Your vehicle, any vehicle, whether you own it or not, is always depreciating in value. Everyday use takes its toll on the vehicle and eventually leads to a reduction in efficiency. When you lease a car, the leasing company understands this, so your contract will include a “wear and tear” clause which you will need to read carefully. There will be specific limits to mileage, as well as which maintenance costs the customer is liable for and which ones are covered by the leasing company. For instance, if the customer damages the windshield, he/she may be charged for the costs of windshield repair. You should also keep the vehicle in a secure parking space or garage. Contact a garage door services technician to inspect and/or repair your garage door and its torsion spring.
As these are all negotiable points, be sure to have a clear idea of how much you will be using the vehicle over the life of the contract. The vehicle leasing trade body, the BVRLA, have published guidelines for fair wear and tear use. Alternatively, speak to experts like the team at Mayday Vehicle Rentals for a clearer idea of the issues involved.
So, once you have your leased vehicle how can you look after it?
Drive the car as if it were your own
Treat the car as if you were going to have to pay for the MOT yourself. This will prevent any surprises at the rental company office when you return the vehicle. Put yourself in the shoes of the vehicle rental company. They will want to sell the vehicle later, and if the seats are heavily stained or the bodywork dented in any way, then that is a cost they will have to incur before selling the vehicle on. That cost will be passed on to you as the customer.
When you negotiate the contract, find out if there is an option for vehicle servicing. This may well cost more but it gives you peace of mind and may actually reduce the final cost. Any servicing must be fully recorded in the vehicle log book, as usual. Never take the car to a cheaper garage if this garage is not recognised by the leasing company as a certified mechanic.
Read the manual
As obvious as it sounds, you need to understand how the car works. Cars are different, especially if you are changing to or from a diesel vehicle. It’s a highly tuned piece of kit that you need to respect.
Check under the bonnet
It’s a criminal offence to have low levels of oil and brake fluid, so check these regularly, maybe as often as once a week. If the brake fluid is low there is a major problem, so get it checked out.
Lastly, if you suspect there is something wrong with the car, take it to a garage immediately to get it checked out. It might be nothing, but you could save yourself an expensive headache later.
