Best time to lease a new car

Leasing offers year-round benefits, making it a great option at any time. It enables you to drive a brand-new car every 2-5 years without worrying about the depreciation of the vehicle or any large final payments. With no long-term commitments and the ability to upgrade to the latest model as often as every two years, leasing is a great and flexible option for many. While there’s rarely a bad time to begin your lease, there may be certain months when starting could add some benefits, such as beginning your lease when new registration plates are released or when the latest model you want becomes available.

A lot of people find cars with the latest registration plate more desirable, as they signal the newest models on the road and it shows you are driving the car at its highest value. This also means it will be coming with the latest and up-to-date technology and features. Number plates get updated twice a year: in March and September. For example, this year in March, the plates change to '25', and in September, they change to '75'. Next year in 2026, the number plates will progress to '26' in March and '76' in September, and so on each year.
Learn more about how number plates work.

Manufacturers tend to update their models around the same time as the new registration plates, but this can vary and new releases are available all year round. It’s a great idea to time your lease around new model updates so you can reap the rewards they come with.
Beginning your lease when the newest model has just come out means you can be amongst the first to drive it. Not only does this give you an exclusive edge but you get the satisfaction of being one of the first on the road in that model, which often results in a lot of admiration. Furthermore, the newest model you are driving will have the most up to date technology and features on the market at the time, which is likely to make your driving experience as smooth as ultimately possible. Driving a brand-new model comes with the widest range of variety for you and a lot of the time, the highest desirability from others. However, if the newest model isn’t your highest priority, you could save money by starting your lease in the months leading up to it as that’s likely when the prices will be lower, due to a newer model about to overtake it. These deals will still have all the benefits of leasing, they’re just likely to cost you less.

The car market tends to slow down in winter, making it a great time to find lease deals as finance providers lower prices to boost demand. Late December is especially favorable, as it coincides with dealers trying to meet both monthly and yearly quotas. Additionally, being during the year's biggest festivities—when many people are making spending cuts—finance providers often lower costs or offer discounts to drive sales.

The best month to start a lease depends on your personal priorities and what you're looking for. If having the latest model year is most important to you, timing your lease around manufacturers' new model releases would be ideal. If you want a vehicle with the newest registration plate, March or September are the best months. And if you’re focused on getting discounts, late in the year—especially December—is a good time to start.

Beginning of the month, quarter, financial or calendar year

Unlike the end of the month, quarter, or year—when discounts are more common—it's the opposite at the beginning. With new quotas to meet, finance providers, brokers, and dealers are generally less inclined to offer discounts early on

When the new model years are released

Similarly to the above, when manufacturers release new model years or ranges, those vehicles are typically priced at their highest, meaning discounts are likely limited

There could be multiple things to consider to ensure you’re getting the best lease for your needs and current situation—explore them all to make sure your lease is the perfect fit and you can drive away confidently.

Make sure the contract is right for you

A lease is a financial commitment of at least two years, so it’s essential to ensure that both the initial payment and each monthly payment are manageable throughout your contract. Be sure to budget for any additional expenses as well like insurance or maintenance costs that may not be included in your monthly payment. For impartial advice, visit Money Helper

Credit score

A credit score is a number that indicates how well you are able to manage your finances and repay any debt or payments. Finance providers will look at this when deciding if they want to lend you money, and if they do, your score will determine interest rates and credit limits on the amount they decide to lend. When you’re looking to start a lease, it’s worth checking your credit score and if needed, take steps to improve it so you can secure the most affordable and suitable lease contract for you.

Look for deals

Here at Auto Trader, we offer you the latest deals and exclusive discounts on the most popular models all year round. Visit our leasing deals page where we highlight our top offers—bookmark it now and check back often so you don’t miss out on the best lease for you. Additionally, sign up to our mailing list to get the best deals sent straight to your inbox and be the first to know about new offers and updates.