Choose an EV
Select the type of electric car you’d like to lease. Use filters, such as battery range, model and mileage, to choose an electric car that matches your needs.
What is electric car leasing?
Electric car leasing is a type of car finance that is essentially a long-term rental of an EV (electric vehicle).
You sign a contract to pay a monthly fee, which gets you full use of an electric car for a fixed timeframe – normally between two and four years. When the contract ends, you return your EV to the car leasing company – as long as you’ve stuck to the terms of the contract you won’t have to pay anything else.
How does electric car leasing work?
Electric car leasing allows you to drive a brand-new EV by making fixed monthly payments. Here’s how it works:
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Pay an upfront fee
You’ll pay an initial rental equivalent to one, three, six or nine months of the monthly lease price for the car. The higher the initial rental, the lower your remaining monthly payments will be.
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Agree on lease length and annual mileage
Decide how long you want to keep the car for and what mileage you will drive each year.
You’ll usually be able to choose a car lease from 24, 36, 48 and up to 60 months. Monthly payments are often cheaper for longer contracts, but if you lease for more than three years, remember you will need to arrange an MOT.
What are the pros and cons of leasing an electric car?
Leasing an electric car comes with advantages and disadvantages, including:
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Pros
Can be a cost-effective way to drive a brand-new electric car
Access to the newest electric car models with the latest technology every few years
Fixed monthly price to help you budget
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Cons
You won’t own the vehicle at the end of the contract
There will be penalty charges if you exceed the mileage on your contract
You are likely to need a good credit history
Why compare electric car leasing with MoneySuperMarket
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It’s quick and easy
We’ll show the latest electric car deals, with all key information highlighted so you can choose a car which suits you.
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Refine your search
You can find an electric car that’s best suited to your needs by refining your search depending on a range of preferences, such as your monthly budget or mileage.
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Delivered to your door
Once you’ve found your deal, your new electric car will be delivered free of charge, with road tax and full manufacturer warranty included.
How to choose the best electric car leasing deal?
If you’re ready to make the switch to an electric car, here are some tips to steer you in the right direction when looking for leasing deals:
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Work out your budget
Make sure that you can afford the initial rental payment and the monthly lease rental payments. Remember to factor in running costs like charging and insurance
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Choose the right electric car
There are new electric vehicles and electric vehicle car brands coming to the market regularly so make sure to pick one that suits your lifestyle. Key things to think about are vehicle range, charging times or advanced technology
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Decide on lease length and mileage
Choose a contract length and annual mileage that suits your lifestyle. It’s important to give realistic mileage estimates to avoid paying for too many unused miles or paying a penalty charge for using too many.
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Shop around
Compare a wide range of electric car leasing deals with our partner Autotrader Leasing.
Is it cheaper to lease or finance an electric car?
Leasing and other finance products are all very different. When leasing you will need to pay an initial rental and then a fixed monthly payment. The vehicle never belongs to you but is handed back at the end of the lease. When financing a vehicle, it belongs to you (when you have paid all the monthly instalments or balloon payment for example) It’s important that you research your options and make an informed decision which approach is right for you and your personal circumstances.
What are the alternatives to leasing an electric car?
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Personal Contract Purchase (PCP)
A PCP deal lets you drive a new electric car with lower monthly payments than traditional finance. At the end of the term, you can either hand it back, trade it in for a new model, or pay the balloon payment to keep the car.
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Hire Purchase (HP)
With HP you’ll pay a deposit, then spread the remaining cost of your EV in fixed monthly instalments. Once the final payment is made, the car is yours. It’s straightforward, but monthly payments are usually higher than PCP because you’re paying off the full value of the car.
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Car loan
A personal loan could give you the funds to buy an electric car outright, while spreading the cost into manageable repayments. You’ll own the vehicle from the start, which means no mileage limits or restrictions. Just make sure the interest rate makes it a cost-effective option.
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Buying outright
If you can afford the upfront cost, buying your electric car outright means you’ll own it from day one with no monthly commitments. While it’s the most expensive option, it can save you money in the long run, and businesses may benefit from attractive tax breaks.
Our expert says…
Leasing an electric car can be a smart way to enjoy the latest models without the hefty upfront cost or worries about resale value. It’s flexible and often comes with lower monthly payments than buying. Just watch out for mileage limits, wear-and-tear charges and make sure the lease length suits your driving needs.
Tim Heming Personal Finance Expert
Compare electric car leasing with MoneySuperMarket
It’s easy to compare electric car leasing deals with MoneySuperMarket. We’ve teamed up with Autotrader Leasing to bring you the best electric car finance deals on the market
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Personal or business lease
Refine your search depending on your budget, the time you want the vehicle for, how many miles you plan to drive. When you’ve chosen your make and model you can toggle to get a personal or business lease price – with or without VAT.
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Compare quotes
Autotrader Leasing will search the market for you to always offer you the most competitive leasing deal available to meet your needs.
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Apply and receive your EV
With Autotrader Leasing, you can apply for your lease fully online from the comfort of your sofa. Once approved for credit and all documents are signed, they’ll arrange delivery to your door
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MoneySuperMarket has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award, an independent seal of excellence, which recognises businesses that consistently deliver a world-class customer experience.
Who are Autotrader Leasing?
Leasing from the name that you know and trust, Autotrader have 50 years’ experience in all things automotive.
Partnering with the widest network of trusted providers, Autotrader Leasing searches the market to help you find the most competitive offers on all makes and models of vehicle.
With fixed monthly pricing to help you manage your monthly budget and transparent pricing, what you see is the price you pay.
Browse, choose and apply online or call one of the expert team. Autotrader Leasing manage the process for you so you can order from your sofa and have a delivery to your door.
How long is a typical electric car lease deal?
You can lease a brand-new electric car from anywhere between 2 years and 5 years.
What is the cheapest electric car to lease?
Autotrader Leasing have a great selection of electric cars on offer. Check out their best deals section for the latest offers
Where are the nearest charging points for my electric car?
Many EV drivers charge at home or at work the majority of the time. But if you do need to charge away from home then free apps such as Zap-Map can show you charging locations near you. You can also filter by charging speed and price.
Our partners Autotrader Leasing have detailed the estimated charging time of all electric vehicles, so you can check this at the same time as checking the price of the car.
How far can I drive an electric car?
Electric vehicle range varies enormously between different vehicles. New technology means that vehicle range is increasing.
Our partners Autotrader Leasing detail the range of all electric vehicles, so you can check this at the same time as checking the price of the car.
What happens at the end of the lease term?
At the end of the contract, you have a number of options:
You can look to order a brand-new vehicle and to replace your existing car
You can organise to stay in your existing vehicle for a little longer by extending your contract
You can organise to hand the car back and walk away
Can I make customisations to my leased car?
Generally, customisation that leave a permanent mark or damage when removed not allowed.
Am I eligible for electric car leasing?
In order to be eligible, you will need:
To be 18 or over with a full driving licence
Have a good credit rating
Be able to afford the initial rental and subsequent monthly lease rental payments
How do I charge my electric car?
You can charge your electric car with a regular domestic three pin socket. However, this isn’t recommended as a regular solution due to the long charging time. Many EV drivers who are able to opt to have a home charging unit fitted.
Many electricity providers offer smart EV charging tariffs which give access to special energy rates.
For away from home charging free apps such as Zap-Map can show you charging locations near you. You can also filter by charging speed and price.
Can I cut my lease agreement early?
Yes, you may be able to terminate your contract early, but this does come with a penalty cost. The penalty varies by leasing company but as an average this will cost around 50% of the outstanding monthly lease rental payments.
For example, if your lease rental is £300 a month and you want to hand your car back 12 months before the end of the contract you would need to pay a penalty of 12months at £300 month = £3600 and at 50% you would pay an £1800 penalty charge.
Reviewed on 30 Apr 2026 by
