Frequently Asked Questions about Private Leasing

Private leasing means renting a car for a fixed period – often three years. You pay a monthly fee and may drive an agreed distance per year. The car is owned by the lessor, for example a bank or finance company, and you return it when the contract ends.

The fee mainly reflects how much the car is expected to lose in value during the contract, plus the lessor's financing cost and administration. Service, insurance and winter tyres are included in some contracts and extra in others – always check what your contract includes.

It depends on the contract. You may be offered the chance to buy the car when the contract ends. The lessor sets the price – sometimes when you sign, sometimes later.

You pay for every Swedish mil (10 km) over the agreed distance when you return the car. The price per extra mil is in the contract and varies between lessors and cars, and according to the Swedish Consumer Agency it can be very high. Some contracts also pay something back if you drive less than agreed. Compare the excess-mileage price with the cost of choosing a longer distance from the start.

It depends on the contract, and it is often expensive. Volkswagen Finans, for example, lets you terminate after twelve months by paying 40% of the remaining lease payments, at least SEK 1,000 per remaining month; earlier than that requires a separate agreement. Other lessors have other terms. Also ask whether you may transfer the contract to someone else.

You are responsible for having the car serviced at the manufacturer's intervals – even when service is included, it is up to you to make sure it happens. A missed service can void the new-car warranty. Faults covered by the warranty are fixed by the workshop, but Swedish consumer sales law does not apply, so you may have to pay the full fee while the car is off the road.

The car must be insured for the whole contract. If insurance is not included, you arrange it yourself at the level the lessor requires – Volkswagen Finans, for example, requires cover for the car's full value from the delivery date. Check the requirement before asking for quotes.

You need to be of legal age and pass the lessor's credit check, which looks at things like income and payment remarks. Exact requirements differ between lessors.

It varies a lot with the car, contract length and mileage. In our comparison prices start at 1 990 kr/mån and the median is 4 745 kr/mån. Add any down payment, setup and invoice fees, and what is not included, such as insurance and fuel, to get the real cost.

Only if it is a distance contract – all contact up to signing happened at a distance and the contract was concluded through, for example, the company's website. Then you normally have a 14-day right of withdrawal. If you met the seller, for example at a dealer, it does not apply.

No. According to the Swedish Consumer Agency there is no law that governs car leasing – the contract between you and the lessor decides. Consumer sales law does not apply, because you have not bought the car. The terms must, however, be reasonable under the Contract Terms Act. Read the contract carefully before signing.

Yes, in many contracts. With a variable interest rate the fee follows the rate and can go up or down, and many contracts let the lessor adjust the fee for things like changes in VAT or legislation. With a fixed rate the fee is fixed. The Swedish Consumer Agency recommends checking this before you sign.

The residual value is what the lessor expects the car to be worth when the contract ends. The higher it is, the less depreciation you pay for and the lower the monthly fee. If you are offered the chance to buy the car, the lessor sets the price – it is not necessarily the residual value the fee was based on.

Yes, some lessors offer private leasing of used cars. The fee is often lower than for a new car, but the selection is smaller. Check the service history, how long the warranty lasts and what condition the car must be returned in. Our comparison currently lists new cars.

Go over the car carefully: paint, wheels, glass, interior, and that all equipment and keys are there. You may have to pay for damage beyond normal wear and for missing equipment. The Swedish Consumer Agency gives minor scratches that do not need repainting, light interior wear and small stone chips as examples of normal wear. Take your own photos and compare with the delivery report.

Not in itself. A new car is often more efficient and cleaner than an older one, but that is true whether you lease or buy it. The choice of powertrain makes the big difference. Leasing can make it easier to try an electric car, because the lessor carries the risk of what the car and battery are worth when the contract ends.

The insurance payout often goes straight to the lessor – Volkswagen Finans' terms require the lessor to be named as beneficiary. If the payout does not cover everything you may have to pay the difference: under the same terms the lessee is liable for loss of or damage to the car not covered by insurance, regardless of fault. Ask both the lessor and the insurer how it works before signing.

Usually not without the lessor's permission. The car must be returned in the agreed condition, and changes that cannot be undone can become expensive at return. The contract may also restrict how the car is used – the Swedish Consumer Agency mentions driving abroad and carrying pets. Ask before you do anything.

On the all-cars page you can filter by brand, price, mileage, fuel, body type and whether service, insurance or winter tyres are included, and search for a model. Then pick up to three cars and compare them side by side. Always check the full terms with the lessor before signing.