Do You Pay for Maintenance on a Leased Car?
The short answer is usually yes — unless you choose a maintenance package.
Car leasing gives you fixed monthly costs, but servicing and wear-and-tear items aren’t normally included as standard. The good news? You can add maintenance to your lease, and for many drivers, it makes life a lot easier.
Does car leasing include maintenance?
Standard lease agreements do not include maintenance, which means you are responsible for costs like:
Servicing
Tyres
Brake pads and discs
MOTs (if applicable - most 3 year leases will not require this)
These are all part of keeping the car in a safe, roadworthy condition.
The good news is that a maintenance package can take care of most of the additional costs.
What is a maintenance package?
A maintenance package is an optional extra you can add to your lease.
Instead of paying for repairs as they happen, you:
Pay a fixed monthly amount
Spread the cost across your contract
Avoid unexpected bills
What does a maintenance package usually include?
Most plans cover:
Scheduled servicing
MOT tests
Tyre replacement (fair wear)
Brake pads and discs
Exhausts, batteries, bulbs and wipers
Labour and fitting
Some also include:
Courtesy cars
Collection and delivery
Breakdown support
Exact cover varies, so it’s worth checking what’s included before you commit. If you have any particular requirements, it's worth having a chat with our friendly advisers to see what best fits your needs.
Maintenance vs warranty: what’s the difference?
This is one of the biggest areas of confusion. See our separate guide on manufacturer warranties for further detail.
Warranties cover faults, i.e. things that shouldn't go wrong in a new car, such as engine failure, electrical faults or manufacturing defects.
Maintenance covers wear and tear, i.e. things that naturally wear out on your vehicle, like tyres and brake pads.
Lease cars come with a manufacturer warranty, but that doesn’t replace maintenance.
Is a maintenance package worth it?
It depends on how you use your car. It’s often worth it if you:
Drive higher mileage
Want predictable monthly costs
Don’t want surprise repair bills
Prefer a hands-off approach and peace of mind about servicing
You might skip it if you:
Drive very low mileage
Are happy to pay for servicing as you go
Don’t mind some cost variability
What about electric vehicles (EVs)?
EVs change the equation slightly. They have fewer moving parts, no oil changes (for completely electric engines) and regenerative braking systems are usually kinder to the brake pads and wear them less.
However, they still need:
Tyres
Cabin filters
Brake servicing
General inspections
Coolant and gear/transmission fluid checks
A maintenance package can still be useful — just less essential than with petrol or diesel cars.
Why maintenance matters at the end of your lease
Bear in mind that you will be expected to keep the vehicle in roadworthy condition and to have it serviced. This will help avoid any unexpected charges at the end of the lease when you return the car. When your lease ends, the car is inspected using standards from the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association.
You’re expected to return it in line with:
The vehicle age
The agreed mileage
The proper servicing history
If not, you could be charged for missed services, excessive wear and tear or avoidable damage that needs to be repaired before the vehicle can be resold.
Staying on top of maintenance protects you from end-of-contract charges.
What counts as fair wear and tear?
Our full guide to this can be found here. Some wear is expected, such as:
Light scratches
Minor interior wear
Small stone chips
But you may be charged for deep scratches exposing metal, damaged wheels, cracked glass or tyres with heavy wear.
Regular maintenance and servicing helps keep everything within acceptable limits and ensures that you are not out on the road with something that might cause a danger for yourself or others.
Can you add maintenance later?
In many cases, yes - but it's very easy to add it when you set up your lease. This way, everything is built into one simple monthly cost.
Talk to us about maintenance options
Every driver is different, and the right setup depends on:
Your mileage
Your budget
The type of car you choose
We can help you decide if maintenance is worth it, run through what is included, and build that into your lease from the start.
If you’re interested in leasing a car with a maintenance package, take a look at our latest deals. Get in touch with our friendly team today to discuss your options by calling us on 0344 745 1818 or contacting us online.