When Is The Best Time Of Year To Lease A Car In The UK? 

Leasing a vehicle offers all-year-round benefits and is always an appealing option compared to purchasing a vehicle, but there are seasonal factors which make some periods of the year a good time to lease a vehicle, and where you might get a better deal than at other times of year. Like any market sector, vehicle leasing prices are driven by sales and availability, and while the trends that leasing companies follow are often predictable, there can also be reactive situations which are a little harder to foresee.

Why is timing a lease deal important?

Timing a lease deal right is important because you can benefit from a more attractive price and some generous discounts, or a lease agreement may be more flexible and accommodating for you in terms of contract length. Stock availability can also vary at different times of year, which has an influence on price. It is also possible that lease cost is not the most important factor and you simply want to secure a lease at a time when you are most likely to get the vehicle model that you want.  

The best periods to lease a vehicle

• Release date – Brand new models offer the very latest technology in terms of range, performance, safety and infotainment, so leasing a vehicle on release date is attractive for that simple reason. But also, many manufacturers offer promotional deals and discounts on release date, meaning you could potentially benefit from a lower monthly payment. It is also true that a vehicle’s residual value is at its highest on release date, i.e. it has suffered no depreciation at this point, and are therefore more likely to be offered a lower monthly lease payment at this time.

• New registrations – There are two periods in every year when new registrations are released in the UK, March and September. Manufacturers often match new releases to these periods, but even if you are looking at existing models, there are attractive deals to be had because car leasing companies are looking to maximise sales. At the same time, older registrations may also become cheaper because the newer registrations are replacing them. If that doesn’t bother you, bag yourself a great value car leasing deal!

• End of year sales – In December, many businesses are looking to hit annual targets and clear out inventory ready for the new year, so this is a good time to bag a bargain. The run-up to Christmas is when the vehicle market typically slows down, as people halt their spending ready for the festive season. However, the vehicle market still wants your money, in fact more than ever, and therefore you might be able to find a more accommodating lease deal in the months before Christmas.

• July to October – This is the time of year when the current model year tends to wind down, and so lots of people are looking to clear out stock ready for brand new models. Again, this could be a time to strike a more attractive deal.

Tips for finding the best lease deal

• Watch the news – Sometimes a current news event may influence stock availability or prices, such as the global computer chip shortage of 2021, and the COVID pandemic of around the same time.

• Flexibility – Be flexible to accept a different model or age of vehicle and you might find a better leasing deal. If you are stuck on one specific model you have less room for manoeuvre and may have to accept whatever you are offered.

• Contract – Make sure you fully understand the lease contract and the terms included in it. 

Contact Pink Car Leasing for the best value car leasing deals

At Pink Car Leasing we can offer the best value car leasing deals around due to our unique relationships with all the major motoring brands, but it is also true that the seasonal factors listed above can have an influence too. Nevertheless, it is always worth checking out our leasing deal special offers, to see what bargains can be secured.