Car leasing In Germany [2024] - Navigate Germany
Deciding to lease a car in Germany is a bit complicated decision. Once you plan to lease a car, you must know the technicalities, advantages, and disadvantages of this. It is important to insure your car from a German insurer before leasing the car. The cost of insurance is different for different make and model.
Car Leasing Defined
Car leasing is about possessing the car without paying the costs. Through leasing you can drive a new car, but for a limited time period. The process to lease a car is simple and you can select a car according to your choice, but do not forget to check the annual mileage and sign the contract with a down payment. When leasing a car, you are not the owner but you have it. You can return the car to the lease company if you are moving to a different country.
The Cost of Leasing A Car
The cost of leasing a car starts from €150 to €2400. The prices depends upon the car, you select and you can always find different deals and offers.
Car Leasing With The Insurance Plan
You can get the insurance cover with your car leasing that will include accident management, damage protection, maintenance and other offers which will save and protect you in case of any mishap.
List Of Car Leasing Companies in Germany
Here is the list of best car leasing companies in Germany based on the factors mentioned below;
- Contract flexibility
- No hidden costs
- Cars with good condition
- English support
MeinAuto.de
This leasing company is based in Köln but it is one of the best leasing website in Germany with a rating of 4.4 on TrustPilot. ADAC has ranked them as “Very Good” for two times and Getestet.de also marked them as best in the lease market. The process is smooth, clear, and transparent for their customers. Here are the key features;
- No sign up fee
- Purchasing and financing is also possible
- Full warranty
- Independent brokers
- Have authorized dealers
LeasingDeals.de
The process of leasing a car with this platform is completely digital for both private and commercial customers. Variety of cars from different manufacturers are available such as Audi, VW, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, and Volvo. Here are the key features;
- Comparison portal for different deals
- No down payment
- No risk of residual value
- Best rates
Null-Leasing.com
Null-Leasing started leasing as BMW’s online leasing partner in 2008 and got rating of 4.7 Stars on Trust Pilot. They expanded their portfolio and partnered with other brands in 2016 and offered 0% leasing which means no upfront payment. They also offer mileage leasing and demand no extra commission fee.
- Availability of more than 11,000 leasing offers
- Personal Contact for customers
- Send contact request without registration
- Specific search option with filters
Europcar
You can get variety of leasing cars from top manufacturers. Their car range includes compact cars, automatic gearing, eco-friendly drive, and exclusive cars. Here are the key features;
- Flexible leasing
- Defined terms and conditions
- English support
- English website
SIXT.de
It is one of the oldest car rental company in Germany. They started operations in 1912 with short term rentals and leasing cars. Here are the key features;
- Clear terms and conditions
- Non German team
- Best rates
- English website and support
- Competent and personal advice
LuxuryLeasing.de
If you are looking for luxury and exclusive cars at reasonable prices, this platform is perfect for you. They offer different BMW models and other luxury cars with below features;
- Competent and personal advice
- Best rates
- Exclusive car leasing
Considerations at The End of Lease Tenure
While leasing, you will deposit an amount which is also called down payment. The contract is usually for 3 years and at the end you will have two options;
- Make remaining residual payment
- Give the car back to lease company
Options are mentioned in the contract when you sign up. You might need to pay a fixed amount at the contract end which will be written in your contract to become an owner to your car. When you pay the additional charges, you are off the contract. Common charges are;
- Interior damage
- Additional kilometers driven
Required Documents For Car Leasing
You can contact an authorized dealer to do all the steps and complete the process without any hussle. Get the contract template that includes the seller name, contact information, and other details to use during the registration process of your car. You can hire a dealer (Vertragshändler) to take care of the paperwork and pay the service fee if you are buying a car for the first time. Here is the list of documents you need to prepare for smooth leasing process.
- Residence permit
- Passport
- Anmeldung
- Work contract from your employer
- Detail of your bank
- Proof of income
- german driving license
- eVB
auto insurance and eVB
The eVB (elektronische Versicherungsbestätigung) or “electronic insurance verification” is an important aspect of leasing a car. Do not forget to check the cost of an auto insurance plan when leasing a car. The eVB is the proof that your car is covered with auto insurance. It is compulsory for both possession and registration of your car. The validity of eVB is six months. You agent will require the below details if you need eVB;
- VIN and model number of your car
- From where you will get auto insurance
- Date of registration
- Local registration office
- Lease information
- Type of insurance you want
- Additional insurance security
Rate of Insurance
Consider the three factors to determine the rate of insurance.
SF-Klasse
Schadensfreiheit means accident free or damage free which determine the insurance premium and starts from zero to SF35. The higher the SF class, the lower your insurance premium will be. If you want to avoid zero SF, get an official letter from your insurance agent to prove that you are accident free for a number of years. Deadline to get an insurance is 30th November each year.
Typ-Klasse
Thsi is related to the “model class” that is an official statistical determination according to the particular model of your car and the cost of repairing that model.
Regionalklasse
“Regional class” is for all the official 415 German districts and it is based on frequency of accirdents for different car models of every district. The cost of insurance is determined by the place of residence. The cost of insurance is higher in big cities.
Legal Protection
As the car is important and valuable asset at home. You keep it clean and polish it regularly so if the damage is negligible, you can go to the court to protect yourself from losses. Get the legal insurance in germany to deal with all kinds of legal disputes.
Conclusion
When leasing a car, find a well reputed company and discuss various deals and plans to select one best plan. Check the google reviews and ratings while selecting a broker or an insurance agent. Do not forget to discuss the terms and conditions before you sign the contract.
Jibran Shahid
Hi, I am Jibran, your Fellow Expat living in Germany since 2014, With my 10 years of experience, my aim is to bring you the well researched guides about life in Germany