Are maintenance packages offered with Business Contract Hire or Finance Lease?

Summary: Yes — maintenance packages are commonly offered with Business Contract Hire (BCH) as an optional “fully maintained” product. Finance Lease deals less often include maintenance as part of the lease, but maintenance cover can usually be arranged separately through the lessor, a broker or a third‑party supplier. UK Business Loans helps businesses compare maintained and non‑maintained vehicle finance options and matches enquiries with lenders and brokers. For a fast, no‑obligation match and quote, complete a Free Eligibility Check now: Get Quote Now.

Quick summary answer

Business Contract Hire commonly offers a maintained or unmaintained option — many BCH deals are marketed as “fully maintained contract hire”. By contrast, Finance Lease is primarily a form of funding: maintenance is typically the lessee’s responsibility, though cover can often be arranged separately via the financier, a broker or a maintenance supplier.

If you need help comparing maintained vs non‑maintained deals or want a quick match to lenders and brokers who arrange maintained vehicle packages, use our Free Eligibility Check: Get a Free Quote.

What are Business Contract Hire and Finance Lease?

Business Contract Hire (BCH / Contract Hire)

Contract Hire is an operating lease where the hirer pays a fixed monthly rental to use a vehicle for an agreed term and mileage. At the end of the term the vehicle is returned. BCH products are commonly offered as either maintained (monthly rental includes maintenance) or unmaintained (maintenance excluded).

Finance Lease

Finance Lease is a capital/finance product where the business pays rentals that fund much of the asset value; the vehicle is treated like an asset on the lessor’s balance sheet. The lessee typically assumes maintenance, insurance and running costs, although third‑party maintenance or bespoke arrangements can sometimes be added.

How maintenance fits with vehicle finance: core differences

Below is a quick comparison showing typical responsibilities and options for maintained cover.

Types of maintenance packages and what they cover

Maintenance packages vary in depth and price. Common package types include:

• Fully maintained (comprehensive) — scheduled servicing, MOT, repairs, tyres, breakdown recovery and accident management. Usually included in a single monthly rental for BCH.
• Servicing-only — covers manufacturer scheduled services and associated labour/parts.
• Tyres & wear — tyre replacement and wear-and-tear items (often optional bolt-ons).
• Roadside/Recovery — UK breakdown cover and recovery for one or multiple drivers.
• Accident management & replacement vehicle — handling repairs after an incident and providing hire or replacement vehicles while yours is off the road.

Typical exclusions (read the contract): fuel, damage from misuse/abuse, uninsured loss, cosmetic damage, and wear beyond agreed fair wear rules. Always ask for a maintenance schedule and exclusions in writing.

Tip: Ask your broker or lender for a detailed maintenance schedule and any approved repairer restrictions.

Can maintenance be added? How much does it cost?

Short answer: yes — but how it’s added and how much it costs depends on product type and vehicle profile.

• Contract Hire: maintenance is usually selected at the time of quote. The monthly rental will increase to reflect the cost of cover.
• Finance Lease: maintenance is less commonly built in but can be arranged via a separate maintenance contract or by asking the broker to include it in an overall package.

Costs are driven by:

• Vehicle make, model and age — specialist or luxury vehicles typically cost more to maintain.
• Annual mileage — higher mileage increases servicing frequency and tyre replacement.
• Level of cover — fully maintained vs servicing-only vs breakdown only.
• Driver profiles — business with multiple drivers or high-risk use can raise premiums.
• Term and excess policy — longer terms spread costs but may include escalation clauses.

Rather than fixed prices, expect maintenance to add a moderate percentage to the monthly rental; high mileage and premium vehicles push that higher. Get tailored cost comparisons from brokers who specialise in fleet and van funding: Free Eligibility Check.

Pros and cons of including maintenance in your deal

Pros

• Predictable monthly costs — simplified budgeting with one invoice.
• Lower internal admin — the supplier handles servicing, tyres and breakdowns.
• Access to dealer networks and approved repairers — useful for warranties and OEM parts.
• Reduced downtime — packages often include replacement vehicles and accident management.

Cons

• Higher monthly cost compared with unmaintained deals.
• Excess wear and mileage charges can apply at termination if you exceed agreed limits.
• Service location restrictions — you may have to use approved repairers.
• Early termination fees may include outstanding maintenance liabilities.

How UK Business Loans helps you get the right maintained or non‑maintained deal

We’re an introducer — we don’t lend directly. Complete a short enquiry and we’ll match your request to lenders and brokers with relevant experience in vehicle and fleet funding (typically from £10,000 upwards). Our partners can offer fully maintained BCH, unmaintained BCH, finance leases and bespoke maintenance arrangements.

Process: you submit basic business & vehicle details → we match you with suitable partners → a broker/lender contacts you with tailored options. Start the quick enquiry: Get Quote Now — free, no-obligation.

Practical steps: adding maintenance and what to request from brokers

Use this checklist when enquiring or negotiating:

• Vehicle(s) required: make, model, new/used and quantity.
• Term: contract length in months.
• Annual mileage per vehicle (accurate estimates reduce surprises).
• Type of cover wanted: fully maintained, servicing-only, tyres, breakdown etc.
• Who will be driving: multi-driver policies and named drivers.
• VAT status and whether VAT recovery applies to your business.
• Trading history and company structure — helps match to lenders able to accept your profile.

Key questions to ask potential suppliers:

• Exactly what is included and excluded in maintenance?
• Who are the approved repairers and where can we have the vehicle serviced?
• What are excess wear and tear policies, and how are charges calculated?
• What happens if a vehicle is off the road — is a replacement provided?
• How will early termination be charged, and are there outstanding maintenance liabilities?

Tax, accounting and legal notes

General guidance only: Business Contract Hire rentals are normally treated as operating expenses for accounting purposes, while finance leases often have different balance sheet treatments. VAT treatment depends on the type of contract and the business’s VAT status. This page is informational and not tax or legal advice — speak to your accountant for definitive treatment.

FAQs

Are maintenance packages offered with Business Contract Hire or Finance Lease?

Yes. Maintenance packages are commonly offered with Business Contract Hire as an optional “fully maintained” package. Finance Lease typically does not include maintenance by default but cover can usually be arranged separately.

Is a maintenance package available with Business Contract Hire or Finance Lease?

With BCH it’s readily available; with Finance Lease you’ll usually arrange it separately or through a broker who can bundle services.

Are maintenance options available on Business Contract Hire or Finance Lease agreements?

Yes — BCH commonly offers options. Finance Lease options are less standardised but many providers or third-party suppliers will offer a maintenance contract.

Can maintenance packages be added to a Business Contract Hire or Finance Lease?

Contract Hire: typically choose maintained or unmaintained at quoting. Finance Lease: yes, via separate contracts arranged by broker or supplier.

Do Business Contract Hire or Finance Lease deals offer maintenance packages?

BCH frequently offers maintenance as a standard optional add‑on. Finance Lease deals less commonly include maintenance but it is available from many brokers or third‑party providers.

What does a maintenance package usually cover?

Common items: scheduled servicing, MOT, repairs, tyres, breakdown recovery and replacement vehicles. Always check the contract for exact inclusions and exclusions.

Will including maintenance raise my monthly cost significantly?

It increases the monthly rental, but the exact uplift depends on vehicle type, mileage, and cover level. Get comparative quotes to weigh cost vs convenience.

Get a free, no‑obligation quote

Compare maintained and non‑maintained vehicle finance options quickly. Complete our short enquiry to be matched with lenders and brokers who specialise in fleet and van funding (from £10,000+). It’s free and there’s no obligation: Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check.

Compliance & trust

UK Business Loans is an introducer: we do not lend money or provide regulated advice. The enquiry form is not an application — it helps us match your business to suitable lenders and brokers. We share information only with selected partners to find the best options for your requirements. This page is for information only and not financial, tax or legal advice.

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1. Will applying through UK Business Loans affect my business credit score?
No — submitting an enquiry to UK Business Loans is a soft, non‑credit application that won’t affect your business credit score unless a lender you choose performs a formal credit check.

2. Is UK Business Loans a lender and does it cost anything to use the service?
No — we are a free introducer that matches your business to FCA‑regulated lenders and brokers; there is no charge to use our service.

3. How quickly will I be matched with lenders or brokers for vehicle finance, contract hire or finance lease?
You’ll typically receive a response within hours after completing our short Free Eligibility Check, with brokers or lenders contacting you to discuss tailored options.

4. Can I get a maintenance package included with Business Contract Hire or Finance Lease?
Yes — Business Contract Hire commonly offers an optional “fully maintained” package, while Finance Lease usually requires a separate maintenance contract arranged via the lessor, broker or third‑party supplier.

5. How much will including a maintenance package increase my monthly rental?
Costs vary by vehicle make/model, annual mileage and cover level, but maintenance typically adds a moderate percentage to the monthly rental—get comparative quotes to see exact uplifts.

6. What loan and finance amounts can I apply for through UK Business Loans?
Our network handles vehicle finance and business loans from around £10,000 up to £10 million+ depending on the lender and product.

7. Can start‑ups or businesses with imperfect credit obtain vehicle finance or business loans?
Yes — many of our partnered brokers and lenders specialise in start‑ups and businesses with less‑than‑perfect credit and can offer bespoke options.

8. What information will I need to get matched for vehicle finance or a business loan?
Prepare basic business details, trading history, VAT status, vehicle specifications (make, model, new/used, mileage), desired term and recent bank statements or accounts as requested.

9. How do tax, VAT and accounting treatments differ between Business Contract Hire and Finance Lease?
Generally, BCH rentals are treated as operating expenses and VAT rules differ by contract, while finance leases often have different balance‑sheet and VAT implications—consult your accountant for definitive advice.

10. How can I compare maintained vs unmaintained contract hire or finance lease deals effectively?
Ask brokers for detailed maintenance schedules, approved repairer lists, excess wear policies, replacement vehicle/accident cover and fully itemised quotes so you can compare total monthly costs and exclusions.