Maintenance Decisions

Posted on by HV Motor Finance

Car Maintenance

When leasing a vehicle there are basically two choices for maintaining your new vehicle.

Driver Maintained – here the responsibility lies solely with the driver of the vehicle to ensure that the vehicle is serviced at the correct intervals and the general upkeep of the vehicle is maintained (includes mechanical and electrical repairs, MOT tests and tyres) to an expected standard.

Funder Maintained – A maintenance package is an optional extra, bolted on to your vehicle finance contract (available on most of our finance agreements).  A maintenance package covers anything which needs repairs or replacement during the course of your lease, due to normal use.  This usually includes:

  • All scheduled servicing and maintenance routines
  • All mechanical and electrical repairs or replacements
  • Replacement of items failing due to wear and tear, such as:
    • Batteries
    • Exhausts
    • Cam Belts
    • Wiper Blades
    • Alternators
    • Starter Motors
    • MOT Tests (from 3 years)
    • Tyre Replacement

Should I take Maintenance?

When it comes to any financial decision our advice is always to let us look at your at your individual circumstances.  A maintenance contract isn’t right for everyone, and just like all the advice we give we will always highlight the advantages as well as the disadvantages of selecting  any scheme.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF A FUNDER MAINTAINED CONTRACT
  • Regular maintenance can significantly reduce any end of contract wear and tear costs
  • If your annual mileage is low a maintenance contract may not be right for you
  • Fixed costs for the duration of the contract
  • If you early terminate your agreement you may not see the benefit of making the extra maintenance payments
  • VAT 100% recoverable on maintenance element of your monthly payment
  • If your mileage decreases during the term you may lose out
  • You can nominate the dealership that you want to service your vehicle and arrange maintenance at a time and place to suit you
  • The monthly maintenance payment may exceed the total maintenance spend for the contract period

 

For every vehicle quote we always provide a cost with and without a maintenance contract where available and based on the information you provide we will always provide unbiased advice, helping you to make the most informed decision about the contract you take out.