Buying guide: company car (leasing), everything you need to know

When we think about buying a car, there are several options available to us. We can consider buying a new car or a used one. In the first case, there is a long list of new cars to choose from, but if you want to choose a used car, you will also have a good number of cars to choose from. You may think that most used cars come from private owners who have decided to sell their car, and that it is important to know well how they have treated it.

But there are other sources that supply the stock of used cars, and we have at our disposal company fleet cars, rental car agency vehicles and those that come from leasing, among others. Each of these types of car has characteristics that we need to take into account, and we are going to focus on those that come from leasing companies, so that you know what to consider if you opt for one of them.

Cars that come from a leasing company have been rented to a single user, unlike those used by traditional car rental agencies. Leasing consists of a long-term rental to a single user. This user can enjoy the use of the car for usually between two and five years, paying a fixed fee to the leasing company.

This means that the owner only has to pay out of pocket for fuel, tolls if they use them, and fines if there are any, because these are things that depend on daily driving. For its part, the leasing company takes care of the cost of the car, insurance, maintenance and breakdowns caused by use and not attributable to the car itself (the insurance is usually fully comprehensive, so most things are covered). In addition, the number of kilometres driven each year may be limited, with a penalty payment if this is exceeded.

This means that a car coming from leasing is usually well looked after, with a very complete active maintenance history and usually few mechanical problems. Leasing cars can become an interesting option for buying a used car in good condition. The seller is also obliged to inform about the condition of the vehicle, and it must have a market price appropriate to its condition and origin.

Buying a leasing car is a good idea, with cars that are generally better cared for and more complete than rental cars, which often have several drivers and other problems that do not appear in leasing cars. Among used cars, leasing cars can be much more interesting and a better purchase than those coming from the private market or from rental cars.