Fleet leasing to small businesses is big business for
manufacturers, particularly the Big Three in Detroit. As with
consumer leasing, dealers negotiate the price but do not provide
lease financing plans for businesses. Dealers are commission agents
for leasing companies that are often manufacturer subsidiaries,
such as Chrysler Financial, Ford Credit Commercial Lending Services
or GM's Acceptance Corp., and also for banks and lending
companies, such as GE Capital Fleet Services. If you can pony up a
hefty initial payment, known as a capital cost reduction, your
monthly payments should be low; but there may be a disposition and
other fees when you return the fleet, so read the fine print.
Not all light trucks are available for fleet leasing.
Toyota's compact Tacoma and full-size Tundra pickups will not
be in fleets; and if you choose to lease a fleet of Chevrolet
Silverado or GMC Sierra hybrid pickups, you'll pay
approximately $2,500 more than the standard price.
Leasing is simply another method of paying for a vehicle, and
fleet leasing is a way to acquire five or more new or used
vehicles, receive a single monthly bill, and enjoy several business
benefits. Generally, two months' down payment is required,
monthly lease payments are calculated lower than purchase payments,
and you pay only for the vehicle's value that you use. The best
leases, according to auto research company IntelliChoice
(www.intellichoice.com), are manufacturers' subsidized leases
with net interest rates under APR.
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The advantages: You hold onto more of your capital, get tax
deductions for lease interest payments, can switch to new models
every two to four years, have vehicles that are always under
warranty, get incentives and rebates, and can participate in
manufacturers' fleet leasing programs. These programs can
include financial advisors and fleet management, saving you time
and money.
The downside to leasing: limits of 15,000 miles annually and
extra charges if you exceed those limits. Customizing and modifying
are not normally permitted, although signs can be painted on if you
remove them before returning the vehicle. If you need to terminate
the lease early, you can be hit with a high penalty; and at the end
of the lease, you have to hand the ve-hicle back unless you pay the
residual value to own it.
The fattest incentives and rebates, such as cut-rate financing
and free options, are offered on leased fleets, due to volume. The
larger the number of trucks you lease, the bigger the incentive.
Ford offers fleet customers direct off-invoice cash incentives for
its Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models. Over the next two years, Ford
plans to increase its fleet leasing incentive programs-it currently
offers fleet lessors the same incentives as retail buyers, as well
as discounted prices on specific packages of options.
DodgeBusinessLink.com and Dodge's On the Job fleet leasing
programs include incentives targeting small businesses, allowing
you to upfit models for specific job applications and providing
discounts on extra equipment. Ford has a massive leasing division,
including its Business Preferred Network and Extended Service Plan.
These programs assist you with budgeting and maintenance. GM's
Fleet and Commercial program includes FleetTrac, which consolidates
your billing and keeps track of vehicles.
Smart Tips
Just the Tax: Leased business vehicles carry a
higher deductible than owned vehicles, and you can usually write
off almost the entire amount of the lease payment. When you
purchase, you're limited as to how much you can deduct for
depreciation each year. And although leasing can cost more than
purchasing a vehicle over the long run, and you don't own it
when the lease is up, the tax advantages are almost twice as good
as on an owned vehicle. Check with your tax accountant before
mak-ing any firm commitments.
Numbers Game: To qualify as a fleet member and receive a
Fleet Account Number or Fleet Identification Number from
Chrysler/Dodge, Ford and GM, an individual or company is required
to purchase or lease five or more vehicles for use during the
current or preceding model or calendar year. You also qualify if
you currently own or lease 15 vehicles, regard-less of make, model
or year. The VIN numbers of your vehicles will be checked for
verification. Depending on the number of vehicles, you may qualify
for various discounts.
Jill Amadio is Entrepreneur's "Wheels"
columnist.