Lease Car Delivery Checklist: Taking Delivery of Your New Lease Car

Taking delivery of your new lease car is exciting, but if you've never done it before, it can feel a bit daunting. What do you need ready? What should you check when the car turns up? And what happens if you spot an issue? 

This guide gives you a simple lease car delivery checklist so you know what to do before the driver arrives, what to check when the car is delivered, and what to write on the delivery note if something isn't quite right. 

We discuss: 

A bit of preparation before delivery day will make everything smoother and help you feel in control. 

Once we’ve received your signed vehicle documentation and the car has arrived with the supplying dealership, our team will contact you to book a delivery date.

Please pick a time and date that works best for you. Deliveries typically take place Monday to Friday, between 09:00 and 17:30. Weekend and bank holiday deliveries are not available. Times are dependent on traffic, location and weather, so on rare occasions delivery may fall slightly outside of this window.

If you need to change your delivery date, let us know as soon as possible so we can rearrange this with the supplying dealer. Make sure we have the best phone number and email address for you, so the driver or delivery team can reach you on the day if they’re running early, late, or need directions.

Please note, we can only arrange delivery with contract holder due to data protection.

• Arrange fully comprehensive insurance to start on the day of delivery, not afterwards. 
• The hirer named on the finance agreement should be the main policyholder or a named driver on the insurance policy.
• If your registration number doesn’t appear on comparison websites yet (common with brand-new cars as they aren't registered until the day before delivery), call the insurer so they can set it up manually.

Looking for more information on insurance? Check out our guide, Insuring Your Leased Car. 

Some finance providers require the contract holder to be present and sign for the car, while others may allow another adult at the delivery address to sign on your behalf. 

If you’re unsure, check your documents or contact us before delivery day so there are no surprises.

On delivery day, your new vehicle will be delivered to your chosen address, provides it's situated on the GB mainland. Some remote Scottish locations may incur an additional delivery charge of up to £450, and we’re currently unable to deliver to the Isle of Wight, Isle of Man, Northern Ireland or the Scottish Islands.

To help provide you with an estimated time of arrival, the delivery driver will aim to call you approximately one hour prior to drop-off so please make sure you have access to your phone throughout the day. 

They'll also talk you through the key features and there should be enough fuel to reach the nearest fuel station. 

Most of our customers choose free driven delivery to their home or workplace, but there are a few different ways your lease car can arrive. 

This is the most common form of delivery. Your car is driven from the dealer or PDI centre to your chosen address. You may notice a small amount of delivery mileage on the odometer, don't worry, this is normal and will not count towards your pre-agreed contracted mileage, subject to the finance provider. 

The driver will hand over the keys, go through some basic controls and features, and ask you to sign a delivery form (after you've done your checks, more on this below) once you're happy. 

In some cases, you may be able to request transported delivery, where the car is brought on a vehicle transporter. This option tends to be popular with customers who order prestige or high value vehicles and who would like little to no delivery mileage on their odometer.

It's worth noting that transported delivery comes with an additional charge. Costs vary depending on location and availability but generally range from around £150 to £500.

On rare occasions, collection from the supplying dealership may be possible. You’ll need to arrange your own travel to the dealership, and collection is usually by appointment only.

It collection is available, our deliveries team will be in contact to confirm a suitable collection date and time with you, along with the dealership address and the name of the contact who will be able to assist you on the day.

Like a driven or transported delivery, the dealer will talk you through the key functions of the vehicle and will answer any questions you may have about the vehicle. You will also need to show some form of photo ID on the day.

When your car arrives, don't rush through everything out of pure excitement. This is your chance to make sure the car is safe, to the correct specification, and free from obvious damage before you accept it. 

Watch: How to check your lease car on delivery. Prefer to follow on screen? Our short video walks you through the key checks to make before signing for your new lease car: 

• Confirm the registration plate matches your paperwork and insurance. 
• Make sure the make, model, engine (or battery size), fuel type, gearbox and trim level are exactly what you ordered. 

Walk slowly around the car and look at it from different angles. 

• Paintwork - Look for scratches, dents, stone chips or patches where the paint doesn't look right. 
• Glass - Check the windscreen and windows for cracks, chips or deep marks.
• Wheels and tyres - Look for kerb marks on the allows and check the tyres aren't damaged and have a sensible level of tread. 

Ensure the interior is free from any marks or scuffs (e.g. all light fittings are stable, there are no rips or tears in the seats or gearstick). 

• If you ordered any specific options or packs, now is the time to make sure they're there. Common extras include a panoramic roof, parking sensors, or heated seats. 
• Check you have the handbook (including service book), locking wheel nut(s), and tyre repair kit (if required). 

Please be aware that most manufacturers do not offer car mats as standard so unless you have ordered these specifically with your sales representative, these will not be included in your vehicle.

When your new car arrives, you'll see a small amount of mileage already on the clock. This is known as delivery mileage, and don't worry, it's completely normal. 

A small amount of mileage usually comes from moving the car between the factory, storage compounds, the dealership, and your address. 

None of this means the vehicle is 'used', it's just part of getting the car prepared and brought to your door. 

In most cased, delivery mileage doesn't count towards your agreed mileage allowance for your lease agreement, but it can vary depending on the finance provider. 

To be safe, check your finance agreement to see how delivery mileage is treated, or ask us or your finance provider to confirm.

Before the delivery driver leaves, you'll be asked to sign a delivery form to confirm you've received the vehicle. It's important to not rush this part. This is your chance to record anything you've spotted during your checks.  

If you're happy with your lease car and haven't spotted any issues, check all the details on the form are correct and sign it to confirm you've received the vehicle in good condition. 

If you've noticed something you're not happy with, don't keep it to yourself. Make sure it's clearly written on the delivery form before you sign. 

Be specific, take clear photos, and ask the driver to acknowledge your notes if possible. 

You're not being awkward by doing this, you're simply creating an accurate record of how the car arrived. 

Once the delivery form is completed and vehicle has been dropped off: 

1. Contact our customer services team as soon as you can 
2. Share your registration, a description of the issue, and any photos you took 
3. We'll work with the supplying dealer and/or finance provider to agree the next steps 

Delivery day shouldn't be stressful, and you don't have to figure it all our on your own. If you've got a question about your lease car delivery or something doesn't quite feel right: 

• Get in touch with our Customer Services team, and we'll be happy to help 
• Have your registration and order number handy so we can help you faster