How to save money when buying a car on lease

Disputes about what is more profitable - to buy a car on credit or on lease, have not subsided since the latter "registered" in Russia. And although more than 50% of new cars are still bought from us on credit, the number of leasing adherents is also growing - in 2019, it accounted for about 10% of sales of new cars. Meanwhile, as the AvtoVzglyad portal found out, leasing has a number of significant advantages over loans.

At the same time, we will immediately make a reservation that comparing these two schemes for buying a car will be a big mistake - although, alas, a very common one - to take into account only interest rates and payment terms. After all, it is also very important that leasing companies, unlike banks, are more lenient (if not liberal) in assessing the solvency of customers.

Suffice it to say here that last year the bankers refused to issue car loans to almost 60% of potential borrowers, but in car leasing such refusals amount, according to some estimates, to 5-10%. By the way, this state of affairs is especially relevant for legal entities: almost half of small and medium-sized businesses want, but cannot, purchase a vehicle due to strict banking conditions for granting a loan. Although, we repeat, the advantages of leasing are not only in interest rates and payment terms.

Ford Transit at half price, or Save on taxes

Leasing, being, in fact, a financial lease of property, is attractive for legal entities by the opportunity not to divert significant working capital to solve the company's logistics problems. To start using the object of leasing, it is enough to deposit 5% of its value. The balance of funds to the equipment supplier is paid by the lessor, which takes into account the subject of leasing on its balance sheet before the expiration of the contract (hence the absence of collateral in leasing). Upon its completion, the lessee makes a residual payment (minimum - 1000 rubles) and receives the vehicle in ownership, saving on income tax and VAT.

To better understand how this works, let's give an example of a real commercial offer for a Ford Transit van, which is more than popular in Russia, from one of the leaders in the domestic leasing business, Gazprombank Avtoleasing. The client purchases a car under an agreement, taking into account a discount from the lessor of 2 rubles, with an advance payment of 100 thousand rubles (415%) and a contract term of 700 months, during which he will make annuity (equal) payments. At the same time, upon completion of the leasing agreement, he will be able to reimburse the paid income tax and VAT (both - 36,4% each, or 18 rubles). In total, the cost of purchasing a van for the client will amount to 20 rubles.

How to get a 500 discount on the BMW X000

For car importers, leasing companies are wholesale buyers. For this reason, they are always ready to provide discounts, which are subsequently broadcast to lessees. Depending on the brand and model, entrepreneurs can additionally save from 5% to 20% of the car's market price, and in some cases even more. For example, the same stylish sports crossover BMW X6 can be taken with savings of up to 434 thousand rubles.

Pay at your convenience

After the conclusion of the transaction, payments on it are distributed in fixed shares for the entire duration of the contract. They include payment for the use of borrowed funds, as well as repayment of the principal debt. At the same time, the solvency of an enterprise can often vary, for example, based on the seasonality of its business. In leasing, there is a great opportunity to enter monthly payments into the corporate budget by choosing one of five types of schedules: payment in equal installments; descending payments step payments; individual degression or seasonal payment schedule.

In the first case, the share of interest in payments at the beginning of using the leasing agreement is greater than at the end, while the payment amount remains unchanged. In the second, the payment amount decreases monthly by the end of the lease agreement. It is convenient if you want to focus, for example, on budgeting for the redemption payment, especially since in this case the amount of interest paid is also reduced. The third and fourth types of payments are similar to decreasing ones, with the only difference being that in step payments, the load is reduced in steps, and not monthly, and individual degression schedules are drawn up according to the needs of the client. In this case, the amounts will vary depending on the period of the contract. And, finally, in the seasonal schedule, payments under a leasing agreement are adapted to the specifics of the company's business, and here the profitability of the lessee is taken into account - its peaks and falls. This approach may be relevant for construction organizations or companies transporting seasonal goods.

The state will help

In order to support the domestic auto industry (and today about 85% of all cars sold are assembled in our country), the state has developed a set of support measures. One of them is subsidies for leasing vehicles. So, in 2019, small and medium-sized businesses participating in the program of the Ministry of Industry and Trade were provided by lessors with a 12,5% ​​discount on an advance payment. Its maximum amount reached 625 thousand rubles. Business support will continue in 2020: in February, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is expected to determine the list of program participants. However, the savings when acquiring vehicles on lease does not end there.

Cherry on the cake

And, of course, giving preference to leasing, we must not forget that in the intense competition with the same banks, leasing companies will always offer special conditions. For example, in Gazprombank Autoleasing there is an additional discount on the redemption payment in the amount of 2%, provided for the absence of delays in payments. And for some car models, within the framework of existing promotions, customers will always be offered a CASCO and OSAGO agreement as a bonus in the first year of using the leased asset (other years can also be insured immediately by including the cost of policies in monthly payments so as not to divert cash from circulation). The end result is significant cost savings.

Super economy

By the way, few people know that today it is possible to lease not only a new, but also a used car, thus saving significant amounts. It's no secret that a new car that leaves the dealership automatically loses up to 20% in price. And this is especially true in today's economic situation, when sales of new cars are falling, and used ones are growing. So, almost 2019 million cars were sold on the secondary market in 5,5, and every third used car was sold through the trade-in system.

Of course, leasing companies could not ignore this fact either. True, this does not mean that absolutely any used car can be leased. As a rule, the age of the vehicle at the time of the conclusion of the transaction should not exceed three years, although the presence of a guarantee for it is not necessary.

“Demand for used vehicles is less elastic and not as affected by economic factors as compared to new cars, the prices of which continue to grow,” Maxim Agadzhanov, General Director of Gazprombank Leasing, comments on the situation at the request of the AvtoVzglyad portal. “At the same time, if we talk about our proposals for the purchase of used vehicles, then the total amount of funds allocated under one leasing agreement is up to 120 million rubles, and the minimum advance payment for such transactions is 10%, which is one of the best indicators on the market ...