Good morning, or afternoon where most are located.
I’m intersted to find out if its possible to lease a vehicle in France, I will buy something for myself but my wife wants a small electric vehicle for pottering around locally but I would never ‘buy’ an electric car, its far cheaper ‘long term’ to lease one.
Is it possible?
Thanks
There’s a few of us on here with leased EVs, but we’ve been here a while so have the necessary proof of income etc to secure the finance needed for the lease agreements.
Thanks, does income outside of France count, and if you can prove strong liquidity, would that work?
I don’t know - most of my income (pensions) comes from outside France but its all declared on my tax return which was all the proof I needed.
How could you prove that to the satisfaction of a lease company I wonder? I think it could be difficult. The on,y way to check would be to phone a company and ask!
But look at French lease terms as we found the numbers didn’t stack up for leasing so bought an EV (but then as French taxpayers we got the credit impôt).
I might end up doing that but would make more sense to lease then give back.
Same here but thought they might be ok showing US bank statements. What if you were to pay the agreement up front, is that a thing?
Sorry, no idea
I don’t think always the case (in UK/Europe, though it may be so in America) - broadly speaking I think buying a used car for cash, that has already gone through most of its depreciation, is usually the cheapest option.
Leasing can make sense if you are able to offset the payments against tax as a business expense, but that will depend on how such arrangements are treated in France - others will know more about that than me.
Leasing is good for those who do not want to tie up money in a fixed asset, want servicing etc included in the deal, don’t do a big mileage, like to have a new car every few years, and can afford the monthly payments.
But as been said you have to have a financial track record for a lot of things in France and that may be the sticking point when you are newly arrived.
I guess their concern would be how they pursue, in the event of non-payment, if your money is in the US.
In the US EV’s depreciate like a rock because of the replacement cost of the battery so while they’re cheaper to buy, You then have the high cost of replacing that battery.
It’s pretty unusual to have to replace a battery and there’s a huge EV thread on here if you’re interested in the pros and cons of EVs in France.
That, and rapidly changing tech are good reasons to lease.
That’s a myth.
The risk with buying is that there’s breakthrough and your battery technology is obsolete overnight.
If it’s only a runabout you need then just buy a Renault R5e. If you want a fast runabout buy an Alpine A290, same car as the R5e but with different front suspension, excellent handling and a choice of two faster motors.
If it’s the Government contribution to the cost you’re referencing to Jane, you get that whether you lease of buy. We didn’t get it on the i4 purchase because it was over the limit but we did on the leased R5e.
Can I be very cheeky and ask how much per month your lease is?
Throughout your posts you have zigzagged a fair bit and I’m not sure if you’re planning to be in France as a resident or as a second home owning tourist. If you become a resident, an immigrant, you will have no trouble getting a lease contract. Getting one as a tourist spending up to 180 days a year in France might be a lot harder.
I was looking at the in the Renault dealership when my car was being serviced - I really liked it.
I was told by the receptionist that they have some excellent government funded lease deals in them at the moment.
My point was that I am french taxpayer so I get it. As yet the OP isn’t.
I didn’t know you had to be a tax payer. I thought it was just related to the sale of the vehicle. It was just deducted from our deposit. Though the garage panicked a few days later when they realised we laready had an EV which might have already qualified.
PM’d you with the details Tory.