Electric car leasing

If you’re thinking of going electric, car leasing an EV offers many benefits over buying. With leasing, you never own the vehicle, which means you need to worry about the car declining in value. 

Another appealing aspect of leasing is that contract lengths tend to be short (only 2, 3 or 4 years), allowing you to ‘try out’ the vehicle without committing for the long-term and upgrade to a new car lease deal at the end of your contract. You can also check out our Benefits of Electric Cars guide to help you decide whether leasing or buying is best for you.

It's also worth pointing out that customers who go electric can take advantage of the many Government incentives, including the plug-in car grants and lower Benefit In Kind (BIK) tax rates.

It depends on the electric car you choose. Every EV has an official electric range, usually measured using the WLTP testing procedure, which makes it easier to compare different models.

Your real-world range can vary depending on factors such as driving style, weather, vehicle load and the equipment you're using.

If you’re worried about the range of an electric car, our Electric Cars with the Longest Range guide should help ease any concerns you may have.

Again, just like range, charging time depends on the model in question. It varies depending on the size of the car's battery, how quickly the vehicle can accept a charge and the type of charger you're using.

A standard home charger is designed for charging over several hours or overnight, while rapid and ultra-rapid public chargers can add a significant amount of charge much more quickly.

Rapid chargers can typically recharge a compatible EV to around 80% in roughly 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the vehicle and charger.

No. You can run an electric car using public charging points, so having a charger at home isn't essential.

However, if you have suitable parking, home charging is often one of the easiest ways to live with an EV. You can plug the car in when you get home, charge overnight and start the next day ready to go.

Nationwide Vehicle Contracts partners with Pod to provide fast home EV charging solutions.

With public charging points increasing all the time, the easiest way to find your nearest electric vehicle charging point is to check out or download the Zap-Map app to see what EV charging points are available to you in your local area.

The cost depends on your car's battery size, how much electricity you use, your electricity tariff and where you charge.

Charging at home, particularly on an appropriate off-peak tariff, can be considerably cheaper than regularly relying on rapid public charging. Public charging prices vary between networks and locations, with rapid and ultra-rapid chargers generally costing more.

For more information about charging, check out our guide: EV Charging Explained

They can be, particularly if you're able to do most of your charging at home.

Your actual costs will depend on your electricity tariff, where you charge, annual mileage, insurance and the EV you choose.

It's also worth remembering that electric cars are now subject to Vehicle Excise Duty, so road tax should be factored into your overall costs.

If you run out of charge in your electric vehicle, stay calm and pull over safely. Contact a roadside assistance service like the AA or RAC, which can provide a portable charger or tow you to the nearest charging station.

To prevent this in the future, use apps to locate charging points and keep an eye on your battery levels.

Yes, electric cars still need regular servicing and an MOT, just like petrol or diesel vehicles. The difference is that EVs have fewer moving parts, so there's no exhaust system, starter motor or fuel injection to worry about. This often makes maintenance simpler and can reduce service costs. 

You’ll still need to look after everyday items such as brakes, tyres and wipers to keep your car safe and legal. 

For more help, explore our Electric Car Maintenance guide and Electric Car Running Costs guide.

Not necessarily. The price of electric car insurance depends on many of the same factors as any other car, including the model, value, driver's age, location and driving history.

Some EVs can be more expensive to repair because of their batteries, specialist components and advanced technology, which can influence insurance costs.

If you want to know more about how insurance compares, check out our Electric Car Running Costs guide.

Absolutely. Range should be one of the factors you consider when comparing electric cars, particularly if you regularly cover long distances.

Think about how many miles you typically drive in a day, whether you can charge at home or work and how often you make longer journeys. You can then compare this with each car's official WLTP electric range.

Yes, although eligibility depends on your circumstances.

For 2026/27, eligible renters and people living in flats can receive up to £500 towards installing a home chargepoint. There is also support of up to £500 for eligible households with on-street parking installing an approved cross-pavement charging solution.

Separate schemes are available for eligible workplaces and landlords.