10 Common Van Leasing Problems - And Solutions To Avoid Them

If you’re leasing a van for the first time, knowing what stumbling blocks to anticipate can put you on much surer footing. There’s a lot of paperwork, fine print, and jargon to work your way through - and not being aware of the practicalities of leasing a van in advance can lead to trouble down the line. 

So, being prepared will only work in your favour. As you might imagine, there are a whole host of issues that can go sideways when leasing a van. This is also one of the reasons why DriveSimple’s van subscription service makes for such a great alternative - but we’ll get into this later in the article.

Now, we’ll go through common van leasing problems you might encounter and their solutions. If you have a query that you can’t see here or on our FAQ page, please feel free to reach out to our friendly team, who are more than happy to help. Let’s get to it.

1. Are there strict credit checks for leasing a van?

A common problem people face when leasing a van is the strict credit checks they must undergo. This can be particularly difficult for new businesses that want to get off the ground, as they lack sufficient credit history to pass these checks, even though the rest of their finances are all in order. Many van leasing companies require businesses to have traded for a minimum of 24 months and to have accounts filed with Companies House.

Solution:

Our service is built with new businesses in mind. So, while we do undertake credit checks for our customers, we don’t completely write off anyone who is interested in our van subscription service. Our ethos is that if we can offer you a van, we will.

2. Do credit checks affect what type of van lease contract you can get?

Yes, for many van leasing companies, less-than-perfect credit - which, as we’ve mentioned earlier, is not necessarily a result of financial mismanagement - can result in customers being offered less-than-ideal leasing contracts. 

Think contracts that start at 24-months and require customers to be tied-in for the whole duration - no flexibility at all and a high upfront cost. With growing demand for short-term van leases, this setup suits fewer and fewer people.

There’s also an increased chance that customers won't get the advertised lease rate or finance APR. This means that, no matter what happens with the economy or with someone’s business, they’re tied to an expensive, long-term lease. 

Solution:

Our flexible van subscription service is pretty much the opposite of this. Once reasonable checks are complete, you can build a subscription package that is right for you.

3. Do leased vans require higher maintenance responsibilities?

There are often stricter maintenance requirements when leasing a van than when compared to owning a van outright. These will all be outlined in your lease contract and monitored closely. 

These go beyond fair wear and tear - think minor scuffs versus deep scratches in paintwork. Many leasing companies use the BVLRA’s Fair Wear and Tear standards, so we recommend becoming familiar with them before signing on the dotted line.

So, as you’d imagine, you’ll have to pay for any routine maintenance on a leased van unless you opt into any maintenance packages. This includes replacing tyres when needed, refilling wiper fluid, and so on. 

Basically, all the things you’d need to if you owned a van, but you absolutely cannot put off. If you don’t do these, you may be charged when returning the van at the end of your lease.

Solution:

Budgeting for routine maintenance is the best way to prepare for the maintenance responsibilities that come with leasing a van. 

However, with DriveSimple, your monthly subscription payment covers routine servicing, maintenance, and tyre wear beyond typical wear and tear. This means no surprise routine maintenance costs that you’ll have to pay for out of pocket.

4. Are you able to customise or modify your leased van?

Whether you can customise or modify your leased van depends on the limits set by the leasing company. Being able to brand your van is a fantastic way to advertise your business, but some leasing companies have strict rules on what you can and can’t do. Some even flat out refuse to let you add any branding at all.

Solution:

If you want to advertise your business on your vehicle, research whether a leasing company allows for branding on their vehicles before entering into a contract.

We welcome our customers to sign-write, brand or wrap their vans. We only ask that you get this removed professionally at the end of your subscription.

5. Can you always get the model you want for a leased van?

Getting the right vehicle for the job you have is key. However, not all van leasing companies offer a wide variety of vans, and the particular van you need may not be available. 

In addition to this, most van leasing companies do not own their vans. They effectively act as a middleman, or broker. So,they might advertise a van, which it then turns out they can’t deliver. At that point, they will usually offer an alternative. However, if you’re not careful, you can end up committed to a vehicle that might not be right for you, for a long lease period.

Solution:

Spend time researching the best type of van for your business, and don’t feel pressured into locking into a long-term leasing agreement if it doesn’t tick all your checkboxes.

At DriveSimple, you can choose how long your vehicle subscription is, meaning you are not locked into a long agreement with a van that doesn’t quite meet your needs. Importantly, we also own all of our vans. So, if you see a van on our website, that means we can definitely deliver that exact model - and usually much faster than other leasing companies. 

6. Do leased vans have tighter mileage restrictions?

The mileage restrictions of leased vans vary from provider to provider, some being tighter than others, but you usually agree to an annual mileage allowance in the lease contract. If you anticipate that you’ll be driving long distances and need a higher mileage allowance, this can mean that your lease payments will go up significantly. If you go over this limit, you’ll be charged penalties.

Solution:

Our flexible offering lets you set your monthly mileage allowance for the length of your subscription. Any unused miles from that month roll over to the next, creating a buffer if needed. 

7. Are there early-termination penalties for leased vans?

For most van leasing companies, there are early-termination penalties for leased vans. There are multiple reasons you might want to return a van early, such as another more suitable model becoming available, your business needs changing, and so on. The problem with these penalties is that they often come with a long lease contract, leaving you stuck with a leased van you don’t want or need.

Solution:

Our subscription model offers a high level of flexibility - you choose how long you have your van for. We also offer flexible cancellation for your monthly plan, allowing you to return it with 3 months' notice.

8. Can there be surprise running costs with leased vans?

As we’ve mentioned in this article, there can be all sorts of unexpected running costs when leasing a van. From early termination fees, repair costs, and damage charges, to all the day-to-day running costs that keep a leased van on the road. It can all add up.

Solution:

Costing out and budgeting are the best ways to prepare for leasing a van. Doing some calculations on what you can afford and researching everything you need to pay for will put you in the best position. 

We keep costs as transparent and straightforward as possible at DriveSimple, so nothing surprises you during your subscription. 

9. What problems can happen at the end of a van lease?

There can be a couple of problems that crop up when a van lease comes to an end. For instance, many leasing companies require their customers to either return the van at the end of the lease or renew it on more expensive terms. 

This means that people may have to return a vehicle that is a necessary part of their business, which could affect day-to-day operations whilst they arrange a replacement vehicle. Or existing customers are being charged over the odds for a van lease, without any additional perks to explain the price increase.

Solution:

With DriveSimple, you can keep your van subscription rolling over at your original rate. Enjoy flexibility without the cost going through the roof.

10. Do van leasing companies charge an admin fee?

This is an important question, as you might not expect an admin fee to be added once you’ve completed your other calculations. Unfortunately, the answer is often (though not always) ‘yes’. Many companies will charge an admin fee for executing the leasing plan you’ve selected.

Solution:

DriveSimple never charges an admin fee. All the work our friendly team does to deliver your chosen subscription is included in the price you see on our website.

Takeaways 

We’ve covered a fair amount in this article. To recap, we’ve put together a table that breaks down the most common van leasing problems and their solutions.

Feel like a van subscription is the solution you’ve been looking for? Check out our available vans and start to building your flexible plan today.