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To lease or buy a new car?

Can you advise me if leasing or buying is the best option for a new car?

I am VAT registered and would have a contract lease which I would put through my business. I can claim back 50% of the VAT, plus up to 80% of the monthly fee. I could also buy the car outright from personal funds if need be. Which would be the best, lease through my business or buy outright not through the business?

Asked on 12 February 2014 by xkz

Answered by Honest John
This is a question for your accountant, not for me. If buying for the business you have to watch the CO2 very carefully and calculate how much a year you can write down. It's very advantageous to pick a car with CO2 below 100, which rules out a Volkswagen Golf 1.4TSI, but not a Toyota hybrid or a ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost and various other sub 100g/km models, including, surprisingly, the new Volvo S60 D4.

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