The cheapest car lease deals available today
Car leasing is one of the most convenient ways to enjoy a new car. Here are the cheapest leasing deals around...
The simplest way to think of leasing is in terms of a long-term rental. You pay an upfront deposit, followed by monthly payments before handing the car back at the end.
There are many advantages to car leasing, not least because in many cases it can be cheaper than using other kinds of finance, such as PCP or HP. And it means you don't need to worry about depreciation — the value a car loses over time — because you'll never actually own the car.
As with any kind of finance arrangement, you should think carefully about the best option for you, because while car leasing suits a huge number of people, its suitability will ultimately come down to your personal set of circumstances. If you're not sure, or want to find out more, then read our what is car leasing feature.
But if you think car leasing is the right move for you, then you'll have a wide selection of new cars to choose from. Indeed, if you can think of a car that’s possible to buy new, the chances are you’ll also be able to lease it. Here are the top 10 cheapest car lease deals that are available right now, and we’ve provided the links so you can take the next steps and order the cars online.
Note: in order to make the deals comparable, they’re based around paying six months rental up front, over 36 months, and with a mileage limit of 10,000 miles per year. The precise amount you’ll pay could change depending on your circumstances and your desired colour and interior options.
Prices correct at time of writing.
Our pick: 1.0 TCe 90 Techno 5dr
Strengths
- Smart interior is packed with equipment
- Good ride and handling balance
- Practical boot
Weaknesses
- Tight for taller adults in the rear seats
- Slightly firm low-speed ride
- High boot loading lip
Model 1.0 TCe Evolution | Monthly rental £250.99 | Initial payment £1505.94 | Length of agreement 36 months | Annual mileage limit 10,000 miles
The Renault Clio is the reigning What Car? Small Car of the Year, and even without the impressive lease deal highlighted here, the Renault represents huge value for money. Indeed, the entry-level 1.0 TCe 90 Evolution undercuts the Skoda Fabia and VW Polo.
It’s fun to drive yet still comfortable, practical yet compact. While pretty much all the engine options are economical, the 1.0 TCe engine is the sweet spot because it’s perfectly fine for most buyers.
We think Techno trim is the best bet, but the low cost of the Evolution model featured here isn’t without appeal. It counts 16in alloy wheels, automatic full LED headlights, automatic windscreen wipers, climate control, touchscreen infotainment and rear parking sensors among its standard features.
Read our Renault Clio review
Our pick: 1.0 VVT-i Edge 5dr
Strengths
- Cheap to run
- Good level of safety kit
- Warranty of up to 10 years
Weaknesses
- Cramped in the back
- Smaller boot than rivals
- Lacklustre performance
Model 1.0 VVT-i Edge | Monthly rental £255.24 | Initial payment £1531.40 | Length of agreement 36 months | Annual mileage limit 10,000 miles
If you’re looking for a car that’s cheap to run, has a comprehensive warranty and won’t cost a packet to park on your driveway, then the Toyota Aygo X is among the pick of the bunch.
There’s only one engine available, but it’s a 1.0-litre that in our independent fuel economy tests, achieved 52.2mpg – impressive, particularly when you consider it doesn't have any kind of hybrid assistance. It’s good to drive around town, but you might want something with a bit more if you’re regularly driving on motorways.
While the boot and rear seats are a little cramped, there’s plenty of space up front. We think the mid-spec Edge trim is the best bet, and it’s the deal featured here. It adds 18in alloys, climate control and automatic wipers to the reversing camera and adaptive cruise control fitted across the range.
Read our Toyota Aygo X review
Our pick: 1.5 Hybrid Design 5dr CVT
Strengths
- Excellent real-world fuel economy
- Toyota's reliability record
- Slow predicted depreciation
Weaknesses
- Firm ride, especially on higher-spec models with bigger wheels
- Poor rear passenger space
- So-so interior quality
Model 1.5 VVT-h Icon E-CVT | Monthly rental £266.80 | Initial payment £1600.80 | Length of agreement 36 months | Annual mileage limit 10,000 miles
In our independent fuel economy tests, the hybrid-powered Toyota Yaris achieved a mightily impressive 59.93mpg – only the Yaris Cross small SUV registered a better performance. And while it won’t be so much of a factor for lease buyers, the Yaris has a long warranty and strong reliability record.
It’s not all good though, because while it feels peppy and smooth to drive, it’s a little cramped inside, and some of the materials don’t feel great to the touch – although everything does feel well screwed together.
The deal outlined here is for the entry-level Icon trim, although if you can stretch to a little more, the Design trim is the better bet. Even so, it comes with plenty of kit including a 9.0in touchscreen infotainment system and a rear parking camera.
Read our Toyota Yaris review
Our pick: 1.5 VTi-TECH Excite 5dr
Strengths
- Low price
- Roomy rear seats
- Standard seven-year warranty
Weaknesses
- Unsettled ride
- Road noise
- MG's reliability record
Model 1.5 VTi-TECH Exclusive | Monthly rental £284.44 | Initial payment £1706.64 | Length of agreement 36 months | Annual mileage limit 10,000 miles
MG may have carved out a niche as an electric car maker, but it still produces some value-focused combustion cars – such as the MG ZS SUV. While it can’t match the electric ZS for all-round appeal, it still has plenty to recommend.
The petrol-electric hybrid engine delivers some pokey performance, and is faster than any Dacia Duster or Renault Captur, and as swift as a Ford Puma Ecoboost 155. It’s pleasantly manoeuvrable around town, although the ride and handling isn’t desperately refined.
Things are better inside, though, because the rear seats are plenty roomy enough with as much space as the larger Nissan Qashqai, and there’s a big boot, too.
Read our MG ZS review
Strengths
- Lots of standard safety kit
- Great driving position
- Smart interior
Weaknesses
- So-so performance
- Some rivals are more fun to drive
- Lacks the seating flexibility of many rivals
Model 1.3 DIG-T MHEV N-Connecta | Monthly rental £289.08 | Initial payment £1734.48 | Length of agreement 36 months | Annual mileage limit 10,000 miles
The Nissan Qashqai is the granddaddy of the family SUV scene, and now well into its third generation, it remains a strong contender; even if we think the Kia Sportage and Skoda Karoq are better – but more costly – alternatives.
It’s the entry-level 1.3 DIG-T 140 engine which we rate most highly, and the 18in wheels which come as standard on the N-Connecta trim (which helpfully has the keenest lease rates) provides the best ride comfort.
N-Connecta is also the sweet spot when it comes to equipment, serving up a 360-degree camera, front parking sensors, wireless charging, rear privacy glass and ambient interior lighting.
Read our Nissan Qashqai review
Our pick: 1.0 TCE 90 Techno 5dr
Strengths
- Keen starting price
- Sliding rear seats
- Quiet cruiser
Weaknesses
- Cheap-feeling interior on lower trim levels
- TCe 90 petrol is quite slow
- No adjustable lumbar support
Model 1.0 TCe Evolution | Monthly rental £290.70 | Initial payment £1744.20 | Length of agreement 36 months | Annual mileage limit 10,000 miles
The Renault Captur is a comfortable and practical small SUV which regardless of whether you choose to take a great value lease deal, a PCP or pay cash, the entry-level model has a very appealing price tag.
The entry-level 1.0 TCe 90 engine highlighted here doesn’t make for the quickest small SUV on the block, but soft suspension make it a very supple cruiser. The Captur excels for its practicality, though, and the 1.0 TCe has one of the biggest boots in the class (the hybrid sacrifices boot space for its battery), there’s bags of interior storage and the rear seats slide forward and back to grow boot or leg room.
While the entry-level Evolution lacks an adjustable boot floor and has a smaller infotainment screen than other models, it still packs alloy wheels, automatic lights and wipers and climate control. However, if you can secure a good deal, we recommend the higher-spec Techno trim.
Read our Renault Captur review
Our pick: 1.6 E-Tech FHEV 145 Techno Esprit Alpine 5dr Auto
Strengths
- Attractively priced
- Spacious and practical
- Very generously equipped
Weaknesses
- Could be better to drive
- Some rivals are plusher inside
- Renault’s warranty isn’t the strongest
Model 1.6 E-Tech Techno | Monthly rental £297.26 | Initial payment £1783.56 | Length of agreement 36 months | Annual mileage limit 10,000 miles
The Renault Symbioz is a family SUV very much in the mold of the Nissan Qashqai, but unlike that household name, the recently-launched Symbioz is only available as a hybrid.
It doesn’t feel nearly as poky on the move as the Qashqai e-Power (Nissan’s take on the hybrid formula), but it is quiet and the smaller 18in wheels fitted to to Techno models should take some of the firm edge off higher-spec models which are shod with 19in wheels.
All versions come with a great deal of kit as standard, and this entry-level Techno has adaptive cruise control, dual-zone climate control, a wireless phone-charger and a 10.4in infotainment touchscreen. That said, if you can get a good lease deal, then we recommend the Techno Esprit Alpine for its plusher interior and extra safety features.
Read our Renault Symbioz review
Our pick: 27kWh Extreme 65 48kW 5dr Auto
Strengths
- Decent low-speed ride
- Cheaper than other electric cars
- Nippier than you’d expect
Weaknesses
- Terrible safety rating
- Limited real-world range
- Slow charging rate
Model 45 26.8kWh Expression | Monthly rental £312.40 | Initial payment £1874.40 | Length of agreement 36 months | Annual mileage limit 10,000 miles
Dacia’s value-for-money ethos runs through its first – and only – all-electric model, the Spring. It’s the cheapest electric car to buy outright, once you exclude the extremely compromised Citroën Ami, and it comfortably represents the cheapest electric car lease deal.
Unlike the Ami, the Spring is a proper electric car, although like the Ami, it’s perhaps best suited to second-car duties. It has an official range of 140 miles, and maximum charging rate of just 30kW, meaning it’ll take 45 minutes to charge from 10-80% – almost twice as long as a Citroën ë-C3.
However, it’s both nippy and comfortable around town, and there’s a decent boot for groceries. The Expression model which represents the cheapest lease deal comes with cruise control, air conditioning, electric front windows and rear parking sensors, although our pick, the Extreme trim, costs less than £30 more, and provides far more kit.
Read our Dacia Spring review
Strengths
- Loads of standard luxury and safety kit
- Sprightly performance
- Decent to drive
Weaknesses
- Patchy interior quality
- Fiddly controls
- Tesla Model 3 can use a better charging network
Model Pro S 77kWh Match | Monthly rental £312.56 | Initial payment £1875.36 | Length of agreement 36 months | Annual mileage limit 10,000 miles
The Golf-sized Volkswagen ID 3 is the mainstay of VW’s electric car range, and with good reason: it’s comfortable and good to drive – if a little too expensive. However, some eye-catching deals go an awfully long way to countering that.
We think the Pro Match model, which is coincidentally attracts the keenest leasing prices, is the sweet spot in the ID 3 range, because it feels the most fleet of foot, and even though it has the smallest battery in the line-up, it can still travel 269 miles under official figures – more than enough for many drivers. Although the bigger battery in the Pro S featured in this lease deal provides a useful boost in range.
The Match trim provides all the kit you could reasonably expect for a family hatchback, including 18in alloy wheels, wireless phone charging, dual-zone air conditioning and heated front seats.
Read our Volkswagen ID 3 review
Our pick: 1.0 DiG-T N-Connecta 5dr
Strengths
- Smart interior
- Good safety rating
- Lots of toys on our recommended trim
Weaknesses
- Choppy ride
- Slightly claustrophobic in the rear seats
- Disappointing fuel efficiency on hybrid version
Model 1.0 DIG-T Tekna | Monthly rental £316.01 | Initial payment £1896.06 | Length of agreement 36 months | Annual mileage limit 10,000 miles
There’s no mistaking the Nissan Juke for anything else on the road, such is its striking looks and high-riding coupé profile. And for those who want to make a statement, particularly in its bright yellow paint this could be the ideal small SUV.
However, the Ford Puma is better to drive, the Skoda Kamiq more spacious and VW T-Roc more comfortable. However, the Juke has a very smart interior and an impressive safety rating. Arona aside, it’s the cheapest small SUV on a lease deal, which alone may swing it for some buyers.
The Tekna trim included here features a huge amount of kit, including heated seats, a heated steering wheel, a heated front windscreen and an upgraded Bose sound system and rear-view camera. Just bear in mind that its 19in alloy wheels will be at the detriment of ride comfort.
Read our Nissan Juke review
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Read more: Best cars 2025
FAQs
If you’re looking to put a new car on your driveway with the least hassle, then it’s well worth looking at a lease car. With no depreciation to worry about, or the complexities of continuing or ending a PCP deal, they are as straightforward as it gets.
If you don’t plan to keep your car at the end of a PCP deal, a car lease could even save you a great deal of money in the long run.
We have more information in our what is car leasing feature.
Like PCPs, you’ll have to work within a strict mileage limit, and the car must be returned in good condition at the end of the agreement. Excess mileage charges, and fees to repair damage can be significant.
Also, leasing is among the least flexible finance options. That means if you come into financial difficulty, it can be costly and difficult to end a car leasing agreement early.
Shopping around for the best deal in the first place is the easiest way to keep your leasing costs low. What Car?’s car leasing deals are a great place to start.
Carefully consider your mileage: an annual 6000-mile limit will be far cheaper than 10,000 miles, so try to avoid paying for what you won’t use. But beware excess mileage charges, which can soon add up if you underestimate your mileage.
Do the maths to decide whether it’s better to build in maintenance packages to the lease deal, or deal with them separately. The same applies to insurance.
Consider a shorter agreement, but remember that most lease deals will require a number of months paid up from as an initial rental.
Most regular lease agreements don’t include car insurance, so in these cases you’ll need to arrange it yourself. But many leasing providers offer insurance and maintenance packages. Sometimes this can be more cost-effective – and certainly easier – but it pays to run the numbers first.
Remember that most leasing deals will require you to have fully-comprehensive insurance.
The cheapest car leasing deals generally start from around £150-160 a month for small affordable models, while the most expensive, luxurious models can cost several thousand pounds a month.
Aside from the size and value of the car, there are a range of variables which will influence your monthly payments. These include:
- The length of the agreement. Deals are usually available from between one and five years, but three years is the most common length. Generally speaking, the longer the agreement, the greater the monthly repayments. However, taking a succession of short lease deals can be a false economy once you factor in the cost of more frequent initial payments.
- The size of the one-off payment you’ll make at the beginning of the agreement. Typically this will be the equivalent of anywhere between one month and 12 months. The larger this initial upfront payment, the smaller your monthly costs will be.
- The number of miles you’ll travel annually. The higher the mileage limit, the higher your monthly repayments, but bear in mind that excess mileage fees for exceeding your limit can be steep.
In order to lease a car, you need to be over the age of 18 and have a valid driving licence. You will also need to have a reasonably good credit score – a measure of how well you manage your money and how likely you are to be able to repay debt.
In order to lease a car, you’ll need some basic information and documentation. This is likely to include:
- Proof of your name, current and previous addresses, your date of birth and marital status. You’ll need with photo ID, usually a driving license or passport
- Your employment status, including the name of your employer and contact details
- Your bank account details to arrange payments and for the leasing company to assess affordability
Proof of address usually requires a utility bill, bank statement, council tax bill or correspondence from HMRC.
As you near the end of your car lease, it’s likely that the leasing company will get in touch to arrange the collection of the car at a mutually convenient time, date and location.
You’ll be expected to ensure the car is in good condition, and within the guidelines the leasing company will set out – generally it will follow the BVRLA’s Fair Wear and Tear guidelines. It’s a good idea to get any damage repaired yourself before the car is returned, because you could be charged far more for the work by the leasing company.
Gather all sets of keys and all the car’s paperwork – the inspector who collects the car should prompt you for anything that’s missing. They will also give the can an appraisal, noting any damage, and the vehicle’s mileage.
A service or maintenance agreement can usually be added as an extra when taking out a lease deal. Typically these will cover the costs of regular servicing, but can also cover consumables such as tyres and brakes.
As ever, you should study the costs carefully before you commit to get the best deal for your circumstances.
