car lease if not working

jetcat

although i am in receipt of dla mobility, it is the lower componant, so cant get a car via mobility. Is there anyway i can lease a car, even though i am not working now, and getting income support/dla/ctc. as a single parent with a disability and two kids, i really need use of a car, and mine is not going to last much longer!

anewman

Best way for you IMO is to buy a £500 banger. What makes you think your current car won't last long? Has it been serviced properly? Being old and high mileage doesn't make it a lost cause if it's been cared for properly, and it it has been looked after an expensive job like a headgasket or clutch change could be worthwhile rather than buying something that could be worse than what you already have.

Otherwise the only thing I could suggest is perhaps hiring a car for the odd occasion you need one - as I do not know about leasing and unemployment.

jetcat

thanks for that - yes it has been serviced (i have had it since new) but no new clutch, gaskets needed yet (touch wood!). as a rough estimate, how much would that type of job cost? i have a family friend who owns a garage so i know he would charge reasonable rates, but would like to know what the ball park is. I guess i am just a bit of a worrier, as i use the car every day and really struggle without it (i couldnt drive for a few weeks last year after having baby - it was a nightmare!)

just had a look on another site - it talks about leasing if you are an employer. As i have a personal assitant who i emply through direct payments (meaning for tax purposes etc i am her employer) i wonder whether i qualify for this?

anewman

I would say approximately £200 - £500 for each, but very much dependent on the car. Also quotes will vary quite a bit as the biggest part of the cost for those jobs is labour.

jetcat

thanks again :beer:

AdrianHi

jetcat,
I think you need to approach leasing companies demonstrating that you have an income from somewhere which makes the lease you are considering affordable along side your other life expenses. If you have a credit history in good shape I'd be surprised if you couldn't get a lease.

zeon999

Hi

As AdrianHi says whether your working or not is not a major factor in getting credit/finance, as long as you have an income and good credit history that is what is important.

Ok yes the more you make the more finance your going to be capable of getting, but it is still worth investigating.

The big advantage with leasing ATM is if you get maintenance with the contract, with the credit crunch going on at least your going to get a set figure which you will be paying each month no matter what happens.

Of course though as anewman says don’t assume that an old car is not a good option, old cars are not always unreliable and even when they are cheapest way to run a car is to actually just run around in old bangers. If anything big goes wrong just get rid and buy another banger.

Only problem with this is you need to be the type of person who don’t mind having the unreliable disadvantage, you also need to keep track of any expenses you do spend out on these cars very well. It is all to easy to keep on to them getting repairs making them not such a financial advantage and in that case might as well get a newer car.

patchy987

pm sent with info on where i lease my car from