Lease or buy a car? A question that is now also increasingly being asked by private individuals. For a long time, car leasing was considered profitable only for professionals, but now there are many leasing offers aimed specifically at private individuals. We show you whether leasing is worthwhile for private individuals, what to look out for and how private leasing works.
First of all we have collected our top leasing deals for you:
| model | offers from | |
| hyundai i10 | 69 € | compare offers |
| hyundai kona electric | 135 € | compare offers |
| SEAT arona | 148 € | compare offers |
| BMW i3 | 199 € | compare offers |
| VW ID.4 | 215 € | compare offers |
A vehicle is sold via a specific term away with a lessor "leased". This requires a down payment as well as monthly leasing fees. At the end of the contract period there is the possibility of purchase or the car is returned to the lessor.
Until a few years ago, it was widely believed that car leasing was only worthwhile for companies and the self-employed, but not for private individuals. The reason: tradesmen can claim the monthly leasing installments as business expenses and deduct them from their taxes.
In addition, they often benefit from special conditions on the part of the lessor. This has changed over time. Even if private persons can not make tax savings, there are other various advantages.
Is leasing worthwhile for private individuals?
To what extent private leasing is worthwhile for you depends on different factors depending. First of all, the personal requirements play an important role: you want to flexible be and not be tied to a car for a long time? You would like to vehicle use, not but own? you like to drive a new car, but the savings are not enough to buy it? Then the private leasing is a real alternative.
Nevertheless, you should be aware of the fact that you will have to pay the monthly leasing rates over the entire term of the lease. One early termination of the leasing contract is hardly possible. Which advantages and disadvantages outweigh the disadvantages must be weighed up individually.
Advantages and disadvantages of private leasing
With private leasing you profit from various advantages, starting with the purchase of the vehicle. Instead of the purchase price, only the vehicle use in the form of monthly leasing installments paid. This preserves your liquidity.
Dealers often offer full-service leasing including maintenance, insurance and car tax on. These costs are covered by the leasing rate, which results in a high planning security is guaranteed.
The terms are usually between two and four years. Afterwards you can return the car and choose a new model. sometimes it is also possible to take over a leasing contract from another person. In this way, you can drive new cars with the latest technology without any risk.
Furthermore, the sales effort saved. If it is a mileage lease, the lessor bears the loss in value of the car.
Advantages at a glance:
- Spending can be planned
- Low equity investment
- New cars with the latest technology
- No sales effort
- Loss of value borne by lessor (for mileage leasing)
With car leasing, the lessor owner of the vehicle. This means that if you opt for a private lease, you pay monthly lease installments without having any claim to the vehicle at the end of the lease term. On the one hand, this offers flexibility, but on the other, it leaves you empty-handed.
In addition to monthly leasing installments, the start of the contract is accompanied by a high down payment to be calculated. Therefore, sufficient liquidity should be available, because a leasing contract is difficult to terminate prematurely. With residual value leasing, the lessee bears the risk of an additional payment if the residual value is not reached.
Disadvantages at a glance:
- Lessor remains the vehicle owner
- High down payment, monthly financial burden
- Leasing contract difficult to terminate early
- Possible additional payment upon return (in the case of residual value leasing)
How private leasing works?
private leasing is subject to the same principles as commercial leasing. the first step is to find the right leasing offer. This is possible at numerous car dealerships and providers on the Internet. In the course of the offer preparation you should choose a leasing type decide. A distinction is made between mileage leasing, residual value leasing and zero leasing.
The former is the most common leasing model and includes a contractually fixed number of annual kilometers. If more kilometers are driven per year than agreed, additional costs will be incurred.
With residual value leasing, the lessor determines the residual value of the vehicle at the end of the term. If the down payment falls short of this, the lessee must make up the difference.
Zero leasing is a leasing contract with no down payment. the list price is used to calculate the monthly rate. Often this is higher than the price of the new car, so that the actual savings effect is lost.
Once you have decided on a type of leasing, the lessor will check your credit rating. If this is positive, there is nothing to prevent the contract from being signed. After making a down payment, you can collect the vehicle and use it for the contractually agreed term.
What to consider when private leasing?
As with financing, you must have a good credit rating for private leasing positive credit rating show. If you do not have a regular income, you can use the possibility, a guarantee to be included in the contract.
The amount of the monthly leasing rate consists of different components together: model, optional equipment, down payment, depreciation, interest, maintenance and inspections. With a full-service lease, the costs are already included in the monthly rate. Otherwise, you should factor in the additional costs for insurance, maintenance and inspection. Finally, you are contractually obliged to have regular inspections carried out at a brand workshop.
Basically it is recommended, a leasing contract between two and four years to conclude. A too long or even too low term is reflected in an increased leasing rate. Upon return, a surveyor will inspect the vehicle and record any defects and damage in a protocol. In case of doubt, it is worthwhile to call in an independent third party to reassess the vehicle.
Private leasing without down payment?
In general private leasing includes down payment to pay. For many, an enormous amount of money that affects liquidity. In order to make car leasing attractive for private individuals, some leasing companies offer special deals with no down payment. At first glance a cost-effective alternative.
To note: the no down payment is often increased monthly leasing rate compensated. Others, however, calculate with excessive final sums at the return of the vehicle. For this reason, the offers should be checked in detail and compared with each other in advance.
Does private leasing make sense?
The advantages of private leasing are obvious. Nevertheless, the disadvantages are also to be considered. In what way a private leasing makes sense decides the personal situation.
If you always want to keep an eye on costs, drive new cars regularly and avoid any sales effort, you are well advised with a private lease. If you are unsure whether you can pay the down payment and the monthly lease installments, private leasing is not necessarily the right choice.