial down payments mean that businesses can secure brand new, top specification vans for very little initial outlay;
• Maintenance and servicing can be included in the lease price which can save a lot of headaches;
• Leasing is a great way to lessen the impact of depreciation;
• The leasing company can often provide commercial vehicle insurance at very competitive rates;
• No problems disposing of vehicles at the end of the lease period;
• There are tax benefits to leasing as it is classed as rental which means that 100% of the lease charge is tax allowable.

Although van leasing is generally advantageous to businesses there are some additional considerations that should be borne in mind. One thing you may need to do is accurately estimate your anticipated mileage. You should always check to find out if there are any penalties for exceeding the stipulated mileage and maybe look for an unlimited mileage contract.

Another important aspect of the contract to consider is exactly what is included in the maintenance agreement. Some lease contracts include replacement tires and even replacement windscreens, but always check the details.

Always gather several quotations when shopping around for a good van leasing contract and compare them in detail. Be certain that you are comparing the same models of vehicles with all of the same options.

Like company car leasing, van leasing is increasingly recognized as a financially viable option for providing a business with the transport needed to stay in business.

Contract Hire Explained

Car leasing, personal contract purchase, contract hire, lease purchase and car loans are all different ways to finance the cost of cars and vans. The variety of vehicle financing options available today can be confusing so I thought I would focus on ‘contract hire’ and explain how this technique works.

Leasing a car basically takes care of one of the biggest financial issues associated with acquiring a new vehicle which is depreciation. The value of your brand new car falls through the floor, even before you have driven away from your supplier.

When you take out a car lease the residual value of your selected vehicle is calculated. The is the estimated value of the vehicle at the end of the agreed lease period based on the anticipated mileage during this time. This calculated residual value is then deducted from the manufacturers retail price and the remaining sum is divided up into monthly payments that you will pay over the lease period. So the higher the residual value in comparison with the current value, the less you will be paying each month.

Contract hire is a vehicle financing method that has maximum benefit for customers who are registered for VAT, so it is most suitable for businesses and the self-employed. If your vehicle is used exclusively for business purposes you can reclaim 100% of the VAT. Even if your car or van is used for some personal use you can still reclaim 50% of the VAT.

In a contract hire agreement you actually hire the vehicle for an agreed period, usually for between 12 and 60 months during which time a fixed rental is paid, based upon the mileage. You will return the vehicle to your supplier at the end of your contract hire period, much the same as a car leasing contract. You will not be surprised by any unforeseen disposal or depreciation costs.

Contract hire will generally include full vehicle maintenance which can optionally include routine servicing and even replacement tyres. Up to 100% of the rental charges can be offset against taxable profits and minimal capital outlay is required.

It’s no surprise that contract hire is the favoured vehicle financing option for many businesses and self-employed people.

For cheap car leasing I recommend Nationwide Vehicle Contracts.