Ask away 

Absolutely. You can order completely online. Our delivery partners are now safely delivering cars that are in stock (you can find them here). There's a little more to it, so it's taking a little longer. If you'd like to know more about what makes our our delivery process safe, you can find out more here.

If in doubt, contact us. We’re here to help.

We're delivering now!

If you're thinking of ordering something that isn't in stock, it takes 12 weeks on average to come into stock once production starts but that is really only a guide. If you need a more accurate date then just get in touch.

You can read more about our safe delivery process here.

Simply put, we follow government guidelines. You can find a lot more information about what's involved here.

If you have any concerns or questions, please just get in touch.

Most garages are now taking bookings for MOTs and services.

If your MOT due date was before 1st August, you have an extra 6 months to get your car tested. It’s still your responsibility to make sure the car is roadworthy. As the MOT is to make sure your car is safe, it’s a good idea to get it done as soon as possible. There’s loads more information about the government MOT extension here.

If your MOT is due on or after the 1st of August then your due date doesn’t change, so you’ll need to get the test booked in before that date.

It’s important to get your car serviced to make sure it stays running well, not just because it’s a condition of your lease. We would recommend getting a service booked in as soon as you can once it’s due.

We’ll book your MOT or service for you if you picked our maintenance package, just give us a call and we’ll take it from there.

If it’s urgent call 0333 772 2222, otherwise please email care@zen.auto and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours. We’re much busier than usual so we’d really appreciate it if you could email where possible.

Exactly what you would normally do. Practice social distancing where possible and use hand sanitiser/wash your hands when you get home.

• Make sure everyone is safe
• Call the police and an ambulance if anyone is injured
• Swap contact details with anyone that was involved, including anyone that may have seen it happen
• If it’s safe to, take pictures of the cars involved (even if there’s no damage) and the road layout
• Don’t admit liability

If you break down, call the AA. Their regular patrol service is running – 0800 028 0205.

If you’ve been personally impacted and you’re struggling financially because of Covid-19, please get in touch at care@zen.auto. We will work with you to find a solution to help get you through these incredibly difficult times, in some circumstances that could be a payment holiday of up to 6 months.

If we do agree to change your payment structure in relation to the impact of Covid-19 you can rest assured that this won't affect your credit history.

You can get free, impartial advice from the Money Advice Service too.

Here are a few things to think about before you take the plunge:

• How far do you need to travel most days?
• How often do you need to take longer trips?
• Can you charge at home if you need to? (Do you have off-street parking?)
• Do you have charging points nearby – at work or in public spaces if you need them?

If you do lots of long-distance trips and you won't have the time to stop for 30 - 45 min at the services every now and then, you might be better choosing a plug-in hybrid. If charging isn’t a problem and you like the idea of lower maintenance costs, and cleaner air (by cutting out those tailpipe emissions), a fully electric car could be for you.

Usually, yes (but they can be cheaper to run and look after).

All the tech that goes into EVs can make them seem expensive. But, thanks to lots of competing manufacturers, they’re getting cheaper to lease.

It’s worth doing the maths to work out if your charging costs will be less than your fuel and maintenance. If they are (they are in most cases), and you’re planning to keep your car a while, an EV could pay off in the long run.

Yes.

All those intelligent systems that keep your car running at its best (like regenerative breaking that takes the strain off your engine and brake pads) wouldn’t work in a manual.

Yes! Of course, we’re a little bit biased (quite a few of our team drive EVs or plug-in hybrids). We’re also lucky enough to get sneak peeks at the latest models when manufacturers come to visit (it’s a tough job, we know). Seeing the combo of smart tech, performance and stunning design in those new cars wows us every time.

There are so many EVs on the market now, we think there’s a model for everyone.

Yes, but only until you register your car with TFL which costs £10. They’ll let you know when it’s time to renew.

You’ll need a letter from us to explain that you’re the keeper of the car, you can request it here.

Not necessarily. If you can’t (because your home has on-street parking, for example) don’t worry. There are over 10,000 charging points across the UK and counting.

That said, having your own charging point is handy, especially if you want to charge your car overnight when it’s often cheaper.

You do. But it might not cost as much as you’d expect for two reasons:

1. You could apply for a grant

Charging points typically cost around £700, including the grant from the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV).

• Buy or lease your EV or plug-in hybrid car from 1st October 2016
• Have off-street parking
• Choose a charging point on OLEV’s approved list
• Use a charging-point-installer on OLEV’s approved list.

2. You could use one of our OLEV-approved installers.

We’ve partnered with some of the best EV home charging point engineers that we could find - speak to Tom and the team to find out more.

Whether you pick an installer on our list or not, we’re here to help.

That depends on three things:

• Do you have a three-pin charging cable for your car? It’s an optional extra with some EVS.
• Have you checked with your energy provider? (It’s usually fine but charging with a three-pin plug could affect the overall energy supply to your home).
• Do you have the time? (It’s much faster to charge at a charging point).

Overall, it’s probably better to use your three-pin plug as back-up rather than for everyday charging.

Pretty much. You can find all the UK charge points on ZapMap. There are a few different kinds of charging cable/power type (AC/DC) but most charging stations have multiple types at the same location. Use ZapMap’s filter to find the right charging stations for your car.

Your EV’s SatNav should also show you the way to charging points when you need them.

And if you drive a Tesla, your SatNav will show you the way to Tesla’s own charging points. (Although you can use the public ones, too.)

Most of our EVs come with a cable, but double check with us when you order.

If you have a charging unit at home with a tethered cable, you’ll need a separate cable to charge up when you’re out and about.

Annoyingly, not. Your charging cable should work on all public charging units, but if you’re planning on sharing it with friends and family, you’ll need to double check which make and model EV they’re driving first.

That depends on your car and the type of charger you’re using. In theory, you can fully charge a typical EV in 8 hours – but with rapid chargers, you could drive 100 miles after charging up for just over half an hour.

That depends on whether you’re charging at home, at work or at a public charging point. And on your car’s make and model.

• Fully charging the average EV at home with a range of 180 to 200 miles costs about £10.
• Fully charging the same EV at a public charging point can cost as much as £20.

Most public charge points take payment cards and you won’t need a subscription to use them.

Good idea! We’d love to help, but we recommend talking to the experts – companies like Engie or Tonik can tell you everything your employer needs to know.

Most research says driving and looking after an EV is cheaper than running a petrol car.

In fact one piece of research said that EVs cost 23% less on average to service and run over three years (or 60,000 miles) compared to petrol cars.

The actual cost depends on when and where you charge. It’s typically cheaper to charge at home at night than at a public charging point in the middle of the day. If you’re really lucky, your employer might have installed a free or subsidised charging point in your office carpark.

Our friends at Parkers can help you with that one. They spend their lives test driving all kinds of cars. And they’ve put a ‘miles per pound’ list together to give you a good idea of how far you can drive your favourite EV between charges.

If you lease an EV, it’s road-tax-free at the minute. If that changes then we'll take care of that for you anyway. One less thing for you to think about. 

Yes, but not necessarily as often.

Although you should still service your car, it shouldn’t cost as much as services you’ve had with ‘classic’ fuel cars. That’s because the mechanics of EVs are simpler and the tech is smarter.

You still need to replace wipers, fluids and bulbs. But EV’s don’t have as many internal moving parts – meaning there aren’t as many bits to go wrong. And they all use some kind of regenerative breaking to make your battery and brake pads last longer.

Your new EV battery will come with a big guarantee, so you shouldn’t need to worry about replacing it while you’re leasing from us.

‘Real world’ ranges give you a good idea of how far you can drive your car between charges.

They’re usually more helpful than a manufacturer’s range figures. That’s because manufacturers test cars under perfect laboratory settings – without loaded boots, a passenger in every seat or the rain pouring outside. ‘Real world’ ranges show what it’s really like to drive your car day-to-day.

You'll only find fully electric cars on ElectricAuto. 

You can get a Plug in Hybrid (PHEV) which has a rechargeable battery and a classic petrol or diesel engine working together. They cost a bit more to run than pure EVs as you’ll need to buy fuel and look after your engine. But if you drive long distances you’ll be able to go further without stopping by using your battery and engine together.

You can find PHEVs and non-electric fuel cars to lease over on ZenAuto - we're part of the same group. 

These are the old and new EU tests that measure a car’s fuel consumption and CO2 and pollutant emissions. The government uses them to work out road tax rates. But if you drive an EV (not a hybrid) the tests won’t affect you as your car doesn’t have any emissions.

NEDC was the New European Driving Cycle. It’s a test that’s been around since the 1980s. But the EU is replacing it with the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) laboratory test.

If you like reading up on emissions testing, here’s the link.

That, unsurprisingly, depends on how far you think you'll be driving. Knowing how many miles you normally cover in a year is a good starting point. If you don't keep count, check the mileages on your old MOT papers. Or, make a list of the most regular trips you take in a month. Multiply that out over the year and add a little extra for ad hoc or special trips (like the annual drive to see Nana in Newcastle). 

Every model's different. Pick a car you like the look of to get more info about its gadgets and features (or give Tom and the team a call).

If a car's missing a feature you're after you should be able to add it. You might have to wait a little longer for delivery, as we'll get the manufacturer to make your car to your spec. But you'll get exactly what you want. Winner.

Ring us soon as you can. We can work out what we need to do to update your lease and run through your options.

Once a month. You're free to pick a monthly date that suits you (to come just after payday, for example). We'll put the exact timings in your contract. 

If you're driving sensibly and you look after your car, you'll probably be fine. It's best to check the BVRLA wear and tear guide, though. It gives you plenty of examples of what's fair and what's not. If it looks like you've put your car through the mill when you give it back, we could ask you to pay for repairs. 

They start at £250 but the exact amount will depend on the car you choose. It's worth knowing that paying more upfront will bring your monthly payments down. Give Tom and the team a call if you want to crunch some numbers.

If you already know the car you want, you can do the whole thing online.

Or you can give Tom and the team a bell and they'll help you pick your car and order it online. They can call you back if it's easier.

They'll give you loads more info about any cars you've got your eye on (once you get them started, it might be difficult to get them to stop). They'll also tell you how much the car costs, and they'll let you know how long it should take to deliver it.

Yes. We'd hate to see anyone get into money struggles to drive one of our cars. So, we always run a credit check to make sure you can afford the lease you're after. We'll check your ID too (to make sure you're really you). The checks will show up on your credit history, which means other lenders could see them if you apply for credit somewhere else.

If you're not sure whether you'll pass our checks, you can use our finance eligibility checker to find out, without impacting your credit score.

We will deliver your car to your home address in mainland UK. If you're outside mainland UK, please contact us before you place an order.

That depends on the car you pick. We can get our 'stock deal' cars to you in three to four weeks (and sometimes even sooner). But if you spec your own car, it'll take a little longer for the manufacturer to make it for you. If you call Tom and the team before you order, they can give you a better idea of when the car you're looking at will be ready. If you can't wait, they can suggest a different make, model or colour that could be ready earlier.

As soon as you order your car, we'll be able to give you a delivery date for stock deals or an approximate delivery date for anything bespoke.

It depends where you are. We can arrange delivery to non-mainland UK addresses, but there are extra charges and the delivery service is a little different to our standard. Make sure you get in touch with us to talk these through before placing your order, so you know exactly what’s involved before you commit to anything.

Not in the UK? Again, get in touch and we’ll do what we can to help.

There’s a couple key differences from our normal delivery experience.

1. You’ll need to collect the car from a port, you’ll need to cover any costs for this
2. We’ll give you an AM/PM collection slot, not a specific time

You’ll still be able to fully inspect the car before we hand it over to you and we won’t need any additional documentation (other than the normal ID so we know you’re you).

When it comes to the end of your lease, you’ll have to return the car to the port too. If you renew then we’ll make sure we’re delivering your new car at the same time as you return your old one.

Yes, our prices always include VAT.

Nope. One day we might look into leasing vans or motorbikes, but cars will always be our first love. 

Nope. If you’re a business, sole trader or partnership you should give our parent company, Zenith, a try. They mostly lease cars to larger companies with fleets of 100 cars or more.If you’re self-employed, check with your tax advisor or accountant to see whether a PCH lease could work for you

Ours are usually anywhere between two and four years. Typically, the longer your lease, the lower your monthly payments. 

We're the newest member of the ZenAuto family. When you place an order with us, it will be expert team at ZenAuto that takes care of you and orders your car from the manufacturer or finds it for you from stock.

Our cars come from the dealers we've handpicked. If you've spec'd your car, the dealers will get it fresh from the manufacturer. You only have to talk to us when you're ordering though - we handle everything with the manufacturers and dealers behind the scenes. 

• Car insurance (and you have to prove you've insured your car before we hand over the keys)
• Maintenance and servicing if you didn't choose this option when you ordered
• Fuel

It's renting something, over an agreed amount of time, for a fixed amount of money.

If you're leasing something, you don't own it (you give it back when the lease is up). That often makes it cheaper than buying the same thing outright. So, leasing a new car is usually cheaper than buying one. If you're not sure if a lease is for you, you might find this information about personal leasing by Parkers useful. The Parkers team are car nuts like us. They also know a thing or two about the different ways you can lease and buy cars.

The VIP treatment. You can come to us to help sort your car's maintenance throughout your lease.

1.All the servicing that the car needs during the lease, we'll find a garage and even book it in at a convenient time for you.

2. MOT tests (if your lease is long enough that you need one)

3. Replacement tyres (if you get a puncture or due to general wear and tear)

4. Exhaust and battery repairs (fixes or replacement through due to air wear and tear)

'Fair wear and tear' damage is caused through normal use of the car. You can get the full low down on all things maintenance related here.

If you don't go for our maintenance package, then you'll need to take care of the car's maintenance yourself.

As well as the car (obviously) you also get:

• breakdown assistance and recovery from the AA
• a manufacturer’s warranty on any parts that need repairing or replacing
• road tax (officially called a 'Road Fund Licence')
• maintenance and servicing if you have choose this option when you order

As long a you live in mainland UK, we'll deliver your car to your home, for free. So, make sure you give us the right address when you order. We can't deliver anywhere other than your home address as we need to be completely sure we're giving the keys to the right person.

No. You can order your car to your spec and have it just the way you like it. And for as long as you're leasing it, the car's all yours. But when the lease is up, you'll hand the keys back to us. 

Yep. You'll need to send us a copy of your comprehensive policy before we hand over the keys. We'll get in touch again after renewal so you won't need to remember to send us a copy.

If you decide to end the lease early, you may need to pay us 40% of the remaining monthly finance rentals.  If you want to change the length of your hire or the agreed mileage, please contact us to discuss your options. 

Yes, we charge a £40 admin fee to do this on top of any DVLA and plate making fees. You need to contact us to do this.

Please don't, all our cars are non-smoking. 

Yes, two common ways are, Personal Contract Hire (PCH) and Personal Contract Purchase (PCP):

• PCH (Personal Contract Hire) is a lease. We ask you to pay a fixed amount each month, but you never own your car. We like PCH because you usually pay less each month, compared with  PCP. And if you want to upgrade to a newer model when the lease is up, you don't have the hassle of selling your current car first. So, you've got even more time to spec your next new car, just the way you want it. 
• PCP (Personal Contract Purchase)is a type of hire purchase. Your monthly payments are based on how much the car should be worth at the end of the contract, so it's cheaper than paying for a car on monthly installments. When the contract's up, you have the choice to give the car back or buy it. The final amount you pay for the car will vary a lot from deal to deal. 

PCP deals normally include a road fund licence for the first year, while our PCH leases cover you for the while of the lease. We include breakdown cover too (but you don't get that with every PCH deal, that's a little extra from us). 

It’s a way of finding out if your credit application will be accepted when you place an order, without impacting your credit record. Sometimes known as a ‘soft’ credit check, it’s not visible on your credit record so no other lenders will be able to see it.

You share some basic information with us (recent addresses, income and employment status) and we tell you how likely you are to get a positive finance decision when you place your order.

We check lots of things, but mainly that we can link you with your address and that you’re likely to be able to afford the lease.

It’s always best to check your credit record to be sure that there’s nothing new or surprising there. The Money Advice Service have loads of really useful (and impartial) information which might be useful.

Re-running the check will get the same results unless your credit record changes.

It's a way of finding out how likely you are to be accepted for the finance agreement for your lease, without impacting your credit score. You give us some basic information and we tell you your chances of being accepted as a percentage based on our checks. The checks we do will be invisible to anyone other than you (and us), so they won't be considered by other lenders.

We can't be absolutely certain whether you will or won't be accepted until we run a full check when you apply for a lease with us (sometimes known as a hard check), but this 'soft' check will give you an idea of your chances.

You can more information about the things that could affect your chances of being accepted for finance from the Money Advice Service

It simply means the car has already been registered, so might not carry the latest registration plate. It’s effectively still a new car and you’ll be the first proper driver, but we filed the paperwork to say we owned the car at some point in the past.

Our pre-registered cars are NOT ex demo cars, as can sometimes be the case. They’re new.

Where we have already registered a car and it doesn’t have the latest registration plate, we’ll make it clear in the way the car is named ie Audi A3 TFSI – Automatic – ’20 Plate

You’re looking for the 3rd and 4th character in the registration plate to tell when the car was registered. A car with registration AB70 CDE was registered between 1st September 2020 and 28th of February 2021.

Registered date	Plate
1st March – 31st Aug 2019	19
1st Sept – 28th Feb 2020	69
1st March – 31st Aug 2020	20
1st Sept – 28th Feb 2021	70
1st March – 31st Aug 2021	21

The car’s warranty, MOT and service clock starts ticking on a car as soon as it’s registered. For example, if you have a 3-year lease on a pre-registered car, you will need to get an MOT test done before you return it. It’s important to take costs such as these into account before you sign the lease agreement.

It also means you’ll get a bit of a bargain on a car that can be delivered pretty quickly. These cars are built and in the UK just waiting for you to order them. We would much rather have them on your driveway than ours, so we can price them even more keenly.