How to choose the best car lease in 6 simple steps

The six simple steps that’ll help you pick out the car lease of your dreams

Choosing a new car can be stressful – it's likely the second biggest purchase you'll ever make, and the stakes feel high.

Will your chosen car suit your lifestyle? Will the kids like it? How quickly will it look dirty on the drive? All valid questions when it’s time to pick your next set of wheels.

But here's the biggest advantage of car leasing with a company like Carparison: the sheer amount of choice on offer. Unlike a traditional dealership, you're not limited to one or two brands.

You can lease almost any new car you desire.

The challenge? With all this choice comes the need to make a decision. Which car is right for you?

No need to worry. 

Our experts have been doing this for years, so they're well equipped to help you get the car that suits your budget, your lifestyle – and your dreams.

Choose a flexible budget

Having a flexible budget range, if you’re not totally set on the style of car you want, can be a good way to start narrowing your choice down.

You can search by budget on the Carparison website, which will automatically rule out a whole number of cars, and only show you the ones that are suitable for you.

Remember that as well as your initial deposit, the ongoing monthly payments, and maybe an optional maintenance package, you’ll need to factor in insurance – so be sure to work this extra expense into your budget so you aren’t disappointed at the last hurdle.

But we have a whole range of cars at a whole range of prices, from £150-£250 right up to over £550.

Choose your lease terms

The terms of your lease will have a big impact on your budget, because they directly affect how much the car will ultimately cost you. 

These are the factors that will impact the cost:

• Initial payment
• Mileage
• Term

First up, the initial payment. The more you can pay initially, the less you’ll pay monthly.

With mileage, you want to be fairly accurate.

Picking a larger annual mileage limit will increase the cost, but if you underestimate how much you drive year to year, you could end up paying out even more on excess mileage charges.

Then the lease term will also affect the cost.

A longer lease term might be less month to month, but because the value of the car will depreciate further, it could end up costing you more overall. There’s also more chance that the car will have excess damage from extended use.

However, a three-year lease is just about perfect: it’s unlikely you’ll need to MOT the car (though you’ll need to check the specific terms if your car is pre-reg and not a factory order), and it’s just enough time to enjoy the car before you move on to the next.

After all, the beauty of leasing is that you’re not responsible for the car when your agreement is over.

You simply hand it back to your funder, and you’re free to take out a new agreement on a brand-new car once again

Your wants and needs

When you’ve picked your budget, the next thing you’ll want to do is narrow down the things you want, versus the things you need.

Every manufacturer approaches their specifications differently.

Some include driver aids like blind spot monitoring, and creature comforts like heated seats as standard, while others have them as optional extras that you can pay for.

If heated seats are a must-have to make chilly winter commutes more bearable at 7am, you'll need to factor in the additional cost if your desired car doesn't come with them as standard – or look for another make or model that does.

But if you can do without the little extras, you can often save a lot of cash by opting for entry-level trims, which tend to be more affordable, but have less of the ‘fun’ kit.

Consider the cars you’ve driven before

Chances are, if you’re not a new driver you’ve been behind the wheels of several different makes and models, and have an idea of how different cars drive.

You might have a preferred brand, or simply know you get on really well with French cars over German ones. Either way, it makes life a little easier when picking out your next car.

Driving is subjective, and it’s not always about the looks.

If you’re more comfortable driving a brand you’ve always driven, then there’s no need to look elsewhere.

But if you’re wanting to try something a little different, or you’re looking for a car that’s a little more luxe than something you could afford to buy outright, then leasing is exactly what you need.

A two-year lease can seem like a big commitment, but the time will pass by pretty quickly – and ultimately, it’ll allow you to drive a brand-new car for a fraction of the RRP cost. 

And you don’t have the hassle of selling it at the end.

What style of car will suit your lifestyle

Your lifestyle and your family set-up are going to be one of the biggest factors when it comes to picking out your car.

If you’ve got a family of five and you need a big old wagon to cart them around, then a Fiat 500 isn’t going to be any good for you.

You’ll want to look more at the SUV or estate world – something like a Volvo XC40 or Nissan Juke wouldn’t go amiss.

But if you’re just looking for a daily runaround for yourself, you don’t want to be rattling around in a car that’s too big.

Something light and sporty will suit you, like a Ford Puma or Tesla Model 3.

Look at what’s in stock

If you're not fussy about the car itself, but need delivery as quickly as possible, check out our in-stock lease deals.

Our relationships with funders means that we can get some of the best cars out there at a favourable price, and delivered to your door within four weeks.

Sometimes within two weeks, depending on the car and the offer.

These cars will be specific models and trims, so aren't so suitable if there are particular bits you need that aren't included in the stock models.

But if you can be flexible, you could save yourself some cash and be behind the wheel faster than you can say 'Carparison Leasing'.

Ready to find your perfect car lease?

Choosing the right car lease doesn't have to be overwhelming. All you have to do is follow these six simple steps:

• Set a flexible budget
• Understand your lease terms
• Identify your must-haves versus nice-to-haves
• Consider your past driving experiences
• Match the car to your lifestyle
• Check what's available in stock

Follow these, and you'll be well on your way to finding a car that ticks all your boxes.