For many drivers, the best time to lease a car is following the release of a new model. At this point, the residual value (how much it’s expected to be worth at the end of an agreement) is at its highest, so there isn’t as much depreciation to account for in your monthly payments.
Thanks to the ever-present benefits of car leasing, however, such as fixed monthly payments and the option of driving a brand-new car every few years, there’s never a bad time to consider a car lease. Depending on what you’re looking for, there may also be extra incentives at certain points – for example, when a sought-after car becomes available at short notice.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the key considerations and provide tips on how to get the best offer on your new lease vehicle.
When To Lease A New Car?
This really comes down to each customer and what you want from a car lease. If you’re interested in the very latest models, for example, you’ll want to keep an eye on manufacturer releases – you can get in touch with our team if there’s a particular make or model that you’re after.
March and September are also key dates in the UK when the new registration plates are released. If you take out a lease around these months, you could be one of the first on the road to have the new reg plates.
If you aren’t necessarily after the most recent models, you may find cheap car lease deals on current vehicles in the run-up to an updated version being released. These lease deals still offer brand-new cars and all the usual benefits of leasing with Vanarama, though, so whatever your preference you’ll find a great deal with us.
Which Is The Best Month To Lease A Car?
At Vanarama, we offer the most competitive car lease deals all year round, including special offers that only run for a limited time. But for some drivers, it might be worth timing your lease around particular dates.
If it’s a recently released model you fancy, new models can be released at any time of year. In addition to all-new models, manufacturers also release facelifted versions of current models, which typically add subtle styling tweaks and updated tech to already popular designs.
For the latest reg plates, however, March and September are key dates. Taking out a car lease around these months could mean you’re among the first drivers to get the new plate formats – such as the 23 plates in March 2023 and the 73 plates in September 2023.
Some manufacturers may also schedule new model releases around those months, so you may get the benefit of both if driving the very latest vehicles is your preference.
On the reverse, in the months running up to March and September each year, you may find special offers on cars that are due to be succeeded with an updated model. These lease deals still offer all of the main leasing benefits, but with the added bonus of paying a reduced rate on your monthly instalments.
When’s The Best Time Of The Month To Lease A Car?
Our car lease deals are competitive throughout the year. While special offers run continuously, certain models may only become available occasionally – so it’s best to keep an eye on our deals if you have something specific in mind.
More sought-after cars with longer lead times, such as the performance-spec Volkswagen Golf R, may unexpectedly become available at short notice – for example, if a customer has ordered the model and then switched to another Vanarama lease before it was delivered. In this case, you’d be able to capitalise on a high-end motor that’s come into stock unexpectedly.
Car Types Like Convertibles And 4x4s Are Best Suited To Specific Seasons
Cost isn’t the only consideration to make when picking the right time to take out a car lease deal. You should also consider the type of car you’re looking for. For example, if you’re interested in a convertible like the Jaguar F-TYPE, it’s worth looking at available offers in spring or even winter – so you can take full advantage of the UK summer when the good weather rolls around.
Likewise, it could be worth looking at an SUV or off-roader, like a BMW X5 lease, ahead of the winter. This way, you’ll be well prepared with capable features like all-wheel drive and weather-specific driving modes making the UK winter much more navigable.
Check When The Sales Are
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are common sale days for all products including car leases. See which sale could offer you the biggest discounts around the time you’re looking for your new car, or speak to our advisors to see what promotions are currently running.
When’s The Worst Time To Lease A Car?
Our competitive rates run throughout the year, so there’s never a bad time to consider a Vanarama car lease deal. As mentioned above, there may be specific times of year to consider particular deals – such as leasing a convertible ahead of the summer or an SUV ahead of the winter – but this is based purely on preference and the type of car you’re looking for.
As with other leasing companies and also dealerships selling cars on finance, there may naturally be an increase in interest and orders ahead of the new registration plates (March and September each year), but this is only a consideration if you’re after the very latest reg plates.
That said, regardless of when you take out a lease with us, you’ll always be driving a recent vehicle. That’s because all of our cars are brand new. And when you come to the end of your agreement after 2-5 years, you’ll have the option of upgrading to another brand-new vehicle.
How To Get The Best Lease Deal
There are a few other tips you can follow to guarantee the most affordable leasing deal:
● Check your credit score – the better your credit score, the more likely you are to get an affordable car lease.
● Consider alternatives – car manufacturers typically make similar cars, so have a look at different manufacturers to see what they offer and compare pricing. Search by car type to browse the options, or speak to our team who can help with picking out similar models.
● Change your contract particulars – look at increasing the length of your leasing contract or paying a larger initial payment to lower your monthly fee.
● Check out special offer lease deals – to get behind the wheel of a new vehicle quickly for the lowest price, check out our cheap car leasing special offers.
Incredible Lease Deals All Year Round
Vanarama offers competitive lease deals all year round to help you find your perfect car, so you can get behind the wheel of a brand-new vehicle for the lowest price guaranteed. Browse our latest car lease deals online today.
