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What is a maintenance agreement?
A vehicle maintenance agreement, or maintenance package, is an optional service which covers a variety of costs involved with keeping a leased vehicle in roadworthy condition. Every provider offers slightly different agreement options, but typically, it includes servicing, maintenance, MOTs and replacement tyres bundled up into a handy package in exchange for a fixed monthly cost, which is combined with your vehicle rental agreement.
What do vehicle maintenance packages cover?
The specifics of what’s included in lease car maintenance packages varies between providers, but they typically cover:
- Routine servicing
- Maintenance not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty (subject to fair wear and tear)
- MOTs (if applicable, usually after a vehicle is 3 years or older)
- Replacement tyres (subject to fair wear and tear)
- Electrical faults
- Bulbs, exhaust and cambelts
- Windscreen wipers
- Breakdown assistance
It’s worth noting there will be exclusions to consider. For example, it’s unlikely that your maintenance package will cover things like misfueling, repairs due to driver error, and damage beyond fair wear and tear. Make sure you check what is not covered by your agreement so you can prepare to pay extra for anything outside of the exclusions.
Why should I choose a maintenance agreement?
When leasing a car, there are several benefits of car maintenance packages that make it well worth adding to your contract.
Keeping leased vehicles safe to drive
First and foremost, your new lease vehicle must be regularly serviced and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. This is a requirement under the terms and conditions of your finance agreement to ensure that the vehicle remains reliable and roadworthy, which is important for the safety of you, your passengers, other road users, and pedestrians.
Lower maintenance costs
We all know how expensive maintaining a vehicle can be. Budgeting for the cost of repairs and replacement parts, as well as for unexpected expenses like punctures, can be a guessing game – it’s impossible to predict what might happen. But with a maintenance package, budgeting is contained within easy-to-manage fixed payments. So when a vehicle inevitably needs new tyres due to wear and tear or a pesky pothole, the driver can arrange an appointment to get the replacements fitted to the vehicle. The full cost will be covered by the maintenance package provider thanks to the monthly payments.
It often works out less expensive than arranging this yourself, as the finance companies have enormous buying power and negotiate strong discounts on parts and labour, which they pass on to you.
Time-saving and convenient
Trying to find a trustworthy garage that can fit you in for a service or MOT can be tricky and time-consuming to arrange. With many maintenance packages, there’s the added convenience of having access to a dedicated booking team that will make all of the arrangements for your service and repair using a national network of approved garages offering the highest standards.
Benefits of maintenance for fleet vehicles
Maintenance packages are especially valuable for businesses with a fleet of lease vehicles to look after. Keeping up with repairs, servicing and MOTs for multiple cars and vans can be challenging to manage - especially if you have employees traveling all over the country.
Fleet maintenance agreements can help manage the upkeep of company vehicles to a high standard, allowing you to spend more time on your business and less time on admin.
Download Upkeep for business brochure
Should I get maintenance with a car lease?
You’re not obligated to take out a maintenance agreement with your funder, but if you don’t, then you’ll likely need to adhere to a ‘customer maintained agreement’ instead.
As part of a customer-maintained agreement, you agree to manage your own maintenance costs of your leased vehicle. You’ll need to ensure that any service or maintenance is carried out in a timely manner by an approved dealership using genuine parts. However, if you fail to service and maintain the vehicle in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations, you’ll be breaching the terms of your finance agreement and will be responsible for additional charges by the funder.
With this in mind, adding a maintenance package to your contract helps you keep on top of vehicle upkeep - and can even protect you from an unexpected hefty bill.
Explore vehicle lease deals with maintenance
When you lease a vehicle with Jurni, our lenders can provide you with a maintenance package to help you keep your vehicle in the best condition possible throughout your contract. Speak to one of our advisors to add a maintenance agreement to your lease.
Businesses can take control of vehicle maintenance for their whole fleet in one hassle-free package as part of our Upkeep service. All services can be accessed easily via one phone number (03330 918 561) or online booking to streamline your admin process. So don't take risks with drivers or your business. Take control of your fleet today with Jurni.
Explore car lease deals with maintenance through one of our lenders, or discover Upkeep for business fleet maintenance.
Car leasing with maintenance FAQs
What is considered ‘fair wear and tear’?
Your funder should clearly state what they interpret to be fair wear and tear, and this is likely to reference the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association's Fair Wear and Tear Guidelines. It generally covers natural deterioration from normal use, and excludes damage from negligence, impact, and improper use.
When a personal or business car is returned at the end of a lease contract, the funder will check the car’s condition. They certainly don’t expect it to be like new when they get it back, as the vehicle will have been driven for several years, but if the condition is considered to be beyond natural deterioration, you could end up with a surprise bill.
A maintenance package can actually help you keep on top of minor repairs and keep the car running at its best, so you’re less likely to have to fork out for excessive wear damages.
How much does a maintenance package cost?
The monthly cost for maintenance agreements will differ depending on the type of vehicle and contracted mileage.
Vehicle type is something your funder will consider due to the costs of parts and servicing expected for a specific model, with cars from some manufacturers being more affordable to maintain than others.
How much mileage you expect to drive will also be taken into account, since the more miles a vehicle does in a year, the more maintenance and repairs it’s likely to need.
What if I exceed my contract mileage?
If you exceed your contracted mileage, the funder may:
- Continue to provide the service and charge you for the excess mileage as determined in your contract agreement, or,
- Decide not to continue to provide the service, which will result in you paying for any subsequent servicing and repairs.
If your mileage requirements change, it may be possible to adjust your contract to accommodate. If your provider allows this, you’ll need to make the request as soon as possible and agree to any changes before the end of the contract to cover additional miles.
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