You need to keep a leased car maintained, but who pays each bill depends on your agreement and any maintenance package. Servicing, worn tyres, a warranty repair and accident damage are different costs. Check each one before choosing a package, and keep evidence that the required work has been done.
Intelligent Vehicle Finance is a credit broker, not a lender, and receives a commission from the lender or funder when an agreement completes. A trading style of XLCR Vehicle Management Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 315268). Subject to status and availability.
Start with the agreement, not the word maintenance
Read the service schedule, maintenance schedule and return conditions together. Establish who books work, who authorises it and which garages you can use. A package can pay for specified work without taking away your responsibility to arrange it on time. Follow the manufacturer's time or mileage intervals, whichever applies first, and the funder's requirements.
GOV.UK's roadworthiness guidance says the driver is responsible for making sure a vehicle is safe to drive. A current MOT is not proof that it remains safe between tests. If a warning or fault suggests the car is unsafe, stop using it and seek appropriate help.
Who pays for servicing, tyres and repairs?
| Work needed | What to check |
|---|---|
| Scheduled servicing | Without an included service plan or maintenance package, budget to pay for the required services. With a package, confirm the service is covered and use its booking route. |
| Tyres and other wear items | Check the package's replacement criteria, tyre specification and exclusions. Wear, punctures, sidewall damage and wheel damage may be treated differently. |
| A suspected manufacturing fault | Ask the warranty provider whether it is covered. The warranty's duration, mileage limit and conditions matter; a fault is not automatically a warranty claim. |
| Accident or impact damage | Check the insurance policy and funder's repair process. Do not assume a maintenance package pays for bodywork, kerbed wheels or collision repairs. |
| MOT, breakdown help or a replacement car | Check each item separately. None should be assumed included merely because a quotation says maintenance. |
Maintenance package or pay as you go?
A package is useful when its cover fits your expected use and you value spreading the cost of included work. Paying as you go means paying for each service or repair when it is needed. It may suit you if you can set aside a repair reserve and manage bookings yourself. Neither approach is automatically the better value.
Compare the package cost across the full agreement with the likely scheduled services, tyre replacements and MOTs during the same period. Then add the items it excludes. Ask about authorisation, approved garages, tyre limits, missed appointments, breakdown cover and any courtesy-car conditions. Insurance, fuel or electricity, road tax arrangements and end-of-contract charges need their own budget lines.
IVF's tyres and servicing service is a starting point for discussing a package. Request the actual provider's schedule of cover before deciding, especially if you expect high mileage or a change in how the car is used.
A short practical maintenance checklist
- Before driving: look for obvious tyre damage or leaks; check that lights, mirrors, windows and number plates are clean and unobstructed. Investigate warning lights using the handbook.
- Each week: check cold tyre pressures against the manufacturer's instructions for the load. Check tread and visible damage, and the fluid levels the handbook tells you to check. Do not open a hot cooling system or work on high-voltage components.
- Before a longer journey: check washer fluid, wipers, lights and tyres, and allow time to resolve a defect.
- At service time: book before the time or mileage limit, using a garage accepted under the agreement and any cover you are relying on.
- Before return: check the funder's instructions, service history, keys and supplied equipment, and allow time for authorised repairs.
For cars, the legal minimum tyre tread is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tread width, all the way around. That minimum is not a replacement for checking damage or following the tyre and vehicle manufacturer's advice. The Highway Code's maintenance guidance explains these checks. In Great Britain, most cars need their first MOT by the third anniversary of registration and annually after that; exceptions and Northern Ireland rules differ. Check the actual due date using GOV.UK's MOT guidance.
Keep records throughout the lease
Save invoices showing the date, mileage, vehicle registration and work carried out. Check that a digital service history has actually been updated, and keep confirmation where available. Retain package authorisations and correspondence about repairs. A booking confirmation alone does not show that a service was completed.
Before handback, ask the funder for its return standard and the relevant BVRLA fair wear and tear standard. Servicing and return condition are separate checks: a fully serviced car can still have chargeable damage. Do not assume that every small scratch is acceptable, or that every mark needs a repair. The agreement and applicable inspection criteria decide the treatment.
Choosing your next car
Use the expected annual mileage and service schedule when comparing car leasing options. If you are considering a Volkswagen Golf lease, ask for the maintenance terms for the exact derivative and agreement. Business drivers can also read leasing versus buying a company car to compare the wider commitment.
Frequently asked questions
Is servicing included in a car lease?
Only if the agreement or a separate service or maintenance package includes it. Ask for the written schedule of cover and the booking process before committing.
Who pays for replacement tyres?
You need to budget for them unless the agreed cover pays for the replacement concerned. Confirm the tyre specification and how wear, punctures and accidental damage are treated.
Does a manufacturer's warranty cover routine maintenance?
Do not treat a warranty as a maintenance package. Check its terms for the particular fault, its expiry and any servicing conditions. Routine servicing and wear items need separate consideration.
Can I use my own garage?
Check the lease agreement, package conditions and warranty requirements before booking. Obtain confirmation of the accepted garage, work and records where the terms are unclear.
Does a leased car need an MOT?
Leasing does not remove the MOT requirement. Most cars in Great Britain need a first MOT by their third registration anniversary and annual tests afterwards; check exceptions and the rules for Northern Ireland.
Do electric lease cars still need servicing?
Follow the exact car's manufacturer schedule and the lease terms. Do not assume that an electric powertrain removes checks on tyres, brakes, suspension or other equipment.
What evidence should I keep after a service?
Keep the invoice, date, mileage and details of the completed work. Confirm that any required digital service record has been updated and retain the confirmation.
Will a maintenance package pay for accident damage?
Do not assume so. Check the package exclusions, your insurance policy and the funder's repair requirements before authorising work.
Does a full service history prevent handback charges?
No. Service history and vehicle condition are separate requirements. Ask the funder for its return rules and the relevant BVRLA fair wear and tear standard.
Talk through your requirements
Call 01752 429950 or request a callback. Tell us about the vehicle, intended use and questions you want to resolve. Any agreement is subject to status, availability and the funder's criteria.
Editorial responsibility: Stacey Smith, Brand Director, Intelligent Vehicle Finance. Prepared with AI assistance for editorial review.
Last updated: September 2026
Intelligent Vehicle Finance is a credit broker, not a lender, and receives a commission from the lender or funder when an agreement completes. A trading style of XLCR Vehicle Management Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 315268). Subject to status and availability.