Posts Tagged ‘hiring a car’

4 September

A Quick Look At How Leasing Works

It would appear that a considerable number of people don’t actually know how car leasing works, so to help you decide if leasing is the right option for you, here’s a quick rundown of the basics.

 

Essentially, the leasing process consists of paying to use a vehicle for a given period of time, without taking proprietry rights of it or paying the full retail value. Contract hire is a similar process, except contract are usually run for a longer period of time.

 

You would firsty need to think about the type of vehicle you want to hire, before specifying this to the leasing agency. You will need to tell them what sort of vehicle you need, what functions it needs to have, how many people it will need to hold, etc. etc. so that they can provide the right vehicle for you. You would normally then be presented with several financial documents, which you will need to read carefully and then sign. Obviously something like an Audi contract hire is going to cost much more than a Skoda or an old Fiesta, so you’ll have to keep financial considerations in mind when choosing your hire car.

 

You will then usually have to wait from a decision from a financial lending facitility, who will usually decide quite quickly. Their decision will be based around your previous credit score & history, your job, current financial position, previous employment, etc..

 

Should you be successful, you’ll then be expected to exchange financial documentation, sign any requested forms and take delivery of the vehicle. Usually you will not receive access to your selected vehicle until all financial paperwork is completed and properly exchanged.

 

Once you’ve finished with the vehicle, you’ll be able to renew it, select a new vehicle (although this usually requires a new contract) or return it, ending the contract. When you do come to return the car, make sure you’ve followed all the obligations in the contract correctly and that you’ve returned it in at least the condition you took it in.

19 July

Know What You’re Responsible For When Your Lease A Car

Car leasing is a great way of getting hold of a new vehicle, or the car you’ve always wanted, without having to commit to buying it, and it has become extremely popular with drivers all over the world. Thousands of people hire a vehicle every year for a myriad of different reasons, as they’re generally not expensive, convenient, simple and allow you to drive a much more expensive car than you may be able to afford.

You should make sure however that if you are hiring a car, whether in Britain or abroad, you are aware of exactly what your responsibilities are. In brief terms, you are responsible for anything (and everything) that occurs in or to that vehicle while it’s in your possession. That includes any noticable damage from internal engine problems to a smashed window. Even if you end up in an accidental collision that you’re not blamed for, you would still be in a position of responsibility. This does not mean you’ll be expected to pay for all the repairs should you be rear-ended by another driver, but it doesn mean you will be required to complete the post-crash procedure with insurers, authorities, etc.. You would find this to be the case whether you were talking about bike, car or van contract hire.

Because all damage is your responsibility, you need to be very aware of clauses in your contract, as well as the state of the vehicle before you take it off the lot. It is then extremely important and highly recommended that you fully inspect the vehicle before you take it off the lot. Look all over the car, both inside and out, and make sure every single scratch, dent, rip or imperfection is properly recorded by the car leasing representative. By doing this you can be confident that the hire car company cannot charge you for any imperfection that was already on the vehicle when you took it out.

The best thing you can do is ensure you properly and fully read your contract before leasing a vehicle. The only real way you can properly understand your responsibilities and be fully aware of any clauses in your contract is to make sure you’ve taken the time out to read it. Don’t be tempted by cheap car leasing deals to just sign the contract and go. If the car hire representative has nothing to worry about or try and hide fro you, then they shouldn’t have any problem with allowing you the time to read your contract before signing it.