Knowledge Bank

FAQ

Q. What is Business Contract Hire?

A. Business Contract Hire is simply a method of long term rental, with a mileage allowance, providing you a fixed monthly rental for the car that you want. Available to sole-traders, partnerships and limited companies.

Q. What is Personal Contract Hire?

A. Personal Contract Hire is essentially the same as Business Contract Hire but available to private individuals - tell us how long you want to keep the vehicle for and how many miles you are likely to travel and we’ll let you know the price. For peace of mind, we also offer Maintenance Cover which will pay for all scheduled maintenance and roadside assistance. At the end of the contract you simply hand the car back.

Q. Is Value Added Tax payable?

A. All Business Contract Hire quotes advertised on our website are exclusive of VAT. This will be charged on your monthly rentals at the current rate of VAT set by the government. If you are a VAT registered company it may be possible to claim some or all of the VAT back on your rentals – dependent on the vehicle and contract taken. Please speak to one of our friendly team for more information.

Q. Is the Road Fund License (Road Tax) included?

A. Road Fund License is included in all our Contract Hire agreements for the full term of your contract with us. For PCP and our other products, Road Fund Licence is included for the first twelve months.

Q. I’m not buying the vehicle outright, will I still be credit checked?

A. Yes. As you will need to make regular monthly rentals, the finance company will need to check that you are who you say you are and that you can afford the monthly amount. This is done using guidelines of affordability & responsible lending provided by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Q. I have a poor credit history. Would leasing be a possibility for me?

A. We have access to a variety of finance companies with varying underwriting criteria and will always endeavour to help source a vehicle. Additional information may be required to support your application – eg payslips, bank statements, proof of ID etc.

Q. Do I have to pay a delivery charge?

A. No. If the vehicle is to be delivered on the UK Mainland, there is no delivery charge. For deliveries to islands away from the mainland there may be an additional delivery charge. This charge varies depending on the distance and costs incurred. The destination however, must be within the British Isles.

Most of our vehicles are driven delivered direct from the supplying dealership. If you would like your vehicle to be transported using a trailer then please let us know. Some supplying dealers may charge for this service.

Q. Are there any fees?

A. A Broker fee will be charged at point of ordering the vehicle. The Broker fee can vary depending upon the finance company used. Any fees charged will be indicated on your written quotes.

Q. Can you explain 6+23 or 6+35 on a leasing agreement?

A. We sure can. Leasing deals are usually calculated over a 2, 3 or 4 year term. The first figure is the number of rentals you have to pay in advance. The second figure is the number of monthly rental payments you would make.

Let’s say you choose a car where the monthly amount is £100. If you chose a “6+23” deal we would take an initial rental of £600 within 14 days of delivery, followed by 23 monthly rentals after the vehicle has been delivered.

Paying a higher initial rental payment could reduce your regular monthly rentals, talk to one of our team for more details.

Q. Can I amend my contract mileage?

A. In some cases we can make amendments part way through the contract. Please contact us if you're considering doing this.

Q. How do I order a vehicle?

A. The process couldn’t be more straightforward.

We apply for credit with our finance house - upon receipt of a completed application form.
Once approved we will then take a signed order form and a card payment for your broker fee to secure the vehicle and raise the finance documents.

When we receive clearance on signed finance documents (and any cooling off period elapses) and confirmation that the car is in stock we will arrange delivery for the earliest and most convenient date.
Please be aware, some funders do require sight of a copy of a motor insurance certificate, prior to delivery.

Q. What is the shortest or longest period that I can lease a vehicle through you?

A. At present the shortest time that a lease can be undertaken is 2 years (24 months) and the longest is 5 years (60 months)

Q. Is there anything to pay at the end of the contract?

A. No, unless you exceed the contract mileage or return the vehicle damaged – please see below:

Q. What happens if I exceed the annual mileage on the lease contract?

A. If the mileage on a contract is exceeded there will be an “excess mileage charge” applied. This is charged per mile and is detailed on your finance documentation. This information can be requested as early as quotation stage.

Q. What would be classed as “fair wear and tear” at the end of a contract?

A. We don’t expect a car to be in showroom condition but we do ask that you look after your vehicle. Vehicles should be returned in accordance with BVRLA Fair Wear and Tear guidelines. A copy of the latest booklet is emailed to you 6 months prior to the end of the contract however they can be sent out on request. The BVRLA is an independent body - see more details about the BVRLA here.

Q. What if I need to end the contract early?

A. If you need to end the contract early, please contact Tilsun Leasing and we will contact the finance company on your behalf. As with a mobile phone contract, there may be a penalty if you return your vehicle before the end of the contract.

Q. What are my options at the end of the contract?

A. At the end of your leasing contract there are usually 3 options:

  • Replace the vehicle with a new contract.
  • In most cases we could extend the contract for a 6 or 12 month period at a fixed rental.
  • Simply return the vehicle to the finance company.
Q. Where are your vehicles sourced from?

A. Most of our vehicles are sourced through the main dealer network of the the relevant manufacturer.

Q. Are all lease cars brand new with no previous owners?

A. We certainly don't lease second-hand cars! The vast majority of our vehicles are brand new but on a few occasions we may provide vehicles that have been pre-registered with the supplying dealer. Pre-registered vehicles may have minimal delivery mileage but also include enhanced discounts reducing the monthly cost of the vehicle.

Q. I want a vehicle or specification of vehicle not displayed on your website, does that mean you can’t source the vehicle in question?

A. At Tilsun we can lease any vehicle under the sun! Any current model, offered by all of the major manufacturers and any with factory option that is available. If a vehicle isn’t shown on our website please contact us via phone or e-mail and one of our dedicated sales team can run a quote to meet your requirements.

Q. Does my vehicle come with a warranty?

A. All vehicles come with the balance of the manufacturer's warranty – subject to regular servicing that the manufacturer recommends.

Q. Do I need to carry out an MOT test for my lease vehicle?

A. MOT’s are required for all vehicles that are more than 3 years old. If an MOT is required during your contract then it is the customer's responsibility to arrange this. If a vehicle contract elapses before the first MOT date then you will not be required to MOT the vehicle. MOT’s are often included within a fully maintained agreement.

Q. Can I customise, modify or re-spray the vehicle?

A. Some funders do allow small modifications to vehicles such as tow bars or roof racks but we would prefer if you contacted us prior to making any changes. If you're looking to respray your car pink then i’m afraid the answer will be ‘no’.

Vehicles can have livery or wraps applied. Some funders require these to be removed prior to the vehicle being collected.

Q. What do I do in the event of a breakdown?

A. The majority of new vehicles come with 24 hour breakdown assistance as part of the vehicle warranty for a minimum of 12 months. If you purchase our optional maintenance cover we will extend this for the duration of the contract. If you didn’t choose our maintenance cover you will have to make your own arrangements when the manufacturer cover expires.

Q. What do I do in the event of an accident?

A. In the event of an accident the supplying funder should be the first port of call once you’ve advised your insurance company as obviously they are the vehicle’s owner. The funder will then advise the best course of action.

Q. Who is liable for service and when?

A. Many new cars will alert you when the vehicle needs servicing but it will always be the customers responsibility to make sure the car is maintained regularly. Please check the vehicle handbook to see what the manufacturer recommends.

If you have chosen our optional Maintenance Cover then this will include all scheduled maintenance and tyres.

If you didn’t choose our Maintenance cover then you will need to make your own arrangements to pay for any servicing.

BVRLA
ogilvie
Hitachi
Lex Autolease
Alphabet
ALD
AEVAL
Leasing Broker Federation

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