1. Leasing a vehicle for the first time
When you get in touch with First Vehicle Leasing, our experts will ask you some questions to help find you the best car leasing deal. If you're brand new to leasing, our guide to what leasing is is a great place to start. Examples of the questions you may be asked are:
- What kind of car are you looking for? Whether that's a hatchback, SUV, or convertible, we'll tailor our search to your needs.
- How long would you like the car lease to last? Most agreements run between 2 and 5 years, and the length you choose will affect your monthly cost.
- How many miles per year would you like the contract hire agreement to cover? It's important to be realistic here, as exceeding your agreed mileage will result in additional charges at the end of the contract.
- Would you like a customer maintained or a lender maintained lease? A maintenance package can take the hassle out of servicing and upkeep throughout your agreement.
Our sales team love a challenge, so don't be afraid to tell them what you really want! Not sure about some of the terminology? Our leasing glossary breaks it all down in plain English.
2. Proposal to lease your car
Once our sales team know what you are looking for they will search our vast panel of car suppliers and finance companies to find the best car lease deal for you. We work with a wide range of lenders to ensure you get a competitive price, and we'll walk you through the different funding options available so you can choose the right one for your situation. Once they have found the car you are looking for, at the price you're happy with, the deal will be proposed to our finance company. Please note that all leasing agreements involve a credit check. If you're concerned about your credit history, take a look at our bad credit leasing page for more information. You can also check your credit rating free using Experian's website.
3. Approval of your new lease agreement
Once your lease deal has been approved by the finance company your file will be passed through to our admin department. Two things will happen: we will order your new car from the manufacturer and then arrange the signing of the finance contract with you. Your documents will be accompanied by specific instructions on how they should be completed. Should you have any questions at this stage, please don't hesitate to contact our customer services team.
Every vehicle leasing order is unique. Some vehicles may already be in stock at dealerships — you can check our in-stock lease cars for vehicles ready for quicker delivery. Other vehicles may need to be factory ordered or even placed on a waiting list. Depending on the make, model and any additional extras you may want to add to your car, your deal may fall into any of these three categories.
If you are looking for a rough guide on waiting times for your car, then please see section 4 below or speak with your FVL account manager who will be able to give you a much clearer estimate on current delivery times for vehicles.
4. Delivery of your new car
Once your returned finance documents have been approved and your vehicle is in stock at the dealership, our admin team will then be able to arrange delivery of your car. Dealers usually require 15 working days notice for deliveries (though this may vary between dealerships). Please note that in many cases there may be a cooling off period, after which your vehicle may be delivered. If you have any queries about the delivery of your lease car, please contact the sales team.
Your new car can be delivered anywhere in mainland UK. Whether you're based in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, or elsewhere, we'll arrange delivery to your door. Below are a few guidelines for new lease car deliveries:
- Deliveries take place between 9am and 5pm. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee times within these. However, we can pass on contact details and request that the delivery driver contacts you at least 1 hour before arrival.
- Your car can be delivered anywhere in mainland UK of your choosing. This could be to your home, workplace or that of a relative if required.
- If, for any reason, someone else takes delivery of the car in your absence we will require written confirmation via email authorising them to do so.
- We will also require a copy of insurance for your car AT LEAST 48 hours before delivery. Please send this to [email protected]
Current estimated delivery times
Current estimated delivery time will vary between manufacturers, models and individual circumstances. These timeframes are based on ideal circumstances and may be subject to change.
- Car available at dealership: 3 - 4 weeks
- Factory order (no waiting list): 12 weeks
- Factory order (waiting list): 24 weeks+ (depending on model)
If you'd rather not wait, browse our in-stock vehicles for cars that are ready to go much sooner.
5. Returning your car at the end of your lease
At the end of your contract hire agreement, you will need to arrange collection of your lease car by contacting our customer service team or your vehicle lender directly. Before collection, the car will be inspected against the BVRLA's fair wear and tear guidelines, so it's worth keeping the vehicle in good condition throughout your lease. At this stage, our dedicated sales team will be more than happy to help you arrange your next car lease deal. Many of our customers choose to upgrade to a newer model — it's one of the biggest advantages of leasing over buying.
Leasing a car with FVL is simple, safe and offers great value
Find the best car lease deal now online, or call one of our car leasing experts today. See what our customers have to say about us in our customer reviews, or learn more about First Vehicle Leasing and why thousands of drivers trust us with their next car.
