Renting a car and leasing a car are similar but not the same. So, what is a car leasing agreement? A car leasing agreement involves paying a fixed monthly fee, typically for twelve to forty-eight months. At the end of the lease, the vehicle is returned. Many hidden fees, like down payments, maintenance, and insurance can be avoided by choosing a long-term rental service.
Long-stay travellers in Thailand interested in a better alternative to monthly car leasing can find reasonably priced monthly or year-long rental options through Drive Car Rental!
How Is a Lease Different From a Rental?
A vehicle lease is similar to buying a car. A person makes a significant down payment and signs a contract for monthly payments. The difference is that the lease payments don’t count towards ownership. Once the contract ends, the vehicle is returned.
With a rental, there are no down payments or deposits that need to be made upfront. This alone can save thousands of pounds.
Taxes and Registration
Leased vehicles are almost always brand new and must have their tax and registration paid for by the person leasing the vehicle. Long-term rental companies have already paid the taxes and registration, and the vehicle is either new or like new. This represents another large cost that can be avoided by opting for a rental contract.
Maintenance
A set of four new tyres can easily cost £500 or more, oil changes average £38, and routine inspections can add hundreds more annually. With a lease, all of these costs are the responsibility of the lessee. In some instances, failure to maintain the vehicle can result in serious financial penalties at the end of the lease.
Choosing to rent for extended periods of time through companies like Drive Car Rental means that the rental company covers all of these costs. They either have direct service centers or contracts with service companies across Thailand, so servicing is free and convenient. Over the course of a few years, this can add up to thousands in savings.
Distance Limits
Car leases have limits on how far you can drive in a year. When averaged out, most are around 1,600 kilometres monthly.
Returning a leased vehicle with more than the allowed distance incurs yet more fees. These are usually ten fifteen cents per kilometre. Just a few thousand extra kilometres can lead to hefty penalties.
Drive Car Rental’s long-rental options have no distance limits–drivers are free to use the vehicle as much as they need. Without being required to watch the odometer, drivers can focus on enjoying the endless day trips that Thailand offers.
Insurance
Traditional car leases require the lessee to pay for the insurance. Over the course of a year, this can cost hundreds or thousands of pounds.
All enduring rental contracts offered by Drive Car Rental come with annual insurance already paid. Vehicle replacement is also available, should a car get damaged in an accident. This can represent greatly reduced costs compared to a lease.
Ease for Foreigners
Car dealerships in Thailand and many countries are hesitant to provide loan-based car purchases or extended leases to foreigners. Even those that do often require work permit visas, Thai spouses, or serious cash in the bank as guarantees.
With Drive Car Rental, it’s as simple as choosing the best monthly rental car that fits your needs and budget. Just sign and drive away! Simply return the vehicle when the rental period ends or extend it. There are no hidden fees, no penalties, and no stress.
Great Benefits, Fantastic Discounts
Drive Car Rental believes in providing the best possible service to our customers. Those curious about what to expect with month-long car hires can count on Drive Car Rental’s superior service staff to answer any questions and explain the process.
Drive Car Rental provides long term rentals through the following branches:
- Bangkok: Don Mueang Airport
- Bangkok: City
- Bangkok: Suvarnabhumi Airport
- Chiang Mai
- Chiang Rai
- Krabi
- Pattaya
- Phuket: Phuket Airport
- Phuket: Patong
- Samui
- Udon Thani
In addition to the above, Drive Car Rental has several partner branches that can issue standard rentals and handle any problems that arise with a vehicle. Check us out today and see how much money you can save by choosing a rental over a leased vehicle!