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.

All car leases work the same way whether you choose petrol or diesel, hybrid or electric. Just specify the pre-agreed parameters, such as the lease duration, annual mileage, and initial rental amount, and then pay the fixed monthly rental throughout the term of your contract.

You can find out more by checking out our "How Leasing Works" guide.

Put simply, the range on an electric car is how far the car can travel on a single charge. Most pure electric vehicles can travel over 100 miles with ease on a single charge, although some newer models offer a range of 200 miles or more. 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.

The main difference between an electric and hybrid car is how the vehicle is powered. 

Electric cars (EVs) run solely on electricity. You plug them into charge, the battery stores the energy, and an electric motor drives the wheels. There's no petrol or diesel engine at all, which means zero tailpipe emissions. 

Hybrid cars use a mix of power. They have a petrol and diesel engine working alongside an electric motor. At low speeds the electric motor takes the lead and when you need more power, the engine steps in. 

If you’re deciding between the two, our guide on the Benefits of an Electric Car includes a simple electric vs hybrid comparison to help you find the best fit.

Installing an electric charging point at home is optional. Many EV drivers prefer overnight home charging to benefit from lower electricity costs and have a fully charged vehicle in the morning. Nationwide Vehicle Contracts partners with Pod Point to provide fast home EV charging solutions.

Not exactly. EVs use different connectors depending on the car and the charger type. Most models use Type 1 or Type 2 for standard charging and CCS for rapid charging. 

You can't accidentally use the wrong one. If it's not compatible, it won't plug in. 

You can learn more about connector types and charging options in our EV charging explained guide. 

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.

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.

The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme is a grant that provides a 75% contribution to the cost of one chargepoint and its installation. A grant cap is set at £350 (including VAT) per installation.

Your preferred Electric Vehicle Homecharge Installer will check if you are eligible for the grant and will apply on your behalf. The installer will then bill you for the price of the installation, less the grant amount they have applied for.

You can read more about the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme on the Government website. 

Insuring an electric car can be more expensive than a traditional vehicle due to higher repair costs and the need for specialised parts and services. However, many insurers offer discounts for electric vehicles, which can offset some of the increased costs. It's always a good idea to shop around and compare quotes to find the best deal.

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

Our cheapest leasing deals for electric cars start at just under £200 per month* with the Mazda MX-30 Electric. 

Check out all of our electric and hybrid lease deals to find the perfect one for you. 

*Based on current stock