Many businesses require a vehicle to carry out day-to-day operations. But when it comes time to acquire one, should you buy it or get a business lease vehicle?
Leasing a car through your business might mean lower upfront costs and the ability to upgrade frequently without a hitch. But you’ll also be restricted to the number of kilometres you can put on it, as well as any potential modifications you might need to make.
Let’s take a closer look at leasing a vehicle through your business to help you decide if this makes the most economical sense for you.
Key Points:
- Leasing a vehicle through a business means the company enters into a lease agreement to use the vehicle for commercial purposes.
- Leasing a car through a business often means lower monthly payments and tax advantages.
- Whether you choose to lease a vehicle depends on how far you drive each year, how long you intend to keep the car, and how often you prefer to have a new vehicle.
What Does It Mean To Lease A Vehicle Through A Business?
Leasing a car through your business simply means that your business is on the title of the vehicle instead of you. In other words, you lease the vehicle through your business instead of as an individual.
Benefits Of Leasing Cars For Your Business
There are unique benefits of leasing your car through your business, including the following:
- Lower Monthly Payments: Compared to a traditional car loan, monthly lease payments are usually lower. Plus, there are fewer maintenance costs associated with leasing, which means less money tied up in your car and more cash flow available for your business.
- Easier Mileage & Fuel Expense Tracking: Your leasing company may have an online platform that lets you keep tabs on your gas usage and mileage, which alleviates the complexities of tracking your business vehicle.
- Upgrade To A Newer Model More Frequently: Leasing a car means you’ll be able to upgrade to a newer model more frequently, which would be more complicated and expensive to do when you finance a car.
- Create A Strong Business Brand: Having a car that’s dedicated to your business can strengthen its brand in your industry.
- Tax Deductions: When you use your car for business purposes, you can deduct certain expenses come tax time, such as gas, insurance, and maintenance fees.
Tax Deductions And Leasing A Car For Business
If you lease your car for business purposes, you can write off a portion of your lease payments. More specifically, you can deduct the business portion of your lease payments come tax time.
There is a $1,100 limit (plus HST) on monthly lease payments that you can deduct, which adds up to a $12,600 maximum in tax-deductible expenses per year.
| Example: Let’s say your annual lease payment is $4,800 (or $400 per month) and the percentage of your lease payments for business use is 75%. In this case, you could deduct $3,600 on your tax return ($4,800 x 75%). |
Keep in mind that the CRA tax rule has limits on the depreciation on vehicles that are considered luxury cars, which means there would be limits on lease payments for these types of vehicles.
Ways To Lease Vehicles For Your Business
There are two types of leasing options available to business owners: open-ended and closed-ended leases. Each offers a purchase option that would let you buy the vehicle when the lease term ends. Otherwise, you can return the vehicle and upgrade to another model.
Open-Ended Business Car Lease
An open-ended lease is typically short-term and doesn’t have mileage restrictions. You’re responsible for your vehicle’s depreciation and how much it’s worth by the end of the lease, which is referred to as the vehicle’s “residual value”. Since your business is responsible for the vehicle’s depreciation rate, you’re free to use it any way you see fit with no restrictions.
| An open-ended lease if: You intend to use your business vehicle on a regular basis. This gives you more flexibility for depreciation and wear and tear. |
Closed-Ended Business Car Lease
Unlike open-ended leases, a closed-ended lease comes with specific business car lease requirements, including mileage restrictions, fixed monthly payments, and fixed terms. Close-ended leases are based on mileage, which means you won’t be responsible for the vehicle’s cost of depreciation or its residual value. However, there is a limit on mileage, which means you’ll be paying extra if you go over that limit.
| A closed-ended car lease is best if: You plan to use your business vehicle semi-regularly. |
How Much Does It Cost To Lease Cars For Businesses In Canada?
The amount you’ll pay on a lease for a business vehicle will depend on your lease agreement.
- Open-Ended Lease: You’ll pay a monthly fee, plus the difference between the vehicle’s original anticipated residual value and the actual resale value when the lease ends.
- Closed-Ended Lease: You will just pay a monthly payment and any applicable mileage costs.
Costs To Consider With A Lease
There are certain costs associated with leasing a vehicle that you should get familiar with before going this route, such as the following:
- Lease Price: Should be lower than MSRP; can be reduced with rebates or discounts.
- Residual Value: Vehicle’s worth at lease end; lower value benefits buyers who plan to purchase.
- Interest Rate: Directly affects total lease cost, similar to car financing.
- Down Payment: Most leases require upfront payment; plan savings accordingly.
- Miscellaneous Fees: Includes taxes, licensing, and title fees that add to overall cost.
| Looking For A Deal On A Car? If you’re looking for an affordable way to purchase a car, you can consider an online dealer like Clutch. They offer an easy way to purchase a car online, whether you have good or bad credit. You can also get pre-approved with Clutch and then find a car based on your loan pre-approval. That way, you aren’t shopping beyond your means. They also have a 10-day return policy, so you can test out the car after you get it. |
Things To Consider When Leasing Cars For Businesses
Along with the perks of leasing your car through your business comes a few drawbacks to consider as well, including the following:
- Potentially Higher Overall Cost: There may be fewer upfront costs associated with a car lease. But, you could find yourself paying more over the long haul if you put a lot of miles and wear and tear on the car compared to a vehicle purchase. That said, you may be able to cut down on these costs if you choose to buy the car once your lease ends.
- No Vehicle Ownership: Leasing a car basically means renting it, so you don’t actually own the vehicle. Unlike financing, the monthly payments you make in a lease arrangement won’t lead to you owning a business asset.
- Mileage Restrictions (If Closed-Ended): If you have a closed-ended vehicle lease, you’ll be limited to a certain number of kilometers. If you go over that limit, you’ll have to pay extra.
- Modification Restrictions: Doing significant work on your business vehicle may not be allowed when you lease.
Should You Buy or Lease Your Vehicle Through Your Business?
Whether you should lease or finance your car through your business depends on a few factors:
| Financing A Vehicle | Leasing A Vehicle | |
| Owner | You or your business. The lender only has a lien against it if you default on your payments. | The dealership. |
| Upfront Costs | – Down payment between 10% to 20% of the vehicle’s value – Provincial registration costs – Taxes | – Down payment – Security deposit – Acquisition fee – First month’s payment – Taxes and fees |
| Payments | Payments include principal and interest. Shorter loan terms mean higher payments; longer terms mean lower payments but higher interest overall | Smaller payments (unless the leased vehicle is more expensive). Any interest or fees charged by the lender for mileage and depreciation could bring yearly limits up. |
| Vehicle Maintenance | Required to keep the vehicle in good condition. | Required by the lease company to take care of excessive wear and tear. |
| Mileage Limits | No | Yes |
| Early End To Contract | Permitted, but lenders may charge early prepayment penalties. | Permitted, but higher fees and charges may apply to end a lease contract early. |
| End Of Loan Term Requirements | You’ll own the vehicle free and clear of any liens and can either keep or sell it. The lease is open-ended, so you must buy the car. | Closed-ended lease: you can either end the term or buy/lease another vehicle. |
In general, leasing a car can lead to lower payments and upfront costs. However, buying a car can give you total control over the vehicle and how you use it.
Learn more: Leasing vs. Buying a Car
How To Lease A Car Through Your Business
To lease a car through your business, follow these steps:
Step 1: Determine What You Need The Vehicle For
Will you be using the vehicle predominantly for business purposes? If so, leasing it through your company makes sense. You’ll be able to write off expenses related to your car to save on taxes.
But if you only plan to use it sporadically for your business and drive it more for personal reasons, it might make more sense to lease or finance it in your name.
Also, consider how long you intend to keep the car for. If you like the idea of a new car every three years or so, then leasing might be a great idea. But if you prefer to hang onto the vehicle for the long haul, then purchasing it might make more economical sense.
Step 2: Compare Options
Shop around with different lease companies, banks, and car manufacturers and compare their offers to find the best deal.
Step 3: Review The Lease Terms
Once you’ve settled on a lease company and contract, be sure to carefully go over all the terms of the lease before you sign off on the contract. For instance, you’ll want to determine the exact MSRP and negotiate the cap cost to the lowest price possible.
Requirements To Lease Company Cars
To qualify for a car lease through your company, you’ll need to meet certain criteria, which will vary from one lease company to another:
- Business Identification Documents: These may include a business number or articles of incorporation.
- Financial Health Of Your Business: You may need to provide documents showing that your business is capable of covering lease payments, such as revenue statements or assets that can serve as collateral.
- Time In Operation: You’ll need proof of how long your business has been in operation (ideally, this should be at least 2 years).
- Credit Health: A good business credit score or even a good personal credit score may be needed, depending on how you run your business and the requirements of the leasing company.
Final Thoughts
Having a business vehicle as part of your company fleet may be necessary to help you carry out business operations. But you’ll need to decide whether it makes sense to lease the car through your business, through your name as an individual, or buy it outright. Consider things such as how much mileage you intend to put on the car, how often you think you may need to upgrade, and the potential tax deductions that may be available to you before making your decision.
