Without doubt, we’re in the era of click and collect car purchases, with the proportion of online-shoppers in the UK rising in the aftermath of the pandemic. Networked is the new normal, and as such we’re here to explain how you can lease a car online.
But getting a new car from the web still hasn’t become the social norm. Understandably so – a car is a much larger commitment than a phone or a purse. But during the pandemic, many people turned to online car shopping – and dare we say it, many people might not go back.
For instance, Volvo’s Care by Volvo package lets customers lease a Volvo with maintenance, roadside assistance, and the option of insurance, bundled into one monthly price. During its trial period, 70% of customers didn’t visit a dealership.
Car leasing, also referred to as PCH (Personal Contract Hire) is a simple, easy to understand, and elegant solution for people who want to drive a new car.
Most leasing companies don’t offer test drives or face to face appointments. These companies deal in volume, meaning they want as many customers as possible. Online processes are slick and easy to use, and you can get a new car delivered to you, without leaving your home, usually within a week or two.
>> Choosing
>> Configuring
>> Working out the deal
>> Delivery
Here’s the Parkers guide to leasing your next car online:
1. Choose your car
This may be the simplest task. Yet, it’s also the most important. This is the car that you’ll be using and paying for, for months to come. Deciding what car you want is a bit of a minefield. Of course, you need to consider how much money you want to spend, what kind of size it needs to be, and what type of fuel you want it to use. But it also has to be desirable and something you want to drive.
We’d recommend checking out our latest car reviews. Once you narrow your choices down to a select few, you can check out our best cars pages. This shows how your choices stack up against each other.
Looking for a bit of inspiration? Take a look at these budget-based articles.
- Best cars for £200 per month
- Best cars for £300 per month
- Best cars for £400 per month
- Best cars for £500 per month
- Top cash, finance and leasing offers: Deal Watch
2. Configure the car on the leasing company’s website
When you use a leasing company to configure a car online, you don’t quite get the options you would on a manufacturer’s configurator. Generally, leasing sites don’t offer an image that changes in relation to the options you pick. So it’s definitely worth checking out the car manufacturer’s configurator to do this.
But even using a leasing company’s configurator, you’ll be able to choose the colour, trim level, engine, and what options you’d like.
Of course, the price of the car can vary wildly depending on what spec you choose, but configurators will keep track of how much it will set you back per month.
3. Work out the deal
Leasing comprises of an initial payment and a series of fixed monthly payments. So working out how much it’ll cost you is nice and easy. Take the monthly cost, times it by the number of monthly payments you have to pay, add the initial payment (and any processing fees), and voila, your total figure.
Compare this figure using a variety of different leasing providers to get the best price. Remember to keep the variables (contract length, mileage, initial payment) the same. Take note of any additional costs too – like excess mileage and damage charges. And while you’re there, research what the leasing company’s wear and tear policy is.
4. Arrange delivery
Unlike with car manufacturers, leasing companies don’t get you to come into a showroom. The final stages of signing the leasing contract are usually done over email. Word of warning to millennials – they usually do require at least one phone call.
Once all of the logistics are done, it’s just a case of picking a home delivery date.
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