Buy, lease or rent a lorry
When does it make sense to rent a van rather than leasing or purchasing?
Low capacity = high costs
Small or mid-sized vans that are only used occasionally mean costs of €35,000 or more, and that is just the purchase price. This is why more companies than ever are on the lookout for flexible solutions and only invest in their own vehicles where there are regular capacity needs.
If lorries are only used on an occasional or flexible basis, short-term or long-term rental makes more sense. This allows for a quick, targeted response to short-term demand, and the type of vehicle can be adapted immediately to suit the requirements of the job.
Short-term or long-term rental?
Short-term rental makes sense if:
- A van is out of commission for several days for an inspection or repair
- A major client unexpectedly requires an additional vehicle
- You would like to test out various models from a range of manufacturers before making a purchase.
Long-term rental makes sense if:
- An ongoing order is not certain and risks being cancelled
- Vehicles can be returned at any time
- You need to swap the van or lorry during the rental contract period (perhaps if you need more or les loading capacity
With Avis it is also possible to change to a different model during the term of a contract. This means complete flexibility and unlimited service are included.
Compare rental and financing for commercial vehicles
Purchasing lorries with liquid assets rather than financing, renting or leasing. This decision is the bread and butter of any fleet manager as the type of financing used for a company fleet has far-reaching implications. There is no one-size-fits-all solution here. It depends on the individual company’s financial situation and the practical level of usage of the vehicle.
That said, lease rates differ from rental rates in certain respects and this should be taken into consideration when making a decision. For example, if the rental company takes on most of the administration tasks, then the rental price already includes many of the costs and necessary services:
- Vehicle registration
- Taking out insurance
- Costs for repairs and inspections
- Comprehensive insurance
- Vehicle tax
- Administrative expenses
In the following comparison table, we have listed a number of additional differences for you.
Leasing, buying or renting a truck – What to look for when comparing options
| Rental | Leasing* | Purchase* | |
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| Purchase price due immediately |  |
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| VAT due immediately | |
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| Vehicle tax included | |
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| Servicing included | |
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| Insurance included | |
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| Is a short-term, cost-neutral return possible? | |
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| Residual value risk | |
** |
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| Affordable monthly rate | |
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| Are all relevant vehicle costs included in the price? | |
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| Depreciation costs | |
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| Replacement vehicle possible | |
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| Free replacement vehicle in the event of breakdown | |
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*Services may vary depending on the financing model (leasing or purchase) and individual factors such as credit rating, size and existing customer relationships etc. may have a decisive influence on the scope of services offered.
**depending on the contract type
Being tied to a vehicle when purchasing or leasing is not always the best option
When purchasing or leasing a vehicle, you are committing to owning your van for several years. This makes sense if the vehicle is continuously in use. However, it also means you have to take care of everything yourself.
Do you need a van regularly, but not for 12 months a year?
This is a clear indication that renting instead of purchasing or leasing is right for you, and you can return the van to us at no additional cost and without any complicated changes to the contract or terminations. Rates are calculated on a daily basis. Depending on the vehicle, renting may be worthwhile in certain cases, for example, if the van isn’t needed for a month or two over the summer. You can start saving money straight away.