Question 1

How much company vehicle tax will be due on my leased vehicle per annum?

Accepted Answer

The annual car tax on your company car will depend on a number of factors:

The P11D value
Your income tax percentage rate
The benefit in kind (BIK) tax banding, which is determined by its CO2 emissions

Access the company car tax calculator here to get an exact amount.

Question 2

What is my duty of care to employees driving their own vehicles for work?

Accepted Answer

It is the responsibility of the business to assess risks associated with drivers using their own vehicles and to understand the actions that are needed to manage the risk.

Question 3

When will it become more cost effective to provide a company lease car rather than leave an employee as a Grey Fleet driver?

Accepted Answer

It is estimated that the point where it becomes more cost effective to provide a company lease vehicle is somewhere between 6,000 and 10,000 miles.

Question 4

Can I extend my contract?

Accepted Answer

Yes subject to approval. This will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

Question 5

What condition do I need to return the vehicle in?

Accepted Answer

As long as you are within your agreed mileage, have looked after your vehicle, serviced it in accordance with the manufacturer’s servicing schedule and it’s condition is within the BVRLA fair wear and tear guidelines you should not incur any additional charges. For more information, please see about the BVRLA fair wear and tear guidelines.

Question 6

What options do I have at the end of a Contract Hire agreement?

Accepted Answer

When your agreement reaches the end of it's term you generally have two options:

Return the vehicle
Return the vehicle and take out a new agreement with Lombard Vehicle Solutions, normally on a key for key change.

Question 7

Will I be charged an additional fee after the car has been returned for any damages incurred?

Accepted Answer

When returning your vehicle to us, we will inspect the vehicle. Any damage that the vehicle has incurred that falls outside of the BVRLA Fair Wear and Tear Guide, you will be liable for any charges.

Below are the common problems that result in customers having to pay charges:

Scratches over 25mm (relative to the vehicle’s age and mileage)
Scratches under 25mm (where the primer and bare metal is showing)
Accident damage and dents
Missing sets of keys
Missed services
Missing documentation
Damaged or stained interior
Windscreen chips
Wheel damage due to kerbing

For full details, please see the BVRLA Fair Wear and Tear Guidelines.

Question 8

I've damaged the vehicle, what do I do?

Accepted Answer

Call your insurance company or if you have our Accident Management service then please call the Driver Assistance line on 0344 600 9013.

Question 9

What do I do if I breakdown and need assistance?

Accepted Answer

If your/your company vehicle is experiencing a technical fault, whether it’s a one-off or an ongoing and/or intermittent fault, then you/your company will need to book your/your company vehicle in with your dealership to allow them to investigate and rectify the fault.

What to do if your/your company vehicle breaks down depends on whether or not you have maintenance included in your/your company agreement.

If you do not have maintenance included in your agreement:

Unless specified otherwise, breakdown assistance is not provided as standard within your/your company's agreement
Please refer to the manufacturer’s handbook to check if cover is provided as standard by the manufacturer and call the emergency number quoted. If your/your company vehicle is not covered by a manufacturer assistance programme, it is your/your company's responsibility to ensure your/your company vehicle is recovered and repaired promptly by an authorised dealer

If you have maintenance included in your agreement:

Assistance is included should your/your company vehicle break down as a result of a mechanical failure
Please refer to the manufacturer’s handbook in the first instance, to check if they provide cover and call the emergency number quoted
If your/your company vehicle is not covered by your manufacturer’s assistance programme, or you/your company are unsure, please call Driver Assistance on 08000 32 32 77.

Question 10

What do I do if I have an accident?

Accepted Answer

Unless you or your company have arranged accident management cover with us or another provider it is your/your company's responsibility to arrange for the vehicle’s collection and repair in the event of an accident.

Obtain details of other drivers involved and any witnesses. If your company has included Accident Management cover for your company vehicle, please use the specific card we provided to obtain these details
If possible, take photos of the scene
Report the incident to Lombard Vehicle Solutions (LVS) as soon as reasonably possible:

If LVS does provide accident management for your company vehicle, your company should call Driver Assistance on 08000 32 32 77 and select the 24/7 Accident Management option.

If LVS doesn’t provide you with accident management cover, you/your company only need to advise us if your/your company vehicle has been written off. Any repair work required following an accident can be carried out at your/your company’s insurer’s approved repair centres.

Please inform the Police immediately if anyone is injured or you/your company believe an offence has been committed
You/Your company must also inform the Police within 24 hours if an animal has been injured or street signs, lamp posts etc. are damaged; if a 3rd party failed to stop; or if you/your company have damaged a vehicle or any property and do not have the owner’s details

Question 11

What do I do if my vehicle has been stolen?

Accepted Answer

Please call your insurance company, or if you have our Accident Management service then you can call the Driver Assistance line 0344 600 9013.

Question 12

What if I have a problem with my vehicle?

Accepted Answer

If you have a problem with your vehicle call the Driver Assistance line on 0344 600 9013.

Question 13

Whose responsibility is it to insure the vehicle?

Accepted Answer

Lombard Vehicle Solutions do not provide insurance, so you will need to arrange this yourself.

Question 14

Can I take my vehicle abroad?

Accepted Answer

If you would like to travel abroad with your vehicle, please call our foreign travel line on 0800 032 3277 and select option 7 so we can assist you further and provide you with all relevant documentation required.

In addition, please familiarise yourself with any motoring legislation that applies in the country you are visiting.

Question 15

Can I terminate my contract early or will I penalised?

Accepted Answer

Yes the contracts are designed to run for the desired term. Should you wish to terminate your contract ahead of the intended term, it is likely that you will incur fees.

Question 16

What if I have a complaint?

Accepted Answer

If you have a complaint, please contact your consultant or email us at quality@lombardvehiclesolutions.com

Question 17

How will the vehicle be delivered?

Accepted Answer

Our vehicles are usually delivered by a franchised dealer. In some cases you may be able to collect. Please speak to one of our advisors to see whether this is possible.

Question 18

My vehicle doesn't match my order, what do I do?

Accepted Answer

Call your LVS consultant upon delivery or at the time the supplying dealer checks the specification with you.

Question 19

My vehicle is damaged upon delivery, what do I do?

Accepted Answer

Call your Lombard Vehicle Solutions consultant who will be able to assist you with your damaged vehicle.

Question 20

What is included with my vehicle?

Accepted Answer

Standard manufacturer specification plus any specified additional factory or dealer fitted options.

Question 21

How do I book an MOT or service if I have a maintenance agreement?

Accepted Answer

You can book an MOT or service by calling the Driver Assistance line 0344 600 9013.

Where available, we will organise a collection/delivery service or courtesy vehicle. Please Note: you may be charged for these additional services. It is up to you to keep your MOT certificate up to date. You must also ensure that the service book/electronic servicing record is updated by the servicing agent. Please be aware that it is an offence to drive your vehicle without a valid MOT.

Question 22

What if I have a preferred dealer for servicing and maintenance?

Accepted Answer

Please call the Driver Assistance line on 0344 600 9013 if you have a preferred dealer for servicing and maintenance.

Question 23

What if my vehicle has a diesel particulate filter (DPF)?

Accepted Answer

A Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) is a part of a diesel vehicle’s exhaust system which filters out the soot produced by diesel engines. This very fine soot is known as particulate matter. All diesel vehicles manufactured since 2009 include a DPF.

The DPF filters out the soot and stores it, however this stored soot needs to be burnt off. This ‘burn off’, known as DPF regeneration, is required approximately every 300 miles. It happens automatically, but typically requires the car to be driven for around 10-20 minutes at a constant speed of 40mph or higher.

If you don’t do this type of driving on a regular basis, your/your company vehicle’s DPF can become blocked. If this happens, a warning light will display on the dashboard. You should be able to unblock the filter and clear the warning light by taking your/your company vehicle for a 10-20 minute drive at a speed of 40mph or higher. The engine will need to be at normal operating temperature and the engine RPM will need to be between 2,500 to 3,000 RPM. A constant speed of 40mph or higher should achieve this. You will need to drive the vehicle under these conditions, on a long stretch of straight road or a motorway, until the warning light turns off. You must ensure that you comply with all UK driving laws and that this is completed on a road or motorway where it is safe and legal to drive at speeds of 40mph or higher.

If, once you’ve taken the above action, your/your company vehicle’s DPF warning light does not clear itself, it is important to book your/your company vehicle in with your dealership. If the DPF filter is not regenerated, it can cause your/your company vehicle to go into ‘limp mode’ to prevent any damage being caused. Your dealership should be able to investigate and resolve the issue to prevent this happening

Question 24

Where can I get my vehicle serviced?

Accepted Answer

Where you have work carried out on your/your company vehicle will depend on if you have maintenance included in your agreement, or if your vehicle is maintained by you/your company. You can find out more below:

Without maintenance

If you don’t have maintenance included in your/your company’s agreement, you can take your/your company vehicle to any dealership or garage in your vehicle manufacturer's franchised network for servicing, MOTs and maintenance work.

You will need to ensure that your/your company vehicle’s service book, if it has one, is completed and up to date. If your/your company vehicle doesn’t have a service book, make sure you keep copies of the service invoices, as these will need to be handed back with your vehicle at the end of your/your company’s contract.

With maintenance included

If you have maintenance included in your/your company’s agreement, any work will need to be completed by an authorised garage. We will assist you with booking services, MOTs and maintenance work.

You will need to ensure that your/your company vehicle’s service book, if it has one, is completed and up to date. If your/your company vehicle doesn’t have a service book, make sure you keep copies of the service invoices, as these will need to be handed back with your vehicle at the end of your/your company’s contract. You can find information about booking a service, MOT or maintenance work here.

Question 25

Will I receive an MOT reminder?

Accepted Answer

If we are the registered keeper of your/your company vehicle, we will send you MOT reminders from three months before the MOT is due. Unfortunately, we are not able to send reminders if we are not the registered keeper of your/your company vehicle. However, if you are the registered keeper you can sign up to receive MOT text message reminders from GOV.UK.

Check your/your company vehicle’s MOT status You can check the status of your/your company vehicle’s MOT at GOV.UK.

Please be aware that the registration date of your/your company's vehicle may be earlier than the date on which you received the vehicle.

Question 26

Can I claim back the VAT on my leasing payments?

Accepted Answer

If you lease a vehicle on a personal basis, unfortunately you cannot reclaim the VAT. However, if you lease a vehicle through a business that is VAT registered and you take out a VAT qualifying contract, then you are fully capable of reclaiming the VAT amount that is set by HMRC.

Question 27

Can my spouse or partner drive the vehicle?

Accepted Answer

Anyone who is named under the vehicle insurance policy, can drive your vehicle with your permission, subject of course to any legal and insurance obligations.

Question 28

Can you assist in supplying a vehicle for a start up business?

Accepted Answer

Yes we can. There are a variety of finance options available to you. For more personalised advice, please contact our team.

Question 29

Do I get charged for the delivery of a vehicle?

Accepted Answer

Your vehicle will be delivered to an address of your choice on the UK mainland. There is no additional charge for this.

Question 30

Do you lease commercial vans?

Accepted Answer

Yes we do. If you need a commercial van, please contact our team for more personalised advice.

Question 31

Is a contract hire agreement subject to VAT?

Accepted Answer

All contract hire agreements are subject to VAT, which is currently set at 20%. If changes were made by the Government then these would be passed onto the customer.

Question 32

Is a service and maintenance package included?

Accepted Answer

You can add a service and maintenance agreement to your product at the start of your contract. This will add an additional fixed monthly cost to your monthly repayments. All our offer prices presented on the website are without maintenance agreements. Please speak with one of our team for further information if you would like to add this to your agreement.

Question 33

Is my lease vehicle brand new?

Accepted Answer

We offer brand new vehicles & used vehicles up to 15 months old.

Question 34

Is the Road Fund Licence included in my agreement?

Accepted Answer

The Road Fund Licence is included for the first year in Business Contract Hire agreements.

Question 35

What does "flexible terms and mileage" mean?

Accepted Answer

We can offer arrangements over 2 to 5 years & from 5,000 to 50,000 miles per annum.

Question 36

What is the minimum/maximum mileage I can do?

Accepted Answer

The minimum mileage is 5,000 per annum with a maximum mileage of 50,000 per annum depending on the period of the agreement.

Question 37

Who owns the vehicle?

Accepted Answer

For Business Contract Purchase, Lombard Vehicle Solutions will be the registered owner and you will be the registered keeper. For Business Contract Hire, Lombard Vehicle Solutions will be the registered owner and the keeper of the vehicle.

Question 38

Will I have an account manager?

Accepted Answer

You will be allocated a consultant who will look after your vehicle needs.

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