Last Updated February 15, 2024
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What is a Contract Hire Agreement?
A Contract Hire Agreement is a document that outlines the terms and conditions between a vehicle owner and a hirer.
Documenting the lease terms helps prevent misunderstandings between the two parties and provides proof in the event of a legal dispute. Use a Contract Hire Agreement to lease new or used cars, vans, trucks, and more.
A Contract Hire Agreement is also known as a:
- Vehicle contract hire
- Car hire contract
- Vehicle lease agreement
- Car rental agreement
Please note that a Contract Hire Agreement is not the same as a finance lease and does not include an option to purchase the vehicle at the end of the term.
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How do I write a lease agreement for a vehicle?
Simply answer our user-friendly questionnaire to customise the Contract Hire Agreement template.
A clear and specific vehicle description typically includes:
- Whether its use is primarily for business or personal purposes
- Whether it’s new or used
- Body type (e.g., van, saloon, semi-truck, etc.)
- Year (e.g., 2022, 2023)
- Make (e.g., Ford)
- Model (e.g., Transit)
- Colour (e.g., white)
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
What’s a VIN?
All vehicles are assigned a unique 17-character VIN when they're manufactured. To find this number, check your driver’s side door, accident reports, insurance records, or repair work orders.
Step 2: Add party details
Your document must include information about the hirer and owner:
- Whether they’re an individual or an organisation
- Full names
- Addresses
Step 3: State any warranty and insurance terms
If needed, you can apply two types of warranties to the lease:
- A manufacturer’s warranty comes with the original purchase of a vehicle. If there’s still coverage, state how many years are left on the warranty.
- A supplementary warranty (i.e., extended warranty) may be available when the owner (or a third party) provides a warranty for repairs. This warranty may take effect when the manufacturer’s warranty expires, and it may last until the end of the lease term. If your agreement includes a supplementary warranty, you should state how much it will cost the hirer.
All drivers in the UK must have insurance, regardless of whether they own or hire their vehicle. As such, it’s important that your Contract Hire Agreement states the:
- Minimum insurance coverage
- Maximum deductible on fire, theft, and collision
- Gap coverage (if applicable)
What’s gap coverage?
It covers the difference between what the insurance company says the car is worth, and what the hirer would have to pay under the lease if the vehicle is destroyed. This stops the hirer from having to pay further charges.
Step 4: Customise your lease terms
Consider how these key terms may (or may not) apply to your situation:
- The lease length (e.g., one year)
- The allowable mileage (e.g., unlimited or a specified amount)
- Pricing information such as the vehicle’s value, any added fees (e.g., late fees, cleaning fees, etc.), a down payment (optional), the lease rate, payment schedules, pre-authorised payments, security deposits, and the VAT
- Obligations should either party end the lease early
Can you claim VAT on a contract hire car?
Depending on your situation, you may be able to recover the VAT on your leased vehicle. Legal requirements state which cars qualify for recovering the VAT charged, and there are limits to how much you can recover (e.g., 50% for cars leased for business purposes).
Step 5: Prepare to sign
You can use the “Additional Clauses” section to write a unique term that wasn’t already addressed in the questionnaire. In most cases, this isn’t necessary. Consult a solicitor if you need more support about applying terms and conditions to your contract.
When you’re ready, execute your Contract Hire Agreement by having the owner and hirer sign the document.
When leasing a vehicle, what am I responsible for?
You are responsible for obtaining the necessary insurance coverage and maintaining the vehicle. If you return the leased vehicle with excessive interior wear, dents or scratches, or any significant mechanical damage, the vehicle owner may charge you for the repairs.
Some owners may limit the miles the hirer can drive. In this case, you’re responsible for keeping track of your mileage. If you exceed this limit, the owner may charge a mileage fee at the end of the lease.
Does a contract hire show on a credit report?
Yes, if the owner performs a credit history check and reports lease payments to a credit bureau, the hirer will see an impact on their credit report.
Whether that impact is negative or positive depends on the hirer’s ability to make timely payments. By taking on a vehicle lease, the hirer accepts responsibility for their personal credit score.
Can I cancel a Contract Hire Agreement?
The ability to end a lease early depends on the contract and the other party’s willingness to accommodate your request.
If the other party consents to early termination without penalty, you can end your lease without any problems. However, a Contract Hire Agreement often outlines consequences for ending the agreement early.
For example, the hirer may need to pay for the difference between the residual value and the realised value. The realised value is the actual sale price that the owner can sell the leased vehicle for after the hirer terminates the lease early.
What happens at the end of a vehicle lease?
At the end of the vehicle lease term, the hirer returns the vehicle to the owner. If the hirer paid a security deposit at the beginning of the contract, the owner will inspect the vehicle and determine if the hirer will receive their deposit back.